Jewish and political leaders have condemned the alleged targeting of young Jewish students with antisemitic verbal slurs during an excursion to Melbourne Museum.
In a statement, Mount Scopus Memorial College — one of the city’s largest Jewish schools — said a group of grade five students were targeted by a small group of secondary students from another school during the excursion on Thursday.
“During an excursion designed to promote learning, respect, and shared cultural understanding, primary school students from Mount Scopus recounted antisemitic and political phrases chanted at them in a shared learning space, on the basis of their visible Jewish identity,” the statement said.
The school said it was “deeply concerned and disappointed” by the incident.
In a social media post, one parent wrote that his 10-year-old son felt terrified after the secondary school students, aged around 16 or 17, chanted “Free Palestine” at the younger group and then made antisemitic remarks.
Replying to the parent, an account appearing to belong to Museums Victoria CEO Lynley Crosswell said she was “deeply sorry that this has happened to your son” and said an investigation had been launched.
The ABC has contacted both the parent and Museums Victoria for comment.
The school said the incident unfolded during an excursion to the museum on Thursday. (ABC News)
Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Dan Sztrajt told ABC Radio Melbourne the incident was unprovoked and it had been a very difficult day for the students involved, who were aged 10 and 11.
“From what I understand from speaking to students today … one student got a tap on the shoulder, turned around and the vitriol started as one group of students passed another,” he said.
“There were a few occasions of different comments being made.Â
“I think this had nothing to do with politics. This had to do with students observing another student who was Jewish … and felt that that gave them the right to say some really awful things.”
Principal apologises on behalf of school involvedÂ
Mount Scopus Memorial College has not named the other school allegedly involved, but speaking to Mr Sztrajt said the principal of that school had been supportive.
“On behalf of her school, she apologised for what had happened,” he said.
“Unfortunately, antisemitic incidents are not uncommon for us. We’ve had quite a few over the last year and we often work with the [other] school and provide them with some educational approaches they can take.”
He said he did not believe it was a matter to be reported to police.
“At the end of the day these were students, and we believe the schools can do something here to respond,” he said.
In a statement, deputy premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll said hate has no place in Victoria.
“I’ve spoken with the principal of Mount Scopus College today and conveyed my disgust at the antisemitic attacks on their students yesterday,” he said.
Ben Carroll says the government will provide support to the school. (AAP: Joel Carrett)
“I have offered every support possible to help them through this incident.
“It is unacceptable that students or staff feel unsafe in the community where they learn, work and play.”
Daniel Aghion KC, the president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said there was an urgent need for antisemitism education in Australia.
“The attacks on the Australian Jewish community are continuing and are escalating despite our best efforts to combat them,” he said.
“We’ve said again and again this needs a whole-of-community and whole-of-government response.”
Mount Scopus Memorial College said its top priority was the safety and wellbeing of its students.
It said it was providing support to the students involved, including access to psychologists.Â
In 2024, the school was the target of an antisemitic graffiti attack.
Later that year, political leaders condemned an arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea that destroyed the building.