Racist bullying incidents are a call to action

The reverberations from media reports that two Melbourne students were subjected to humiliating anti-Semitic abuse have been felt in Jewish communities around the world. How could this happen in an enlightened society, ask well-meaning people.

A search for locally-produced school resources dedicated to bullying generally, and racism in schools specifically, shows there are reams of material available to teachers and principals. Why then is an esteemed American anti-Semitism researcher calling for her supporters to email their thoughts directly to one of the school principals involved? Why is the communications team at the City of Melbourne sending messages of reassurance to Jewish tourists that Melbourne is a diverse and safe city in response to their concerns about planned visits?

Victoria’s Education Minister, James Merlino, has called for a review into the reports of abuse against the five-year-old and the 12-year-old. Merlino has pledged to meet with the families involved and with Jewish community representatives to better understand the incidents. He said $9.5 million had been spent on anti-bullying initiatives. Commendably, he said the Victorian government stood ready to make further changes to guard against growing anti-Semitism.

The question remains, however: if there is so much assistance available to help schools deal with these issues, why do these incidents – and certainly others like them that have not received media attention – continue to occur?

Read the article by Naomi Levin in The Sydney Morning Herald.