An Australian father has lashed out at his daughter’s school after claiming she was “forced to issue a collective apology” to the Stolen Generation as part of activities leading up to National Forgiveness Day.
Chris Primod criticized the school on Saturday, saying his seven-year-old daughter told him she and her classmates needed to make a collective apology.
National Forgiveness Day takes place in Australia on May 26.
It is a day to remember and recognize the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly the impact of government policies that forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families, known as generations stolen.
“I have no problem with one of my children learning about it (Stolen Generation), that’s absolutely fine,” he said in a video posted on social media.
“What I will not tolerate or accept is one of my children being forced to apologize for something they had absolutely nothing to do with.”
He sent a direct message to the school, urging them to stop imposing “awake play” on his children.
“Our children are already being welcomed into the country they were born in, and now they are being told that they are personally responsible for these horrible events.”
Chris Primod (pictured) criticized his daughter’s school on Saturday, saying his seven-year-old daughter told him she and her classmates needed to make a collective apology.
Mr Primod’s video has sparked a heated debate with many Australians divided on the issue (pictured: Aboriginal flag)
Many Australians supported the father’s message, saying teachers were pushing an agenda.
“It’s terrible. What is wrong with the education system? Australia has lost the ground,” one wrote.
“I told my children that they didn’t have to participate in a sorry day at school if they didn’t want to. I explained why and they chose not to participate,” added a second.
“This is outrageous, these poor kids probably don’t even understand why they are apologizing, or they are still so young. Australia has gone mad,” said a third.
A fourth added: “My daughter had to write any apology letter when she was 6! After school she asked me what she did wrong. Shame on teachers who push their own agenda.
However, others have argued that it is important to recognize and respect First Nations people,
“Welcome and recognition to the county is something you and your children should be proud to have accomplished,” one said.
What Australian children are taught
The NSW Department of Education has provided resources for teachers on National Forgiveness Day, celebrated on May 26, and National Reconciliation Week, which began today.
It says National Forgiveness Day “is an opportunity to remember past policies of forced child removal and to reflect on the sad and painful stories of the Stolen Generations.”
“This is a time to recognize the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the power of saying sorry.
“National Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for all Australians to discover our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia,” the department said .
Schools across NSW will participate in events and activities throughout the week, including reconciliation walks, smoking ceremonies, assemblies and morning teas with local Aboriginal elders.
“National Reconciliation Week is a time to learn, reflect and act to create a fairer and more inclusive Australia,” said NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar.
“Together we recognize the unique histories, cultures and contributions of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
THE STOLEN GENERATION
Thousands of children have been forcibly removed by governments, churches and social agencies to be raised in institutions, placed in foster care or adopted by non-Indigenous families, nationally and internationally. They are called the Stolen Generations.
The exact number of children who were removed may never be known, but very few families were not affected: in some families, children from three or more generations were removed. The removal of children has severed important cultural, spiritual and family ties and left a lasting, intergenerational impact on the lives and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Affecting between 1 in 10 and 1 in 3 children, there is not a single Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community that has not been changed forever.
The first Sorry Day took place on May 26, 1998, in remembrance and commemoration of the mistreatment of the country’s indigenous people.
Pictured: A 1934 newspaper clipping announcing the adoption of Aboriginal children.
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