A parent has been left fuming after her child’s after school care sent an email condemning the same-sex marriage debate following an impromptu playground protest by students.
The parent was outside Gladesville Public School in Sydney’s north last week when a group of ‘about five’ children marched to the gate chanting ‘vote yes for marriage equality’.
‘The children had a few chalk boards with a yes box and a no box, the yes was ticked and they were going up to parents at the gate chanting at them,’ the parent told Daily Mail Australia.
The offending email was sent out to all of the after school care parents
The mini-march, which happened after 3.30pm but before the centre closed at 6pm, didn’t offend the parent – but the public response to it by Gladesville OOSH director Phillip Reid did.
‘He sent out an email right at 6pm to tell everyone what had happened, making the apparent issue public and politicising these little children’s actions.
‘It was sent to every parent from the centre – there were only a few children involved – just a small amount of the probably 40 children that were there.
‘These kids were probably just acting out their beliefs or what they had been taught.’
The email was ‘over the top and smug’ according to the parent who believed the director calling voters ‘plebs’ in the headline was ‘too much’.
Gladesville OOSH is situated inside the public school, pictured
‘How lucky are we that our nation gives we “The Plebs” the opportunity to pronounce our answer to a question of law?!,’ the email read.
‘This afternoon a group of children took it upon themselves to parade with juvenile conviction to the gate.
‘The children (between yrs 3-6) will no doubt have come to the attention of others (parents, children and potentially the public).
‘A word in the affirmative was held high and, therefore, a discussion with the young democratic participants was had.’
The email went on to explain the conversation the director had with the children following the march.
The children were holding chalkboards with yes and no boxes on them, similar to the ones above used in the postal vote
‘They were asked about their intended audience, what information they were trying to convey and if they had sought permission to parade on government property.
‘None of them were confident in their response. I took the opportunity to explain that they should ensure the following are taken care of before any future spectacle.’
The parent, who doesn’t want to be named, was shocked when the email was circulated.
‘The teacher had spoken to the children, it was over he didn’t need to do this.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the centre director, Phillip Reid, for comment.
The email was ‘over the top and smug’ according to the parent who believed the director calling voters ‘plebs’ in the headline was ‘too much’