Pupils made to march in heat for refugees
A PRIMARY school has sparked criticism for asking children to walk around a field five times on the hottest day of the year – to show solidarity with refugees.
St Gregory’s Catholic school in Margate, Kent, said the walk was optional and allowed pupils to sympathise with their ‘global neighbours’ who are fleeing war zones.
But the move provoked outrage from some families, who said it was inappropriate to encourage children to spend so much time out in the hot sun. The walk took place on Monday as temperatures peaked at 33.3C (91.9F) in some parts of the country.
The Met Office had issued a warning to stay out of the sun, while Public Health england urged families to ‘use common sense’ before spending prolonged periods outside.
Deputy head teacher at Diane rougvie-Fevrier said the walk was to coincide with the school’s ‘spiritual day’, which included a talk from a representative of CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development).
She said: ‘Children were invited to walk around the school field and we were overwhelmed with the number of children who chose to join in.
‘Although the day was hot, the children enjoyed the earlymorning stroll in the shade and had plenty of water and hats to wear.’
The walk is part of CAFOD’s campaign Share the Journey, launched by Pope Francis to recognise people forced to flee war, poverty, persecution or natural disasters.
Mrs rougvie-Fevrier added: ‘Pope Francis wanted to show solidarity with our global neighbours by encouraging people to walk and represent the journeys they have made.
‘St Gregory’s Catholic primary school children wanted to add their steps to the target of 24,900 miles, the distance around the world.’
However, one of the pupils’ grandparents criticised the walk in a Facebook post that garnered almost 300 comments before it was deleted.
She said: ‘‘The whole school had to do it, the younger ones in the playground. I think this is disgusting on the hottest day of the year.’