2 days ago
Conviction means staying put, not walking out
T he keffiyeh originated in the Iraqi city of Kufa in the 7th century, and was worn by Bedouin tribesmen to protect them from the harsh desert sun and sandstorms.
So you can see why it's an essential piece of kit for some staff members in a Dublin primary school this summer. So essential, in fact, that two employees have handed in their resignation rather than give up wearing their scarves, and are due to cease employment in August — in the middle of their holidays, too. How about that for dedication?
If the man and woman, a teacher and a special needs assistant (SNA) had left their jobs to work for a Gazan relief agency, it would be fair to say that they had put their commitment to the Palestinian cause above their dedication to their young pupils. But instead, it appears to be their commitment to this kind of activism that they have prioritised, at a time when the shortage of teachers in Dublin schools has, according to the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, reached 'crisis point'.
