2 days ago
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A assembly has apologised for immoderate "upset" caused implicit a missive sent to parents by a headteacher which implied the Union Flag could beryllium seen arsenic "potentially violative oregon sectarian".
Fiona MacDonald, caput of Cross Arthurlie Primary School successful Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, raised concerns pursuing a P7 leavers' lawsuit past week which was attended by parents and carers.
In her letter, Ms MacDonald said the usage of a Union Flag featuring unit images "caused immoderate upset astatine the opening of the evening".
She added: "As a schoolhouse we beforehand inclusion and acceptance, actively moving against perchance violative oregon sectarian messaging.
"Although we recognise this was not the intent we are acrophobic that others wrong oregon beyond the schoolhouse assemblage whitethorn see that this is thing we would encourage."
The headteacher said she had spoken to the children to explicate "why it wasn't a bully idea" to usage images without permission.
She besides explained "the symbolism and relation of flags and symbols to antithetic groups of people" and however the youngsters' actions were "contrary to the schoolhouse values of respect and kindness".
Ms MacDonald past signed off: "I anticipation this helps everyone recognize wherever mistakes person been made and we tin determination connected enjoying the remainder of the extremity of word celebrations."
East Renfrewshire Council aboriginal apologised and said it was "not the school's volition to connote the Union Flag is sectarian".
The person of the Scottish Conservatives had earlier called for the section authorization to apologise for the "daft letter".
MSP Russell Findlay said: "For a schoolhouse to archer parents that our country's emblem is 'offensive oregon sectarian' is ludicrous and embarrassing."
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Former enactment person and workfellow Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, besides voiced his choler astatine the letter.
Posting connected X, helium said: "Let maine beryllium wide - to equate the Union Flag with sectarianism is wholly unacceptable and profoundly violative to radical some locally and crossed Scotland."
Demanding an apology, helium added: "Our nationalist emblem is not up for statement - it is simply a awesome of our tradition, unity arsenic a federation and anticipation for truthful many."
In a statement, East Renfrewshire Council said: "It was not the school's volition to connote the Union emblem is sectarian and some the headteacher and the assembly apologises for immoderate offence and upset that has been caused to pupils, parents and carers and the wider community.
"All acquisition establishments successful East Renfrewshire should beryllium spaces that are focused connected learning, unity, and pridefulness successful a divers British society.
"We expect our schools to foster an ethos of respect for divers perspectives and nationalist identity."
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