LESSONS are set to resume at a Russian Language School based in Warrington, which was forced to close following one anonymous complaint after more than 2,200 people signed a petition calling on Warrington Borough Council to perform a u-turn.
Warrington Russian Language School “Solnyshko” says it was denied access to St Wilfrid’s Primary School in Grappenhall for their usual Saturday morning lessons following one anonymous (and very strongly worded) letter, although Warrington Borough Council say St Wilfrid’s had received a number of aggressive letters regarding the school following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Cllr Sarah Hall, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Warrington Borough Council: “Late on Friday I understand a decision was taken by St Wilfrid’s Primary School, in conjunction with Warrington Borough Council officers, to ask the Russian School, which operates out of St Wilfrid’s C of E Primary School on Saturday mornings, not to proceed for the following day. The decision was taken after the school received aggressive letters in which threats were implied if the classes were to continue. The tone of these letters caused the school significant concern.
“Children of various ages attend the Solnyshko Russian Saturday school. Ensuring the safety of both the pupils and teachers on Saturday was the first priority of both the primary school head teacher and council officers. Therefore, due to safeguarding concerns, the decision was taken not to run the classes for one week’s session while the threats were properly investigated and action taken to ensure the safety of the children and staff.
“The risks have now been properly assessed and steps have been taken to ensure the safety of pupils and teachers and therefore the classes will resume this week.
“It is vital that people here in Warrington, and indeed across this country, never make the mistake of conflating the speaking and learning of Russian, or the appreciation of Russian language and culture, with the deplorable and horrific actions of Vladimir Putin. We should remind ourselves that Russian is widely spoken across a number of countries adjacent to Russia, including Ukraine. I condemn outright those who have written hateful anonymous and aggressive letters to St Wilfrid’s with regard to the Russian school’s longstanding arrangement for the hiring of its premises.
“We must ensure that Warrington provides a welcoming, tolerant and compassionate approach not only to the Ukrainian and Russian people who have made this town their home, but also to those who may come here as refugees. All Ukrainians will be in agony about the atrocities happening to their homeland. But we should also extend the same spirit of tolerance and solidarity to the many ordinary Russians who are bravely repudiating Putin’s actions and reject entirely his war as not being carried out in their name.”
Warrington South MP Andy Carter said: “This morning I have spoken with Warrington Borough Council, St Wilfrid’s Head Teacher and Warrington Russian language school about the decision to suspend Russian lessons which take place on Saturday mornings at Grappenhall primary school. I am very pleased an agreement has been reached for children’s language lessons to re-start.
“Many of the young people who are taught here have families in Ukraine as well as Russia and neighbouring countries where Russian is the most common language. I don’t believe it’s right to want to see children in Warrington of ordinary families living in Russia unable to communicate with their grandparents in their own language because of the crazy acts of Putin.
The Warrington Russian Language School “Solnyshko” opened its doors in 2013.
The school issued a statement saying: “We, as the staff and teachers from Russian language School Solnyshko, want to express our deep sadness and condemnation of what is currently happening between Russia and Ukraine. We call on the world’s leaders to end fighting and ensure that those in Ukraine can start to heal following the pain that has been inflicted on them.
“We support and will always stand by the children, families and people of Ukraine, and all of those who have become victims of this tragedy.
“Our school is small independent, nonprofitable organisation without operational support from either Russian or British governments.
“Our school’s goal is to build bridges between people and cultures with peace and friendship.
“We bring together everyone who is interested in the Russian language and Russian speaking cultures. We have students from England, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus and Bulgaria. Our school is truly international.
“Ukraine and Russia has had a long history together, many families at the school have connections and family or friends in both countries and we are all worried them and the consequences that this conflict will bring, we are all grieving too as it affects all of us.
“Our school is a safe space from the current conflict where we all can come together again and share our fears, we protect our kids from the horror which is going on and lead them by example how to respect and support each other, unite friendship.
“Also we need to protect our staff and students so any discrimination towards our students or teachers will be acted upon immediately.
“Our hearts go out to everyone around the world, who is affected in any way by this crisis.”
More than 2,200 people had signed the petition in support of the school over the weekend.
https://www.change.org/p/stop-closing-schools-for-teaching-russian-to-children
1 Comment
This is a lovely friendly place and I remember well my visit there as Mayor in 2016 just as I do my Polish School visit.
Both places teach language and culture in their own unique and colourful way and are very happy places.
For some ignorant person(s) to threaten children, teacher and families is very sad.