A fierce debate has raged after a number of New South Wales schools renamed ‘Grandparents Day‘ to ‘Grandfriends Day’ in an effort to be more inclusive.
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, the NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell, addressed the matter and explained the reasoning behind the name change, referring to one school in particular that embraced the change, in an effort to placate those who opposed it.
“Spring Farm Public School used this term to promote their event as they had invited residents from a local aged care facility who are pen pals with the students,” Mitchell said.
“This was an opportunity for young students who have sadly lost their grandparents to feel included in the day’s celebrations.”
Despite those who initiated the name change having the best of intentions, the move has still drawn the ire of the online community and high-profile figures.
Australian politician and media commentator, Mark Latham, took to Facebook to slam the name change, claiming that “even Grandparents are victims of cancel culture”.
“This used to be Grandparents Day. What exactly is a ‘Grandfriend’? A term nobody has heard of,” he wrote.
“Why have grandparents been rubbed out in the new, silly woke world of Spring Farm Public School near Camden in Sydney?
“Undoubtedly it’s the school worried about ‘offending someone’, unspecified and totally unwarranted.
“Parents and grandparents at the school have complained and I don’t blame them. It’s an insult to grandparents and the wonderful love and support they provide.”
There were many who shared similar views to Latham, taking to Twitter to have their concerns heard over what many considered “woke nonsense” that made “no sense”.
For all those who vehemently opposed changing the name, there were just as many who supported the move with many citing the fact that some children no longer have living grandparents around, concluding that the move was a “sensible and logical” one.
Grandparents Day is celebrated on the last Sunday and according to the NSW Government is about “celebrating the role of grandparents and older people in our lives.”
“Grandparents, grand-friends, kin, and those who take on the role of a grandparent in their family or community are recognised for their contributions,” the NSW Government explained.