‘Get him’: Adelaide private school boys’ ‘fight club’ exposed in disturbing videos
Disturbing footage has shown teenage boys brawling as part of a toilet block “fight club” at a $12,000-a-year private school.
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Disturbing footage has shown teenage boys brawling as part of a toilet block “fight club” at a $12,000-a-year Adelaide private school.
In the videos, obtained by The Advertiser, the Pedare Christian College students can be heard yelling “get him” and “oh sh*t” as two boys lunge, throw punches at and kick each other in front of a urinal. While in another, one boy urges others to “make sure no one’s coming” before their fighting begins.
The unnamed parent who provided the footage to the publication said they depicted “a fight club at this school where students are matched up to fight”.
They said they were sharing them to that “other parents and families … know what happens at this school before they send their children here”.
“At least” 15 such fights had happened over the past 12 months, they said.
News.com.au has contacted Pedare Christian College for comment.
Pedare Christian College principal James Tamblyn did not confirm how many fights had occurred on the campus, located in Golden Grove, but told The Advertiser the school was responding with “the very best interests” of students in mind.
“Clearly, if there are students who are in any way conducting themselves in a manner which is potentially dangerous then that is outside our expectations,” Mr Tamblyn said.
“The safety and wellbeing of students and staff and community members is always our highest priority.”
From reception to year 12, there are approximately 1100 students enrolled at the independent, coeducational school.
In dealing with the situation, Mr Tamblyn said Pedare “have diligently worked our way through following policy and procedure”.
The students’ behaviour was “obviously outside our expectations”, he said.
“We continually, continually reiterate our expectations. We’ve worked with all families and all students to provision appropriate supports.”
After a series of incidents at Adelaide private schools last year – including the circulation of a misogynistic list of fineable “offences” at Pembroke – SA Greens MP Rob Simms called for more transparent reporting on behavioural issues at the institutions.
In a bill to state parliament in September, Mr Simms proposed private schools should publicly disclose data on student behaviour, suspensions and expulsions in the way public schools are required to.
“Sunlight is the best disinfectant” for bad behaviour, Mr Simms told The Advertiser at the time.
“Such reporting requirements would place pressure on private schools to tackle any cultural problems head on,” he said.
“Parents have a right to this information so that they can make decisions about where to send their children.”
Originally published as ‘Get him’: Adelaide private school boys’ ‘fight club’ exposed in disturbing videos
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