Education Department bans Sydney school's screening of 'controversial' gay parenting doco
The NSW Education Department has intervened to prevent a western Sydney high school from screening a politically controversial documentary about growing up with same-sex parents during school hours.
Many parents from Burwood Girls High School were reportedly outraged their daughters were being forced to watch the Australian film about growing up with same-sex parents.
The 1200 students of the all-girl school informed their parents via flyer they would be watching the documentary made by Australian filmmaker Maya Newell on Friday instead of attending two periods in the morning.
But speaking on 2GB radio this morning, Education Minster Andrew Piccoli said the department decided the school-day screening should not go ahead because the film was not part of the curriculum.
“We do promote and accept diversity in NSW generally but ... during school hours, parents rightly expect that students will be doing curriculum subjects and that’s what I expect too," Piccoli said.
The school would be allowed to show the movie outside of school hours, Piccoli said, adding that schools are expected to "remain apolitical places and … must comply with all departmental policies”.
Department of Education policy covering controversial issues in schools says: “Schools are neutral grounds for rational discourse and objective study. They are not arenas for opposing political views or ideologies” and additional materials must be “relevant to curriculum aims and objectives”.
Newell's film – a former student of the school – explores the lives of several children with gay parents.
Students were instructed to wear purple – a colour long-associated with gay pride – and would be served purple cupcakes.
There would also be a prize for the "most purple student" and the Rainbow Flag would also be flown.
Following a parental backlash, principal Mia Kumar offered parents the option to exclude their children from the viewing if they notified the school in writing.
Presbyterian Minister Mark Powell who runs a local youth group told News Corp said parents were upset by the screening and directive to wear the colour purple.
“This is trying to change children’s minds by promoting a gay lifestyle,” Rev Powell said.
“Schools are supposed to be neutral and cannot propagate a political view.”
Local Islamic leaders also expressed their displeasure the film would be screened on Friday, a day of prayer for Muslims.
Imam Mohammad Trad said the topic if sexuality was "an issue that should be a conversation between parents and their children".
Speaking with LBGT website samesame.com.au, Newell said she did not want to be the "poster child" for same-sex parenting and wanted to address children becoming the "political football" in the debate.
"The film I wanted to make shows the reality of being in a gay family.
"It raises this idea, that we shouldn’t be arguing about who should be allowed to marry, but we should be asking everyone, gay, straight, or otherwise, how to we maintain healthy and secure and committed relationships in order to raise any children," Newell said.
Morning news break – August 26
