The Southport School (TSS) teachers stood aside for allegedly telling students to take off trousers, law firm investigating
A major law firm is heading an investigation into allegations students at a prestigious Gold Coast private school were asked to remove their trousers during a class activity
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A MAJOR law firm is heading an investigation into allegations students at a prestigious Gold Coast private school were asked to remove their trousers during a class activity.
The Bulletin on Tuesday revealed two teachers had been “stood aside” after Year 9 students at The Southport School were allegedly asked by one to remove their pants during a “blackout” team building exercise.
The activity was to be supervised by a teacher wearing night vision goggles.
The school has condemned the alleged actions of the two supervising teachers and have launched an external investigation.
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The school confirmed a report was due back by the end of the week and its outcome would be made public.
TSS principal Greg Wain said the matter was first investigated internally to “ascertain the nature of the incident”.
“From there we decided to commence an external investigation by a major national legal firm.”
He confirmed the two teachers – who live off campus – had been stood aside from teaching as well as boarding duties and activities.
Police confirmed on Wednesday no complaint had been made.
“This incident was not reported to police because it is not a reportable incident,” Mr Wain said.
Child safety advocate Hetty Johnston, who praised Mr Wain’s stance on the matter, called for the school to handle the allegations “openly, transparently, and with the best interest of the child at heart”.
However, she was scathing of the “bizarre” incident.
“There is no excuse for that behaviour from those teachers,” she said. “It just makes you wonder why on earth anyone would ask these young boys to take their pants off. If these teachers have asked these boys to take their trousers off then they need to go. There’s no excuse for that. There isn’t one.”
Parents in the school community have affirmed their support for the school’s administration, putting the incident down to a “stupid decision”.
“TSS is one of the Gold Coast’s best assets and an incredible institution that is of the highest calibre and the best possible place a young man could ever be taught how to think, behave and progress to an adult,” a parent said.
“Any child that has the blessing to go to that school will have a huge advantage in life and I only have absolute praise and respect for the institution and admin of TSS.”
Another said they felt the actions of the teachers involved were unwise and put students at risk. “It was clearly a stupid decision that has upset everyone involved. The school did act quickly, so parents are feeling reassured.”
Another parent said: “I think it’s very alarming that one teacher let alone two would think that that was a good idea.”
TEACHERS STOOD ASIDE
TWO teachers at a prestigious Gold Coast private school have been “stood aside” after a field excursion in which Year 9 students were allegedly told to take off a shoe and trousers – and then watched with night vision goggles.
The Southport School says it has launched an internal investigation into the actions of supervising teachers during a Year 9 activity earlier this month.
The school says the students were participating in a planned activity involving a “blackout challenge”, during which each boy was required to remove a shoe and/or an item of clothing, throw it into the black out room and then work cooperatively to locate their clothing in the dark and put it back on.
A teacher supervised the activity with night vision goggles, TSS says.
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However, one of the teachers decided to increase the challenge by allegedly asking boys to each remove a shoe and their trousers.
In a statement, TSS headmaster Greg Wain said the removal of trousers in any circumstances was never intended to be part of the exercise.
“This changed activity was not authorised and, understandably, several boys objected to removing their trousers and doing the activity in their underpants,” Mr Wain said.
“Changing the activity and asking the boys to participate in their underpants was completely unacceptable.”
Several parents had contacted TSS to express their concern about the incident.
One parent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said there had been consultation with those involved but not the wider TSS community.
“I think they need to work out what’s happened, and I understand they’re investigating it, but I think they need to be transparent.”
The matter has not been reported to authorities, a Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed on Tuesday.
Mr Wain said an investigation was promptly undertaken and support has been provided to boys who were upset.
“They should not have been placed in that situation,” he said.
“The boys were well within their rights to object.”
Furthermore, an external investigation is underway, the school said.
The two supervising teachers have been stood aside from teaching duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
Originally published as The Southport School (TSS) teachers stood aside for allegedly telling students to take off trousers, law firm investigating