A state education minister has offered support to a leading Jewish school after a group of 10 and 11 year-old students was allegedly subjected to anti-Semitic taunts.
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See subscription optionsMelbourne's Mount Scopus Memorial College said a group of grade five children were targeted with intimidating slurs "on the basis of their visible Jewish identity".
The school alleged the taunts came from students from a different, unnamed high school during an excursion to Melbourne Museum on Thursday.
A man who identified himself as a grandfather of one of the primary students said his granddaughter was left "totally traumatised".
"She had no understanding why she was told she was a baby killer, why she was told she was a dirty Jew," the man told Melbourne radio station 3AW.
Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Dan Sztrajt said the incident was distressing and is being investigated.
"No child should ever be made to feel unsafe or targeted because of their identity or background," he said.
Mr Sztrajt did not name the other school allegedly involved but said the other principal had expressed concern.
"Mount Scopus Memorial College has offered to work together with the other school to ensure that an appropriate educational to this incident is made available," he said.
Melbourne Museum operator Museums Victoria said discrimination had no place in its facilities.
"Museums Victoria is deeply sorry that this incident has occurred at one of our venues," it said.
Victorian Education Minister and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said he had spoken to Mr Sztrajt to convey his "disgust" at the attack on the students and offer every support possible.
"It is unacceptable that students or staff feel unsafe in the community where they learn, work and play," he said in a statement.
Cabinet minister Danny Pearson said he did not believe anti-Semitism had become a "norm" for Jewish Melburnians.
"If you look around our city and our state, the overwhelming majority of people are tolerant, respectful," he told reporters on Friday.
"They're not racist, they're not bigots."
Asked if the state government had done enough to stamp out the behaviour, Mr Pearson noted it passed legislation through parliament in April to strengthen Victoria's anti-vilification laws.
The criminal aspect of the changes, which make it easier to prove serious vilification in public, private or online, take effect on September 20.
Victoria Police were contacted for comment.
Australian Associated Press
