From hidden alcohol, to sexism, a Former OneSchool Global teacher reveals concerning behaviour in her classroom
A former OneSchool Global teacher has revealed what life was allegedly like in her classroom, citing sexism, in-class drinking, and tampered teaching resources.
A former teacher at a OneSchool Global campus, attended by members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, has emerged with claims that students regularly attended school drunk and would “hide it (alcohol) up in the ceilings” to consume in the classroom.
The teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, taught high school aged children at a Victorian OneSchool Global campus in 2010.
“They would come to school drunk,” the 45-year-old told The Advertiser.
“These boys would be like sneaking alcohol everywhere and you would tell them ‘look you can’t have it at school’ and they would be like ‘yeah right whatever’ and then you would have to find one of the leaders, one of the men to come and yell at them.
“I’ve never seen it like that before.”
The educator, who has taught at various religious schools, claimed drinking was most common among male students and believed it was encouraged by parents because “it was seen that once you’re a man you can have alcohol”.
A second former teacher, who is now based in South Australia backed up these claims and said the Victorian campus he taught at also had a drinking problem among students.
“Students would come into school on a Monday bragging about the alcohol that they drank on the weekend,” he said.
“The disturbing part of that was this was coming from Year 7 students.”
In response to these claims, a OneSchool Global spokesman said that any student with alcohol on campus or intoxicated at school “would be met with a combination of sanctions and support”.
While the former female teacher said her time at OneSchool Global, which was previously known as Glenvale School, was “fun at the start” she soon found herself subject to sexism.
“The one that really upset me the most was on my last day there,” she said.
“They had an exam on and the boys decided to … not do the exam (and said) ‘why should we bother doing this, you’re a girl, you’re not even in the church, how dare you talk to us like that, I’m a man now … I don’t have to listen to girls’.”
The Victorian said she was forbidden by management to speak about her child born outside of wedlock as “it goes past their beliefs and rules”.
She also said teaching resources were “vetted by elders” and returned with “entire pages ripped out” and sections blacked out.
“They say that it’s independent, but it’s not” the former teacher said.
“Their religion definitely dictates the school.
“The kids are just totally brainwashed.”
A OneSchool Global spokesman said “discriminatory behaviour of any kind” does “not align” with the school’s values and is “not tolerated”.
They also said the school has a library with more than 60,000 titles from modern and classic authors.
“OneSchool Global is run independently of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, but does provide quality education for the children of that church community,” the spokesman added.
“We have a strong school community of staff and parents, who share the common goal of providing our students with the best possible learning outcomes.”
The teacher said she was “upset” about the patriarchal structure of the school and the alleged lack of opportunities available to female students.
“Women weren’t allowed to do anything past year 12, they just got pregnant as soon as possible and have as many babies as possible and it just really upset me,” she said.
“They didn’t even let them study for VCE or anything.
“I used to cross my fingers every single day for years … that some of these girls would leave and just come and find me.
“There’s no way for them to escape.”
A OneSchool Global spokesman denied these claims and said “all students … male and female are encouraged to achieve the best results”.
