ACT public school principal Janelle Rowe gave 34 years of her life to teaching which she loved.
Then the ACT Education Directorate attempted to force her to take part in Wear It Purple Day and she refused.
News.com.au quotes a Wear It Purple Day spokesperson as saying: “Participation is voluntary by design for both students and teachers.”
Just not for Janelle Rowe.
Despite the Directorate’s own records describing her as “outstanding”, “highly capable” and “the best leader I have ever worked with in my 40-year career”, she was unfairly accused of under-performing.
So she resigned.
Why Principal Opposed Wear It Purple Day
The Wear It Purple website says it was created in 2010 to “ensure every LGBTQIA+SB young person knows they are seen, supported and never alone.”
Ms. Rowe told News24 other days celebrated in the school’s curriculum such as Anzac Day and NAIDOC Week, required “extrapolating” from teachers to help students understand what each event meant and represented.
“We go into detail about the history and what the day is about. We provide activities,” she said.
“And that’s how I saw where Wear It Purple Day was going to land, I didn’t want my staff to have to talk about what each of the letters meant.”
“I’ve since talked to people and staff and teachers and they’ve said: We don’t want to talk about this stuff at schools. It’s not appropriate.”
“I Was Attempting To Protect Children From The Content”
“My objection was the content that the teachers would have had to describe to the children.”
“We’re told in our codes of conduct not to talk about sexual intimacies and so I was attempting to support my staff and also protect children from the content.”
When asked if other teachers and principals privately supported her stance, but were too frightened to say so publicly, Ms Rowe responded: “I would say that there’s a pretty high chance that’s true.”
“Certainly after I explained to staff my reasoning, I had one staff member come up and say: I completely agree with you, but I would never say anything.”
Proposed Swap For ‘Bullying No Way Week’
Janelle Rowe proposed swapping Wear It Purple Day for Bullying No Way Week – a genuinely inclusive alternative that didn’t require her staff to explain sexuality and gender ideology to four-year-olds.
“It’s actually the week before, so it wouldn’t have been that challenging to accept and it is inclusive,” the former principal said.
“Everyone is in a position where they may be bullied.”
“Unfortunately it’s quite rampant and that was a more inclusive focus in my opinion.”
The Persecution Of The Principal
That plan sparked activists’ complaints and a disciplinary process which Ms. Rowe and her lawyers claim descended into “a series of trumped-up and unproven claims”.
“There was a phone call. There was a I need to speak to you face to face. Bring a support person if you want to, but come now.”
“I was told a list of allegations and topics that I had done wrong and told that half the staff were going to quit, that they couldn’t have a failing school, that I needed to win the confidence back of the staff.”
“My one and only question after reading my three pages of reply, from her was: Are you going to participate in Wear It Purple Day and Wear Purple?
News24’s James MacPherson asked: “Were you essentially being ordered to publicly endorse something that you conscientiously objected to?”
Janelle Rowe replied: “Yes.”
“You’re Only Doing This Because You’re A Christian”
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) writes: “Then came the accusation that she was only doing this because she’s a Christian.”
“Janelle chose not to go to Fair Work so she could speak freely, and is now telling her story through the media, so parents know what’s happening in their children’s classrooms.
Ms. Rowe doesn’t regret taking a stance.
“If I’ve helped one parent to feel empowered to speak up or if I protected one child from hearing something that might cause trauma or that just might give them difficulties in future life, then that’s great.”
“Yes, I’m upset that I’m not working.”
“I really want to see children flourish and learn to read and write.”
The ACL says: “Principals who protect childhood, deserve our backing.”
Support From Political Leaders
Nationals leader Matt Canavan questioned: “What is going on in our schools? She was being forced to teach about alternative lifestyles to four-year-olds.”
Family First Party National Director Lyle Shelton hailed Janelle Rowe as a “hero” for putting children and parents first.
“Janelle should be regarded as a hero for having the courage to say what countless Australian parents are thinking: Four-year-olds do not need sexual and gender concepts introduced to them at school.”
One Nation education spokesperson Colleen Harkin told News24 that Ms. Rowe’s case showed drastic changes are needed for the Australian education system.
No Comment From ACT Education Bosses
The ACT Education Directorate refused to comment.
ACT Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Education Rachel Stephen-Smith also wouldn’t comment on Ms. Rowe’s treatment, but said: “At ACT public schools, inclusion and respect isn’t an add-on.”
“It’s at the heart of our education system”.
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