A primary school in Scotland has made the difficult decision to cancel its annual Christmas show after staff were targeted with a wave of racist and abusive messages online. The incident highlights growing community tensions in the area.
Show Cancelled Following Vile Online Backlash
Cauldeen Primary School, located on Mackay Road in Inverness, had planned to stage a production entitled 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme'. The festive performance was due to include a scene that focused on refugee children caught up in the ongoing conflict in Syria.
However, the school's plans were thrown into disarray after it received what Highland Council described as 'negative feedback' on social media. This quickly escalated into 'racist and abusive messages', some of which were directed personally at the school and its teaching staff.
Police Investigation Launched into Abusive Communications
The online abuse was severe enough to prompt a police response. A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed that a report was received on the morning of Friday, November 21 concerning 'threatening and abusive communications online'. They stated that 'inquiries are ongoing'.
In light of the hostility and with the welfare of pupils and staff as its paramount concern, the school took the decision to scrap the show entirely. A spokesperson for Highland Council explained the reasoning, stating the school had made 'the wellbeing of staff and pupils its main priority'.
New Festive Plans and Wider Community Tensions
Instead of the traditional Christmas show, classes at Cauldeen Primary will now participate in other 'festive learning' activities within the safety of the school. The council confirmed that such operational decisions fall under the school's 'devolved school management'.
This distressing event occurs against a backdrop of local tension. The city of Inverness has recently been the focus of debate after the UK Government announced plans to house approximately 300 male asylum seekers at the city's Cameron Barracks.
The cancellation of a children's Christmas celebration over racist abuse marks a sad moment for the community, underscoring how national issues can impact local institutions.
