A primary school in Inverness has cancelled its Christmas show after receiving racist and abusive messages online. Cauldeen Primary School scrapped the planned production of "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" following a wave of online abuse directed at the school and staff, with Police Scotland now investigating the threatening communications.
The decision comes amid heightened tensions in the city over UK Government plans to house around 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks, an army facility in Inverness.
Highland Council confirmed the school has prioritised staff and pupil wellbeing. «Following negative feedback on social media, including racist and abusive messages – some of which were directed at the school and staff – the school has made the wellbeing of staff and pupils its main priority,» a spokesperson said.
Classes will now take part in festive learning activities instead of the Christmas show. «Under devolved school management, decisions like this are an operational matter for the school,» the council added.
Police Investigation
Police Scotland received a report on Friday morning about threatening and abusive online communications. «Inquiries are ongoing,» a spokesperson confirmed.
The Musical at the Centre
The cancelled show was based on "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme", a 2016 musical by education organisation Edgy Productions. The production includes a scene and song about refugee children caught in the Syrian conflict and encamped on the Turkey-Syria border.
Edgy Productions said they were «shocked and saddened» by the abuse. The organisation clarified that the scene was written in 2016 when the Syrian refugee crisis was «international headline news at the time and the world's sympathies were with those refugees.»
«If some people have mistakenly inferred that this children's production has any content about the migrant situation which has sparked debate in the UK some nine years later, then their reaction is misplaced,» the organisation stated.
Official Reactions
John Finlayson, council education chairman, supported the school's decision. «It is unfortunate that the decision has been taken to cancel the planned nativity play, but school staff are best placed to make such decisions,» he said.
Angus MacDonald, Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, condemned the online abuse. «All of those posting appalling abuse online need to take a long hard look at themselves. I hope the police will be pursuing this shocking behaviour with urgency,» he said.
The Highland region has previously welcomed refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine and Syria under resettlement schemes.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
