Boys told to stand in solidarity for female students at Brauer College Warrnambool

Furious parents say their sons were told to “apologise” to girls at a Warrnambool school assembly amid ongoing sexual harassment claims at other Victorian schools.

Parents of male students at a Warrnambool school have been left furious after they were told to stand in solidarity for females at an assembly.

Parents of male students at a Warrnambool school have been left furious after they were told to stand in solidarity and “apologise” to females amid ongoing sexual harassment claims at Victorian schools.

The Herald Sun has been told by parents of students at Brauer College that the school held an assembly on Wednesday where boys were told to stand in solidarity for female students who had experienced sexual harassment.

Danielle Shepherd, whose son is in Year 7 at the school, said she was left angry that parents were not warned about the assembly beforehand.

“I was told by my son that the boys were told to stand up and apologise, but he said ‘we didn’t do anything mum’. I think the school should’ve at least notified us about this before holding the assembly,” Ms Shepherd said.

“The way the school has gone about it is not right and I know other parents feel the same.”

One Snapchat post, believed to be by a male student at the school, also took aim at the assembly saying: “Today at Brauer they made every guy stand up and apologise to every girl for rape, sexual assault. so on.”

“Guys go through as much sh.t as girls do,” the post said.

Other parents applauded the school’s actions on social media, saying they supported school leaders for “bringing the issue to light”.

“I’m glad these issues are being discussed at school and all schools should do the same,” one parent said.

Another parent wrote: “There’s always more than one side to a story. This is just one students take on what happened.”

Last week the Herald Sun revealed police would investigate after female students at Wesley College came forward with ­accounts of sexual harassment at the elite private school.

Brauer College Principal Jane Boyle said schools played an important role in the promotion of safety and respect of all students and discussions in schools around respect towards girls and women.

“This week, at a whole school assembly, Brauer College discussed the topic of respect for woman and the importance of bystander behaviour and speaking up to report incidents of inappropriate behaviour,” Ms Boyle said.

“The assembly included the screening of a video message by Brisbane Boys’ College Captain Mason Black about being proactive in stopping incidents of sexual assault and harassment.

“As part of this discussion boys were asked to stand as a symbolic gesture of apology for the behaviours of their gender that have hurt or offended girls and women.

“In retrospect, while well-intended, we recognise that this part of the assembly was inappropriate.

“Today, the school is contacting parents to explain the reasons behind the assembly and to ensure that any student who requires support is aware that it is available.”

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