A Perth high school's decision to prohibit a Year 12 student from using the phrase 'Free Palestine' in her yearbook quote has ignited a fierce debate over student expression and censorship, forcing the Western Australian Education Department to step in.
Department Intervention Resolves Standoff
The controversy at Harrisdale Senior High School escalated after the student was informed that her chosen quote, 'Free Palestine', was banned because it was 'not apolitical' and 'may offend some people'. According to an online petition created in response, the student then proposed an alternative, 'Palestinian and proud', but this was also flagged by the school as requiring further review.
The impasse was ultimately broken when the Education Department became involved. The department's deputy director-general for schools, Steve Watson, confirmed that a resolution was reached after discussions with the school. The student agreed to modify her comment to the approved phrase, 'proud Palestinian'.
Guidelines and Community Reaction
Mr Watson emphasised that while schools are responsible for considering the potential impact of yearbook comments, students should be free to celebrate their cultural heritage. 'The department has worked with the school to achieve an outcome that enables this,' he stated in November 2025.
He also noted that the department expects schools with yearbooks to set clear content guidelines and will assist Harrisdale SHS in developing these for future publications. The comments for the yearbook were submitted earlier in the month and are now being finalised.
Meanwhile, the online petition gathered significant support, with signatories condemning the initial ban as an act of censorship and racism. One commenter argued, 'Students should be encouraged to engage thoughtfully with global issues, not silenced for caring about them.'
The Complexity of a Slogan
The phrase 'Free Palestine' sits at the centre of a complex international debate. Frequently chanted at pro-Palestinian rallies, it is seen by supporters as a legitimate call to end the oppression of Palestinians. However, critics often interpret it as an anti-Semitic slogan demanding the expulsion of Jewish people from Israel.
This incident occurred as the WA Education Department rolled out new guidelines for teaching controversial topics in public schools. These guidelines caution teachers against promoting personal religious or political beliefs, instead encouraging them to 'foster critical thinking' among students.
Harrisdale Senior High School, which opened in Perth's south-east in 2017, has a student population of more than 2000.
