SECONDARY school teachers have accused the Education Ministry of placing undue importance on school children’s physique as part of this year’s October 28 parade selection process.
“Physical education teachers were advised to pay particular attention to pupils’ appearance and to choose well-exercised bodies, with special importance regarding the boys,” a teacher who wished to remain unnamed said.
The teacher said although the excuse PE teachers used to reject students was unrelated to their looks, several children had picked up on the fact that they were not considered “attractive” or “thin” enough to represent their school.
“A number of students started crying and a few girls made the comment that only the pretty girls had been chosen,” the teacher said. “This happens every year, but this year it’s much worse.”
She said: “The message the Education Ministry is putting across is that if you’re fat or don’t have a nice body, you’re not allowed to be in the parade.”
But PE inspector Andreas Papadopoulos said the accusation was totally unfounded and that the ministry had not even so much as hinted that participants had to fulfil specific physical criteria.
“Not once did we say that students have to be good looking, tall, or that students mustn’t be too thin or fat. The only criterion is that the students are able to walk properly,” he told the Cyprus Mail.
Despite the ministry’s denial, a memo was sent out to all schools on Wednesday on the issue of the parade. One part of the letter said: “The selection process must be strict and the main criterion must be the faultless appearance in every respect.”
According to the teacher, a military general had made a comment to the Education Minister regarding the pupils’ appearance in last year’s parade. The comment prompted Akis Kleanthous to ensure this year’s performance was flawless, she said.
“Last year the minister was said to be embarrassed by the general’s comment and now everyone is jumping to attention to ensure it runs smoothly. What do they expect?
That our students walk like military men? Is this a military parade?”
Papadopoulos admitted that last year’s parade had been disastrous but said that this year’s improvements had nothing to do with the general’s comments.
“Last year it was a complete shambles with students stepping out of line, walking over to shake people’s hands who stood in the crowd, girls wore skirts that were far too short and kept trying to pull them down so that their underpants wouldn’t show, and some students shouted across to one another,” he said.
The PE inspector said this year the ministry’s only criteria were that the pupils could walk properly and that they were clean-shaven.
“Although there is no rule about hair, we’ve asked that they keep it tidy and brush it back,” he said.
“We’ve also stressed the importance of students who will not cause problems and that are reliable and will show up on the day so that they don’t cause problems to the other pupils’ in their line. Other than that there is no criterion and every student is allowed to try out for the parade,” he said.
But the teacher questioned what the educational purpose of the school parade was anyway.
She said: “We are told to remember that each child is an individual but what sort of message is this selection process passing on to children. Other years it was problem, but this year it’s much worse and a lot of children are being turned down. Where is the respect for children’s differences? Do you know how many children are anorexic in schools and how does this impact students’ body image?”
Papadopoulos said the parade’s sole aim was to celebrate October 28, Greek National Day.
“Our purpose is to celebrate the day but to do so well and with dignity. If anyone thinks that means we want to focus on pupils’ physical appearance then there was obviously a miscommunication,” he said.
Commenting on the story, Secondary School Parents’ Association president Nicos Vitsaides said it was abominable if the teachers’ allegations bore any truth.
“The regulations do not allow for the selection of school children [in the parade] based on their good looks or their good bodies.
“Such an inclination is rather prejudiced as is saying well exercised [pupils] should be chosen. We want to believe that the Education Ministry gave no such instruction, either officially or unofficially. And if it has done, it’s condemnable,” Vitsaides said.
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