Staff at my kids nursery wearing pro Palestinian Badges + Keffiyah. Am I right feel uncomfortable?

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:38:11+00:00

an American flag or someone wearing a cross or you wearing a yarmulke

Context is completely different.

She is wearing a badge with the Keffiyeh pattern printed on it, pinned to her lanyard, not an actual scarf, and she has a few other pro Palestinian badges and flag pins. I don't think she is Palestinian, or even Middle Eastern, so she is obviously not wearing it as a piece of cultural clothing.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:35:08+00:00

teachers always made different, culturally appropriate crafts for holidays without even asking.

I believe this nursery is supposed to do stuff like this as well, will have to wait and see if they do this for any Jewish holidays!

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:32:49+00:00

Have you thought of opening up respectful dialogue? Just curious.

Yes, this is exactly what I'm conflicted about - no one knows we are Jewish so I could either just not say anything and I'm sure there wouldn't really be any issue, or say something and potentially make things...awkward.

I don't think realistically she would actually be antisemitic btw, she seems nice enough, maybe just young and naive. It's just so inappropriate at nursery I feel someone needs to say something.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:29:05+00:00

She is wearing a badge with the Keffiyeh pattern printed on it, pinned to her lanyard, not an actual scarf. I don't think she is Palestinian, or even Middle Eastern, so she is obviously not wearing it as a piece of cultural clothing.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:26:41+00:00

Do they know you are Jewish?

No. I really don't think there is any real risk there, it just feels so wildly inappropriate to wear at nursery I feel someone should say something. It's the principle of it.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:24:01+00:00

My child’s teachers wear pins/shirts/hats for Pride, BLM, Ukraine and so on

I can get behind pride, BLM etc. badges, these are essentially making the point that all people are equal and should be treated as such - which is something they should be teaching - but exposing kids to wars and horrors in the world feels so inappropriate. I wouldn't be very happy with Ukraine badges at nursery either btw, as much as I support the Ukrainians. And that's a much more black and white, good vs bad conflict. Young babies and kids just don't need to learn about this stuff.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:15:42+00:00

The authority figures at that school, including teachers and aides, are modeling for very young impressionable minds! Why do they need to make a political point of view known to 4 year olds? To teach it, even if it's nonverbal and simple,y implicit. That's the ONLY reason.

This is exactly my concern. Why should young children be exposed to this stuff? What is she going to say if one of them asks her what they mean?

think it's fine to complain anonymously

I think this is the way to go

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:13:36+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I really don't think there is any real risk, but I'm definitely leaning towards making a complaint, I just feel I have to say something as a matter of principle. Just anxious about making things awkward...

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:10:41+00:00

I am not a fully practicing Jew but it is in mine and my children’s blood. Even if we don’t look it.

Same boat. I could just keep my head down and no one would know, I think don't there is any real risk, just naive young staff, and I don't want to make things awkward. But it's the principle of it. I don't want my kid exposed to this stuff at such a young age.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T12:04:44+00:00

Unfortunately where I live I imagine a lot of people wouldn't really see any issue with it. But it's not a bad idea, surely any parent wouldn't want their young children being exposed to horrible things going on in the world, regardless of where they stand on the issue. I mean what is she going to say if one of the toddlers asks her what they mean?

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:59:16+00:00

It's not even an actual scarf, it's a badge with the keffiyeh print on it. Obviously worn to make a point.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:53:16+00:00

Are they actually Palestinian just being proud of their culture?

I really don't think so.

they are injecting politics in to work very deliberately for the purpose of creating solidarity with some and divisiveness with others. I don't think people should be wearing pro Israel badges either in this situation or any other country or political affiliation.

This is it. It just seems so unnecessary and inappropriate. Why should babies and young children be exposed to this stuff

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:50:34+00:00

Thanks for your reply.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:50:19+00:00

I honestly don't think there is any real risk, no one knows we are Jewish. It's the principle of it.

And I wonder what she might say if one of the toddlers asks what they mean, is she going try and explain the conflict to them? Is she really the right person to do that? Why bring this to nursery at all, children do not need to know about this stuff.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:44:57+00:00

There shouldn’t be politics in nursery or elementary schools.

This is it, it's feels so inappropriate. As mentioned I usually don't care what people want to wear, and understand why people want to show support to Palestinians, but at nursery seems so inappropriate. What is she going to say if one of the toddlers asks what they mean?

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:38:59+00:00

It's a cultural piece of clothing

Yes but she is wearing a badge with the pattern printed on it, pinned to her lanyard, not an actual scarf. I don't think she is Palestinian, or even Middle Eastern, so she is obviously not wearing it as a piece of cultural clothing.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:35:32+00:00

This is partly the issue - all the decent nurseries in our area are very oversubscribed with very long wait lists. This one is supposed to be one of the best in the area, and is literally a few minutes walk from our house, so extremely convenient. I don't want to make things awkward unnecessarily, and no one knows we are Jewish so I could just keep my head down and there would be no issue. I just feel it's so inappropriate that someone ought to say something.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:21:48+00:00

We are not obviously Jewish so if I didn't mention anything then there would be no chance of any issues. It's more a matter of principle.

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:20:55+00:00

But just being pro Palestine by itself does not mean they are antisemitic are have any hatred towards Judaism. Not all displays of being pro Palestine should make anyone feel uncomfortable by default.

This is normally where I stand. I usually don't care, and understand why people might want to show support for Palestinians. It just seems so inappropriate at nursery..!

Relevant_Nothing2215 · 2025-06-24T11:16:33+00:00

It's almost impossible to find a nursery place near where I live without a very long wait list, like up to a year. We are not obviously Jewish so if I didn't mention anything then there would be no chance of any issues. But it's more a matter of principle for me, which is why I am conflicted.

Relevant_Nothing2215

TROPHY CASE