Female coach backs Melbourne Grammar schoolboys amid ‘toxic masculinity’ claim at top school
A former swim coach has made a splash by backing Melbourne Grammar’s schoolboys in the “toxic masculinity” debate, lashing a teacher who last week called students out at the elite college for misogyny and sexism.
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A former swim coach at Melbourne Grammar School has dived into the “toxic masculinity” debate, saying she was always treated with respect by the boys.
It comes after Head of Witherby House Leah Kelly last week sensationally told students needed more education on the issues of toxic masculinity, gender equality and feminism for their own sake, and that of the women in their lives.
Tess Price worked as a swim coach at the prestigious school for three years, from the age of 19, until last year.
But St Catherine’s alumni Ms Price said the claims were not her experience.
The former staffer, who won a top Higgins Shield Award at St Catherine’s in recognition of her “selfless contribution to all aspects of school life” and is now studying at Monash University, said the comments did not sit well with her.
“This article truly aggravates me,” Ms Price said.
“I understand that toxic masculinity can and does affect a lot of Australians. But this article seems to be a response to a woman seeking to cry victim.”
She said the boys she coached behaved very well.
“I was a young girl and those boys treated me with respect, and would respond well to a female in a position of power,” she said.
“They were respectful, would listen to me, and never crossed the line. Yes, they enjoyed a joke, but during my three years there, all I saw were boys come from eighth in the Associated Public Schools Victoria to third (in 2018).
“I would have been shorter, and probably even looked younger, but the boys were never rude or disrespectful. It was upsetting to read this.”
The Herald Sun last week revealed the sensational contents of an address to the Witherby end-of-year gathering in which Ms Kelly, a maths teacher, let rip about the poor conduct she had experienced at the school.
She pointed to a series of incidents where boys had displayed “toxic masculinity” and called on the school to do more.
These included a recent stoush with Asian girls on a tram after the girls heard the boys saying “Asian chicks” weren’t “hot”.
Other incidents included boys saying they would not sign up for a joint production with Melbourne Girls Grammar School production until gauging the “quality” of the girls, rating dates and passing topless pictures around in class.
Ms Kelly, who is set to step down from her house leader role, acknowledged the incidents were handled at school level.
Her address polarised people, although many mothers asked for a copy of the “instructive” speech.
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Others thought she was suggesting they had raised misogynists.
The speech was recorded by students, and was doing the rounds on a WhatsApp student group.
But many in and outside of the school have congratulated and supported Ms Kelly.
At the same time as Ms Kelly’s comments, there was mounting disquiet over former AFL star and school footy employee Brad Green, who joined the Twitter storm over the St Kevin’s College tram chant.
After claiming the St Kevin’s boys had been treated badly, Green tweeted an apology.
Some staff members were upset, suggesting the incident was Melbourne Grammar’s Israel Folau moment.
Outgoing Melbourne Grammar headmaster Roy Kelley responded promptly to requests from the Herald Sun, saying that the school would continue to work on the issues highlighted.