Category: Education

Petition | Mount Scopus Memorial College: Become a member of the Safe Schools Coalition Victoria. | Change.org.

Comments posted on the petition, current as at 13:30 Jul 15 2013:

• Bryce Kenny MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

  As a gay student I felt as though my school was not a place I could be comfortable at, the issues surrounding sexual identity were ignored unless from an academic, religious perspective which was far from inviting.. I love the school and the community and that’s why I want it to be as positive of an influence on the life of each student and the community as it possibly can be

• Lillian Poe WEED, CA

  It is done by men who do not respect women and change needs to happen.

• Ena Burstin MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

  Because when I was a young lesbian, Mt Scopus was so unsafe for me…I don’t want any young people to experience the fear and loathing I did. Please make this school safe, respectful and welcoming.

• Tayla Rabie AUSTRALIA

  Many gay friends and family members, they deserve to be happy too.

• Mike Samuel AUSTRALIA

  A safe environment is imperative for the wellbeing and mental health of GLBTIQ youth. Mount Scopus should join SSCV and lead the community in ensuring the safety of their charges.

• Josh Steiner AUSTRALIA

  Because everyone should feel secure

• Vivien Ray NORTHCOTE, AUSTRALIA

  As a counsellor, I see young people who tell me it is not safe to ‘come out’ at school. Help make them feel safe and accepted at school.

• Gina Saben AUSTRALIA

  I would hate to not feel safe to be myself within our school walls.

• Zoë Kay AUSTRALIA

  If I have rights to walk through school being who I am, people who like the same sex shouldn’t find life any different.

• Brandon Zielinski MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

  Everyone should be allowed to love who they fall in love with. It doesn’t matter if it is a guy and a girl, a boy and a boy or a girl and a girl. Love is love, and that’s all that matters.

• yonit chait DONCASTER, AUSTRALIA

  Because everyone has and deserves rights no matter who they love and what they believe.

• Daniella Wigdorowitz AUSTRALIA

  Everyone deserves to love.

• jade bresler AUSTRALIA

  BECAUSE HOMOPHOBIA FUCKIN SUCKS

• Guy Hipsher AUSTRALIA

  I want my school to be a Safe school

• Dahlia Goldberg AUSTRALIA

  because everyone on this earth has the right to love.

• Roy Freeman SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

  SSCV is a great initiative; it educates children about subjects that would otherwise remain taboo in some communities and it makes schools safer for same-sex attracted and gender-diverse kids. The earlier kids are taught about this stuff, the more likely they are to grow up open-minded.

• Montana Sharp AUSTRALIA

  Here’s the thing..

  I used to be indifferent. I used to not care about homosexuality and the phrases ”that’s so gay” and ”faggot” used to fly right out of my mouth. I was uneducated. Sure my aunty whom I hadn’t seen in years was gay, as was my second cousin, but I never really felt an emotional stigma to fight for rights to a concept I had no idea about.

  In 2011, I became very close friends with a very quirky and intelligent guy whom I suspected was gay, not that at the time I really cared, as I said before I was incredibly indifferent. However, once you start to love and trust someone, and recognise that your carelessness is probably keeping them from trusting you, you know changes have to be made. I think education is important not just for those who are rabid homophobics, but for those who have no stance, like I once had. What most of these indifferent individuals need to recognise is that those seemingly harmless everyday words and phrases that we just throw around for the sake of fitting into the mainstream vernacular could be hurting anyone. You could be hurting your sister, your brother, your teacher, your peers, or even your best friend. The removal of the subtle undercurrent of homophobia that is ever-present in Mount Scopus is absolutely essential to the mental and physical wellbeing of the students of the present, and of the future. Let’s fix ignorance.

• Ben Janover AUSTRALIA

  Scopus should show its adhernence of the ethos of having a safe and welcoming learning environment for ALL – including students and staff. Being a current student at school here, I believe that the lid must be opened on this issue.

• Marco Fink MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

  To promote equality and support for all students of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

• David Donaldson AUSTRALIA

  Because school is hard enough without having to worry about being queer or trans.

• Mark Baker MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

  I think the issue goes beyond creating a safe environment; it’s about communicating a message to all students that gays are an equal part of the Jewish covenant, and therefore carry the same responsibility to build authentic Jewish lives and homes. This affirmative message is as important for Scopus, as for a synagogue community.

• Ralph Burd CAULFIELD NORTH, AUSTRALIA

  Everyone deserves to feel safe and be able to have a voice

• Jennifer Lee AUSTRALIA

  Every child and adult has the right to feel safe and welcomed within their community and its institutions – creating and maintaining the dialogue is key.

• Jonathan Danilowitz TEL AVIV, ISRAEL

  To savethe lives of distressed youth under extreme pressure. To reunite families split apart

• Linda Joseph RESTON, VA

  I am a former student of Mt Scopus. My work as a rabbi brings me into contact with many folk from the GLBTQ community. Many of whom have gifted wonderful talents to Jewish life and continuity. If all of us are created B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, shouldn’t GLBTQ students, teachers and members of the College community, not be cherished and accepted, just the way they have been created?

