Catholic boys 'taunted Jewish student'
By Bruce McDougall
December 04, 2007 02:00am
Article from: The Daily Telegraph
A JEWISH family claims their teenage son was subjected to acts of anti-Semitic bullying while attending one of Sydney's leading Catholic high schools.
The Year7 student and his younger brother were sent to Waverley College in Sydney's east for a "broader" education but the older boy became the butt of racial taunts as students questioned his right to be there.
His humiliation at the hands of other students hit rock bottom during an episode called "The Jew Game", in which a $5 note was thrown on the ground to see if the Jewish boy would pick it up.
The boy's father's Saul Ellison said: "Unfortunately he picked up the money."
The Jewish boy was then tormented further by students calling out: "What are you doing here? (at Waverley)".
Since the bullying earlier this year the boy has been forced to see a psychologist "to try to deal with it".
Mr Ellison and his wife Janine said they lodged a complaint with the Christian Brothers school but were not satisfied with the action it had taken.
"We never heard of any disciplinary action or suspensions ... the school claimed the perpetrators had been spoken to," Mr Ellison said.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff yesterday said racist comments were "abhorrent" and had no place in schools.
"A number of anti-semitic incidents involving Waverley College students has occurred in recent weeks and that is to be condemned," he said.
"It is clear that the student in this particular case was the target of anti-semitic abuse. The school has informed us that it takes the issue seriously. The Jewish community will be monitoring the situation."
The Ellisons' relations with the college further deteriorated when they unsuccessfully tried to get their son exempted from attending a compulsory sports carnival - because he was required for bar mitzvah lessons.
Waverley threatened to suspend the student if he did not attend the carnival but Mr Ellison pulled both sons out of the school before the start of the fourth term and enrolled them at the Jewish Moriah College.
They were refunded a $500 deposit and their fourth term fees were waived.
Waverley College deputy headmaster (senior) Peter Frost confirmed yesterday there had been "some instances of bullying" but said they were isolated.
"I don't believe there is anything endemic going on ... the boys involved were counselled and their religion teacher asked to promote sensitivity and tolerance in the school," Mr Frost said. "We have a very solid anti-bullying program ... it is followed pretty rigorously.
"We have had, in the past, special coaching for people who have been involved (in bullying) ... to help them resolve their problems."
Mr Frost said parents were clearly informed when they enrolled their children at Waverley that the school was "unashamedly Catholic and that is part and parcel of what we do here".
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