Adelaide High School students walk out of class to protest against ‘sexist culture’ in their school

Adelaide High students have walked out of class to protest sexist behaviour at their school – including claims nude pictures of a girl were being sold for $5 a text.

Adelaide High School girls have told of the vile verbal sexual harassment that they are subjected to on campus after walking out of classes in protest on Tuesday.

Up to 100 students outside the West Tce campus aired their disgust over the school’s alleged “toxic sexist culture” and an alleged lack of appropriate leadership response to it.

One student, 17, who also did not want to be named, said: “I’ve been repeatedly told by one senior male student almost daily ‘will you come and take a shower with me after school?’.”

The student provided further examples of sexually degrading and threatening remarks too graphic to publish. Claims were also made of a nude text, provided by a female student to a male student, then shared without her consent and sold to other students for $5 a text.

Adelaide High School students Rira, Sophia and Martha, all 17, helped organise the walkout. Their caregivers provided permission for this image to be published. Picture: Tom Huntley

“We’re hoping that this stand against a toxic sexist culture at school will bring more attention to the fact that sexual assault and harassment is prevalent in schools and it needs to be prevented,” said a 17-year-old female student, who had the support of her mother to attend.

“It can no longer be treated as a taboo topic that is swept under the carpet, excused and forgotten.

“We should not have to walk through school halls to be told by male students daily what they would do to us sexually and objectify our bodies.”

Call4Action school group member Sophia, 17, said students were upset by what they perceived as the school’s poor response to student allegations of sexual harassment and assault first raised to leadership last month and publicly on social media.

“We expected the school and its leadership to take accountability … and instead they detailed misleading and vague information to parents and caregivers,” she said.

Students involved in the walkout outside the school’s entrance. Picture: Rebecca DiGirolamo

Students involved in the walkout say they want an apology from their school, and accountability of perpetrators of sexist behaviour. Picture: Tom Huntley

She said there was no material within the school’s curriculum that targeted sexist behaviour and culture.

The students are demanding an apology to both pupils and caregivers over lack of action and misleading information, a whole-school approach to sexual education and respectful relationships, and accountability of perpetrators.

A Change.org student petition calling for an end to sexism and sexual assault at Adelaide High School has attracted more than 6000 signatures.

Adelaide High School principal Cez Green said Tuesday’s events were an opportunity for students to speak about a pressing social issue.

“It is important that they are in the foreground of this discussion and we want them to have the space to be heard,” she said.

“Over the course of this year, we have taken several steps to build on our approach to education and wellbeing and look forward to continuing to work with students to create a safer society for everyone.”

Adelaide High School principal Cez Green has outlined the school’s response to student claims.

It is understood Ms Green has offered to meet with the students organising the protest – an offer which has not yet been taken up.

Ms Green last week said in a letter addressed to students that they could contact her directly to discuss any unresolved issues, as well as provide feedback on the school’s delivery of the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum.

She said the student representatives would help prepare a submission to the Australian Curriculum Review consultation to shape the national approach to education.

“We have set up fortnightly meetings with the Executive Prefect Team and Executive SRC to ensure we stay connected with students on this issue, respond to questions as they arise and seek their feedback on decisions and approaches relating to all aspects of school life,” she said in the letter.

The Adelaide High School walkout follows a national student movement calling for earlier and improved sexual consent through a petition.

The petition sparked a flood of public disclosures earlier this year from school girls who had been sexually assaulted.

Last month, a 17-year-old boy from Adelaide’s western suburbs appeared in court facing sex charges against two juveniles after an Adelaide High girl posted on social media that she had been sexually assaulted.

The alleged incidents involving public school students occurred off site and outside of school hours.