Knox Grammar scandal: Education Minister condemns students over vile secret chat room

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell has condemned students who posted child abuse material, racist and homophobic videos and misogynistic rants to a secret group. And Jewish groups want the elite schoolboys to meet a Holocaust survivor.

The internet chatroom scandal of Knox Grammar students has been condemned by the state’s top Jewish group which has invited the entire school cohort to meet a holocaust survivor so they could learn the abhorrent reality of their anti-Semitic comments.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell declared there should be zero tolerance for the behaviour of the Knox students.

“I was completely shocked and appalled to learn of the activities within these chat groups,” she said.

“This is far from the behaviour we expect from students in NSW. It is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any capacity.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Darren Bark said he was horrified by the pro-Hitler sentiment promoted by the students.

Sarah Mitchell said she was shocked by the chatroom messages. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA NewsWire

“To glorify and praise an abhorrent figure responsible for the genocide of millions of innocent people is both grossly offensive and unacceptable,” he said.

“We invite the entire Knox Grammar cohort to visit the Sydney Jewish Museum and to meet with a Holocaust survivor, so they can realise there is nothing remotely funny about their comments.”

Sexual consent activist Chanel Contos said the Knox example was just the tip of the iceberg.

“I don’t think it’s a wild concept to say that in every grade, at every school around Australia, there’s at least one group chat that talks in this manner whether it’s online or in person,” she said.

“This behaviour is worryingly common among teen boys. These conversations online, where the boys are often trying to ‘one up’ each other, normalise violence in real life.

“I don’t think many people who engage in conversations like this understand the weight of their words until they’re older.

Chanel Contos said the behaviour was worryingly common among teen boys. Photo: Hollie Adams.

“We need radical cultural change where respect towards women and other marginalised groups is centred in the education system and at home.”

Parents yesterday were also shocked over the contents of the chat but some were satisfied with how the school appeared to be handling the matter.

At the school drop off on Thursday, Julia, who only gave her first name, said she was shocked to learn of the behaviour of the students involved.

“I’m very surprised,” she said.

“The culture is not like that. It’s a good school and to my knowledge it does very well.”

Jerry, a student at the school said that he and his father were very shocked to hear the news after receiving the email on Wednesday. He said the contents of the group chat did not reflect how most of the students behaved nor the values of the school.

“No one knew about it,” Jerry said. “None of the students … We are very shocked.”

Another parent said he was “happy” with how the school had handled it.

“If anything happens whether it is staff or pupils, I believe they act in a responsible way. They have programs in place to deal with this.”