‘Blind, lame, injured’: School apologises for ‘tone-deaf’ dress-up day request
A Melbourne school has apologised to parents after students were asked to “dress up as blind, lame and injured” ahead of a fundraising event for a disability charity.
Flinders Christian Community College held a walkathon at its Tyabb campus on the Mornington Peninsula last Thursday to raise funds for the charitable organisation, which works overseas.
Flinders Christian Community College has apologised to parents. Facebook
“As part of our learning about the miracles of Jesus, Year 8 students are invited to participate in a special fundraising event that turns compassion into action,” the invitation said.
“Based on the people Jesus encountered and healed, this walkathon challenges us to reflect on empathy, service, inclusion, and helping those in need.”
The invitation asked students to “dress up as blind, lame, injured, etc”.
The request attracted criticism from members of the community, with some labelling the request as “tone-deaf” and an exercise which potentially encouraged stereotyping.
“As a deaf low vision wheelchair user I’d like to state, my life is not a costume,” one person said.
Another person said she took offence to the invitation.
“I am a blind person... I dress like every other average person, nothing special about me,” she said on social media.
Others defended the school and the intention behind the dress code request.
“Flinders is literally a Christian school teaching students about the miracles of Jesus and the people he healed, including the blind, lame and sick,” one person said.
A spokesperson for Flinders Christian Community College said in a statement to nine.com.au the school was aware of the concerns.
The invitation asked students to “dress up as blind, lame, injured, etc”. Supplied
“The event was part of our students’ faith and service learning and was intended to raise awareness and funds for people living with disability, illness and medical hardship,” the spokesperson said.
“However, aspects of how the event was run fell short of the dignity, respect and inclusion we expect at Flinders.
“We unreservedly apologise to people with disability, their families, and everyone in our community who has been hurt.
“We are reviewing the event, including how it was planned, approved and shared, and how disability inclusion was considered.
“We will act on what we learn.”
Flinders Christian Community College is an independent combined school with almost 1700 students across three campuses.
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