The Independent London Newspaper
Anger at Palestinian festival ban for schools
Published: September 23, 2011
by PETER GRUNER
A ROW has erupted between Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn and a senior Town Hall official over advice warning primary schools against taking part in a Palestinian literature festival.
Former children’s laureate Michael Rosen is among those taking part in the event, organised by Haringey Justice for Palestine group, which runs from September 29 to October 2.
Mr Rosen is also angry about the advice that schools should not become involved. He said: “It’s very disappointing and a rather strange way to behave by Islington Council. Instead of entering into a conversation with the organisers they have simply taken the word of someone and then taken this somewhat draconian step to advise people not to take part.”
The advice came from the Labour-controlled council’s corporate director of children’s services, Eleanor Schooling, who warned that the “political” nature of the event might contravene the 1996 Education Act.
Two schools, including Duncombe Primary in Upper Holloway, were due to take part in the Tottenham Palestinian Literature Festival. Both have since reluctantly withdrawn from the event.
However, it appears that Ms Schooling had been advised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who had expressed concerns.
In a letter to one of the organisers, Ms Schooling wrote: “The board also expressed concern that the proposed workshops would present issues in a way that was divisive and might cause discomfort to some pupils.”
Mr Corbyn said he was very unhappy with the advice from Ms Schooling. “She really should not have sent this letter out,” he added. “The Board of Deputies are hardly objective in this matter. Their record of denunciation of all things Palestinian is well known.”
He hopes to attend the festival himself. “It’s a great opportunity for children to understand the wealth and joy of Palestinian literature and a little of the history of the region,” he said.
“It’s not in any way biased, but a festival which will encourage children to broaden their horizons. The children were looking forward to it. I’d like to think there is still time to resolve the issue.”
Barrie O’Shea, head of Duncombe Primary, said he had reluctantly agreed not to take part following guidance from the council.
“The children were really upset,” he said. “They were looking forward to the festival. They had written poems for a workshop and put in a lot of work. They were especially looking forward to meeting former children’s laureate Michael Rosen.”
Mr O’Shea said he had worked with Israelis and Palestinians in the past.
At the time of going to press, the Board of Deputies of British Jews had not replied to a telephone request from the Tribune to comment.
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Jeremy is right
If Jeremy Corbyn says it isn't biased it mustn't be biased. End of story. Children, altogether: "From the river to the sea...
Not an isolated event
The above should not be viewed in isolation. A planned art exhibit by traumatized children in Gaza was recently censored in California after pressure from one or more Jewish groups there.
Palestine Literary Festival
Absolutely astonished that our Council has buckled in the most craven fashion to lobbyists for Israel. The Council may say that they were only doing their job by sending threatening letters to schools but the fact that they did not investigate the nature of the complaints by the British Board of Deputies (itself and avowed supporter of Israel and thus highly biased) demonstrates the threat not only to free speech but to our children gaining an insight into the lives of Palestinian children who are very isolated and whose experience is invisible to the world. The fact that this Festival will be hosting more Jewish participants than Palestinian will give the lie to the idea that their is antisemitism involved! The best way to combat this vile censorship is to come along and support the Festival!
Anger at Palestinian festival ban for schools
Anyone looking at the lineup of events for the Palestine Literature Festival http://tottpallitfest.org.uk/next week would be amazed at the outstanding calibre of the participants including noted authors, poets, musicians, artists and journalists - and the moving and exciting programmes for the schools, with the most experienced and loved personalities like Michael Rosen, Reem Kelani, etc who are most experienced at relating to children.
The subject Palestine is one that is prominent in the news and provides the most humane and enriching culture and subject matter for all ages, of an indomitable people surviving decades of apartheid oppression. It is appalling that behind the scenes pressure by the Jewish Board of Deputies expressing 'concerns about some of the participants' has resulted in the councils making the schools cancel their events, without the people concerned being informed and unable to respond to what could be a libellous and subjective attack on them.
The underlying intention seems to be one of suppressing the truth that will be presented by top artists, which might influence children with understanding the reality of their equivalents in the occupied territories! This McCathyite interference on the activities and democratic rights of schools, communities school or institution putting on any Palestinian event, from unrepresentative lobby should not be tolerated or pandered to.
The schools heads, who seem perfectly responsible, must be allowed to carry on with educational activities as they see fit, without threats of legal action, especially one of such high calibre as this. This sort of censorship is totally at odds with the multicultural and anti-racist reputations of Haringey and Islington. It is hope that whoever in the councils took such decisions will reappraise their actions and reinstate the events, and support this brilliant and distinguished collection of performers and personalities, who are affording these schools the privilege of their presence.
Disgrace
Totally disgraceful capitulation by Islington Council. Once again the Israel lobby pressures people to censor Palestinian voices and experiences. But they will be first to want Israeli and holocaust literature distributed in schools. Who are the 'Board of Deputies', what a lucidrous, if revealing title, and what right do they have to interfere in British education?
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