Parents need to use both explicit teaching and lead by example to inoculate their children from the toxic culture pervading many Sydney high schools, experts say.
As reported in The Sun-Herald, anti-Semitism is rising at Sydney’s schools, including Nazi salutes, pro-Hitler graffiti and bullying of Jewish students both online and in person.
This follows revelations last week about Knox Grammar students using chat rooms to share violent misogyny, racism and homophobia and material that bordered on child pornography.
Psychologist Jocelyn Brewer said the behaviour was shaped by peer groups and many young people found it hard to speak up because they feared being ostracised and she teaches parents specific skills to counter this.
“Parents can support young people to avoid being implicated in these behaviours by having regular, clear and unambiguous conversations about racism, sexism and homophobia etc and discussing how to respond to certain situations like the ones mentioned,” Brewer said.
“We need a menu of actions or responses to follow in certain situations to help us act according to our values and what’s right – just like a pilot or paramedic might have a checklist or guide for certain situations.”
Susy Lee, the author of Raising Kids Who Care, said the process starts with parents role-modelling empathy by ensuring children feel cared for.
Read the article by Caitlin Fitzsimmons in the Brisbane Times.