Premier's move to reinstate school 'Christmas' event labelled 'reprehensible'

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff criticised after social post on 'Christmas' event causes school pile-on In short: The Tasmanian premier asked the education department secretary to intervene after a school renamed its end-of-year celebration to remove the word "Christmas". He then posted about the issue on social media. In the ensuing social media storm, the education union called his public post "reprehensible" and damaging to the school and staff. What's next? The premier has been urged to apologise. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is being urged to apologise after one of his social media posts about a public school renaming a Christmas event caused an online stir. Late on Wednesday night, Mr Rockliff posted on Facebook that he was aware of "efforts made to remove all references to Christmas in end-of-year school celebrations". "Acknowledging other traditions is important. But that's not a reason to abandon our own," the premier wrote. "Christmas is a time that brings us together. And our school kids should be encouraged to sing Christmas carols whenever they please. "I have requested that the education department step in." The social media post, which has attracted more than 5,400 comments as of this morning, did not mention a school by name. However, comments on the premier's post as well as reporting in other media named the school as Trevallyn Primary School, in Launceston, and also named the acting principal. Many of the comments on the Facebook post were supportive of the premier's statement. In a newsletter to families dated October 2, school said it was planning for its December fundraising raffle "formerly known as Christmas on the Hill", which it noted was now called the "End of Year Extravaganza!" The calendar in the same newsletter still makes multiple references to Christmas, including planned Christmas Carols and a "Christmas celebration at Tailrace Park", with an image of a Christmas tree. The premier also yesterday sent a letter to department secretary Ginna Webster naming the school and referencing correspondence he had received from a parent. "I do not support schools removing reference to Christmas in end-of-year celebrations or removing carols," he wrote. At the time of writing, the Trevallyn Primary School calendar lists "TPS Christmas Carols" on December 10. Premier's actions 'reprehensible', union says Australian Education Union Tasmanian state manager Brian Wightman told 936 ABC Hobart he was appalled by the premier's actions. "The impact is significant," Mr Wightman said. "We're talking about one school where now a public servant has been named and the school shamed along with the school association. "The consequences of this are significant and the psychological harm that the premier has caused is reprehensible." He said he had yesterday provided the principal's phone number to Mr Rockliff and urged him to make contact and hear the reasons for the school's celebration changes before reacting. Mr Wrightman said the premier should now make that call, apologise and rectify the situation. "It has been blown out of all proportion. The premier's actions are reprehensible and he must pick up the phone today and fix this," he said. Mat Grining, who is president of the Tasmania Principal Association, posted on his personal Facebook page echoing a similar sentiment. "I'm outraged that the premier thinks this is an appropriate use of his office's time, energy and resources to weigh in on an issue that has already been consulted and led by the parent committee of the school," Mr Grining said. "This is absolute overreach. Thank you to the parents and families that express their goodwill towards the deeply committed staff in their local communities." The premier and the education department have been contacted for comment. Education Minister Jo Palmer, who attended the school as a child, has also been contacted for comment.