One of Sydney’s most exclusive private schools has launched an internal review after the school was rocked by footage of a student giving a Nazi salute that has raised concerns about a culture of anti-Semitism at the school.
The Cranbrook School – which charges an annual fee of $48,000 a year for HSC students – wrote to parents to inform them of the investigation after the video emerged amid a string of scandals concerning offensive behaviour at private schools.
The video shows a Cranbrook boy smile at the camera before performing the Nazi salute in the school corridors.
Cranbrook School council president Jon North said the school condemned all forms of “anti-social, bullying and discriminatory behaviour” and it was the school’s “moral duty” to ensure students were educated about racism.
“Last week, the headmaster wrote to the community about certain anti-social and discriminatory behaviour at Cranbrook. This followed reports of anti-Semitic bullying,” Mr North said in a letter published by The Daily Telegraph.
Mr North said the school council was working closely with the headmaster to “undertake a detailed review of the conduct in question”.
“In addition to steps already taken, the school council has resolved to work closely with the headmaster to undertake a detailed review of the conduct in question in order to strengthen and develop further educational initiatives that encourage a strong sense of integrity, empathy and respect in our students,” he said in the letter.
Read the article by Rhiannon Down in The Australian.