The Mount Scopus Memorial College students were on an excursion to Melbourne Museum yesterday when they crossed paths with Year 10 students from another Melbourne high school.

9News understands a group of students chanted ‘Free Free Palestine’ towards children in the Mount Scopus group, before unleashing a series of anti-Semitic slurs.

Outraged parents have expressed their anger at the situation.

“My granddaughter is in Grade 5, she’s 10 years old. She is totally traumatised by this,” grandparent Michael told 3AW Mornings.

“She has no understanding why she was told she was a baby killer and why she was a dirty Jew.”

In a statement, Mount Scopus said it was “deeply concerned and disappointed” by the incident.

“During an excursion designed to promote learning, respect, and shared cultural understanding, primary school students from Mount Scopus recounted anti-Semitic and political phrases chanted at them in a shared learning space, on the basis of their visible Jewish identity,” Mount Scopus Memorial College Principal, Dan Sztrajt said.

“No child should ever be made to feel unsafe or targeted because of their identity or background.”

Sztrajt has been in contact with the principal of the other school involved, who expressed concern over the incident, Mount Scopus said. 

“As educators, I believe we share a commitment to challenging prejudice and fostering understanding through education,” Sztrajt said.

“To that end, Mount Scopus Memorial College has offered to work together with the other school to ensure that an appropriate educational response to this incident is made available.”

Deputy premier and education minister Ben Carroll denounced the attacks in a statement.

“I’ve spoken with the Principal of Mount Scopus College today and conveyed my disgust at the anti-Semitic attacks on their students yesterday,” he said.

“I have offered every support possible to help them through this incident.

“It is unacceptable that students or staff feel unsafe in the community where they learn, work and play. Hate has no place in Victoria. Our strength is our diversity.”

Museums Victoria said it had contacted the parties involved, who are handling the matter privately.