The Office of the Children’s Commissioner is involved in investigating the incident where high school students were shown a homophobic video during Religious Studies class.
According to the complaint of MP Alexandra Attalides, parents of students expressed their strong dissatisfaction with the “homophobic and backward content of the video.”
As stated in her statements to philenews, the Children’s Commissioner, Despo Michaelidou, who viewed the said video, the Office will formally contact the Ministry of Education to provide explanations as to whether there has been an investigation into the incident.
Specifically, what needs to be investigated according to the Commissioner is under what conditions the video was screened and whether there was discussion with the students or it was simply shown without their input.
“What I want to emphasize is that whatever ideas a teacher wants to convey should not be inspired by hate speech, indoctrination, or propaganda, and I refer to all subjects, not just Religious Studies,” said the Children’s Commissioner.
According to Ms. Michaelidou, it would have been good to avoid the part of the video that referred to diversity.
She noted that this video could have given children a reason and a voice for a good discussion, in order to develop critical thinking and to express their opinions about what they see while attending the 3rd Grade of Lyceum.
“However, I do not believe that we should reach the extreme of censorship in the way of teaching or conveying ideas, but I repeat that any homophobic comments are not allowed. Mentioning normal and abnormal should be avoided,” she said.
Finally, she emphasized that videos that undermine dignity or provoke homophobic thoughts or hatred against a group of people who are different should not be shown.