• Sylvia Schey LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

  I believe it is the right for everyone to choose the way they wish to live as long as it doesn’t impact on others. The prime minister of England has brought into law the ability for have a same sex marriage. It is after all, the 21st century

• Roxanne Joseph JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

  Part of Habonim Dror Southern Africa, stand for LBGT rights!

• Daniel Etzion AUSTRALIA

  Im an ex student of the school, and have many friends who are homosexual.

• Lanna Newman-Plant AUSTRALIA

  It is so important that schools are a safe space for everyone.

• Rebecca Burns AUSTRALIA

  Every single person deseves to be treated the same

• Ariela Jacobs AUSTRALIA

  You could save a lot of lives. No one should have to feel uncomfortable within their community, nor should they feel that way with their day to day school environment just because of who they are.

• Eric Rollett AUSTRALIA
  I feel it is important for our society to be more inclusive of something that is not an option or choice for a young person.

• Selma Browde JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

  Should be important to any intelligent thinking person.

• Jaryd Kay CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

  Everybody has the right to dignity.

• Daniel Browde JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

  I believe in standing up to bullies and violence and however we can do that, we should. With kindness and solidarity, we really can make the world a better place.

• Paul Browde NEW YORK, NY

  as a boy i lived with the tyranny of homophobia, as an adult and a psychiatrist i see the terrible effects of homophobia on adolescents with higher suicide rates among gay youth.

• Romy Browne MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

  Everyone, children and adults, deserve to be in an environment where their sexual orientation is respected, they feel safe and where tolerance and acceptance towards and others is not only taught, but enforced. This is a fantastic initiative, you have my full support.

• Merv Barnett AUSTRALIA
  Each and every person, without exception, deserves equal rights and freedom to exist in harmony and complete safety amongst their peers. Schools and other youth organisations must adopt a zero tolerence for homophobia. Protection of our children is paramount whilst they grow and try to find their way in life. I speak from the experience of being a totally supportive parent of a gay son.
• Julie-Anne Lilienthal AUSTRALIA

  We want all members of our community, particularly our children, to be given the confidence to be who they are not, not who we want them to be.

• Harold Zwier ELSTERNWICK, AUSTRALIA

  Putting your name publicly to this petition might encourage others to also sign it and effect change.

• Melissa Scrutton AUSTRALIA

  Family member that was bullied at school due to sexuality.

• Tessa Manoim JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

  because it is important and can save lives

• Nathan Cherny MACCABIM, ISRAEL

  I am a concerned former student and uncle of the school captain

• Osher G CAULFIELD NORTH, AUSTRALIA

  As one of the largest educational organisations of Jewish children in Australia, its integral that our children are brought up and educated in an environment which fosters positive attitudes, tolerance, acceptance and understanding of differences in colour, Race, Creed, religion and of course Sexual preferance

• Naomi Goldwater AUSTRALIA

  Becoming a member of SSCV would show Scopus’ commitment to supporting its GBLTQR students and staff

• Justine Kuran AUSTRALIA

  I don’t tolerate any minority groups being discrimated against on any basis!

• Mark Cherny GAOTING TOWN, CHINA

  There should be no place for homophobia or discrimination based on sexual preferences or orientation within our community.

• Tal Spinrad CLARINDA, AUSTRALIA

  I’m Jewish. Everyone deserves Kavod…everyone deserves to be treated as they were and are created in the image of G-d.

• Michael Winn MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

  I swam at Mt Scopus for 8 years, I know they’re a great school and can do a lot of good

• Daniel Roitman AUSTRALIA

  As an alumni of this school, as well as the sibling of a gay alumni of this school, I feel it is crucial Mount Scopus gets with the time and provides every single student and teacher a safe environment in which they can thrive. This should be independent of sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity or anything else.

• Benjamin Russell WOODFORD, AUSTRALIA

  As a gay student, I found life extremely difficult going to a school where homophobia was abundant. I would like all schools to be safer and more tolerant, which this petition will hopefully provide for your school.

• Kerry Wolfe AUSTRALIA

  All children are entitled to a SAFE environment regardless of Race, Color, Creed or Sexuality !

• Samantha Elsworthy MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

  Growing up is a tough time. We, as adults, remember how hard it was. We need to create as many safe spaces as we can, and actively promote acceptance and love. Please take this small step, join the SSCV, because though it may not directly affect the adults at MSMC, it will mean THE WORLD to the students who you help. It will make their time at your school so much more enjoyable. Thank you.

• Gregory Storer CARNEGIE, AUSTRALIA

  I have family attending the school, it would be good to know that they are in safe hands. These initiatives are important for the on-going safety and security of all students

• Tahlia Hyams AUSTRALIA

  Mount Scopus should show its commitment to providing a safe and respectful campus environment for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other queer students and teachers, and to take all necessary steps to ensure that its campus is a safe space for all, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

• Michael Barnett ASHWOOD, VIC, AUSTRALIA

  In particular, my niece and nephew are students at Mt Scopus and I want them to have the safest environment possible. No student should fear going to school because of bullying because they are different. The school must set the highest standard possible and protect all their students, immediately.

• Megan Efron AUSTRALIA

  I came out when I was at Scopus, I think this is a good initiative.