Scotch College lambasted by mum, daughter over handling of naked photo incident
A Scotch College student sent a handwritten apology letter to a girl after claiming he had naked pictures of her and showed them to his mates. But months later the issue has resurfaced.
Education
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Scotch College has been slammed for its handling of a year 11 student who showed his class mates photos of a naked girl he said was a female friend.
The girl he claimed was in the photos is 16 and in year 11 at another leading private school.
She has always insisted the photos were not of her and told the Sunday Herald Sun the incident showed the college culture lacks respect for women.
The boy was suspended in February by the school and apologised in a handwritten letter, promising it will “never happen again”.
But the issue resurfaced last month when the girl received a text from one of the boy’s classmates saying the first boy had just told him she “did send him nudes. Apparently, a lot of them”.
The girl said the issue was devastating.
“I can’t believe this has come up again and that my friends still think I sent these photos and am lying about it,” she said.
“It comes down to ‘he said/she said’ but it’s always biased towards ‘he said’”.
The girl’s mother brought the original offence, which occurred back in February, up with Scotch College vice principal Robert McLaren.
She also went to the police but was told it was a civil rather than criminal matter.
When the issue came up again in July, the girl’s mother again contacted Mr McLaren who said he would speak to the boys.
The girl’s mother said the school was “brushing it under the carpet”.
“When nothing happens, it occurs again and again and again.”
The girl said the incident “comes off the back of what happened at St Kevin’s – that gives you a lot of insight into it”.
She was referring to a sexist chant performed on a tram by the Toorak school boys in 2019.
“Although a few might be different, the majority don’t know how to show respect for women,” she said.
“They should get more education about respect.”
A survey from Macquarie University found four in 10 secondary school students say they have been sexually harassed. This includes 15 per cent of boys and 12 per cent of girls who had been shown or sent sexual photos or messages.
A statement from Scotch College said such matters are treated seriously.
“Issues are investigated thoroughly, parents are informed and involved, and disciplinary action is taken,” it said.
“All boys are educated on how to respectfully engage with women and girls and where there is evidence of a lack of respect or ill-treatment of women and girls, there are serious consequences.
“Through programs, role models and involvement with girls’ schools, the school reinforces the theme of respect, and appropriate use of technology and social media,” the statement said.
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