Outrage erupts after Sherwood Ridge Public School principal tells students they can ‘opt out’ of Anzac Day commemorations

A public primary school will allow its students to ‘opt out’ of an Anzac Day service, sparking outrage among parents and veterans. 

Sherwood Ridge Public School principal Jody Sullivan sent an email to parents last week asking them to advise if they did not want their children to attend a special commemorative assembly and service at the school on April 10.

The aim was to accommodate a small number of Christian students at the school in Sydney’s north-west who don’t ‘commemorate war’.

The email has since been condemned by veterans, who say that all students should be educated about the sacrifices of Australia’s service people past and present, regardless of their beliefs. 

‘Anzac Day is one of the most significant days on the national calendar. It’s an opportunity for all Australians to honour the unique sacrifice of our current and former serving Defence Force personnel since 1915,’ former commando and RSL NSW president Mick Bainbridge told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Our young people learn about Australia’s proud military past.’

Daily Mail Australia understands the school received requests from a small number of parents for their children not to attend the commemoration assembly in line with their faith. 

Less than a dozen students belonging to Christian faith communities will undertake supervised activities while next week’s assembly takes place.  

Sherwood Ridge Public School principal Jody Sullivan sent an email to parents last week asking them to advise if they did not want their children to attend a special commemorative assembly and service at the school on April 10

Veterans say that Anzac Day is an important day of reflection for Australian students. Pictured: Army cadets march in 2023 in Sydney

NSW Department of Education secretary Murat Dizdar told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Our public schools have a long and proud history of commemorating ANZAC Day.’

‘I expect all our schools to commemorate ANZAC Day with memorial ceremonies each year, recognising the brave men and women who fought for the freedoms we all enjoy.’ 

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance of the first major military action of Australian and New Zealand soldiers in the First World War. 

More than 8,000 Australian soldiers died during the Gallipoli campaign launched on April 25, 1915. This year’s commemorations mark the 110th anniversary. 

RSL NSW encourages ‘all schools’ to commemorate the day for students to pay respect to the sacrifice of current and former veterans. 

‘It’s important to understand that Anzac Day is not a celebration of war; in fact, Anzac Day commemorates the horrors of war and ensures the sacrifices of those who served and died are never forgotten,’ Mr Bainbridge said.  

‘The democratic freedoms we, as a nation, hold dear today are largely built on their service and sacrifice. 

‘That includes the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief, which, ironically, some parents are relying on to deny their children the opportunity to learn about the importance of Anzac Day.’

Anzac Day is one of the most significant days on the national calendar. Pictured are spectators at the 2024 Anzac Day march in Sydney

Veteran Advocacy Australia branded the email as ‘disgusting’ as it called on NSW Premier Chris Minns to ‘intervene immediately’.  

Former NSW veterans affairs minister David Elliott was also shocked by the school’s move.

‘It really is an insult to the families of the 100,000 who died for this country,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.

‘They can’t opt out of their mourning, so I don’t know why anyone would want to opt out of this.’

Parents also took to social media to express their outrage about the email. 

‘So wrong,’ one mother wrote.

‘Honouring and remembering those that have fought and lost their lives to keep us safe and four current service men and women and the sacrifices they make for all of us has nothing to do with religion.

‘Teaching our kids to respect the country they live in and those that made it this way is important. This is going too far.’

Another parent added: ‘This is not commemorating war it is remembering those that gave their all to keep this country free’. 

The vast majority of Sherwood Ridge PS students are expected to attend the April 10 Anzac Day assembly

Mr Dizdar said the education requires students to ‘learn about the importance of Anzac Day and the sacrifice our service men and women made, and continue to make, as part of their regular day-to-day lessons.

Around 1500 students from more than 100 schools will gather at the war memorial in Sydney’s Hyde Park this Thursday for the annual RSL and Schools Remember Anzac Commemoration Service.

The long-running event has been held since 1953.

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk