St Bernard’s College staff reveal allegations of toxic culture in leaked document at school

A toxic culture has been revealed at a Christian Brothers high school in Melbourne where teachers allege students simulated sex acts, threatened teachers and saluted Hitler.

St Bernard's College in Essendon. Picture: Supplied

Exclusive: Students at a Christian Brothers high school saluted Hitler, simulated lewd sex acts while on a tram, and told a female teacher they knew where she lived, teachers claimed.

A leaked document detailing interviews with staff at St Bernard’s College in Melbourne’s northwest has exposed allegations of a toxic culture with the school accused of failing to deal with teachers’ complaints.

St Bernard’s College principal Dr Michael Davies said the school took the incidents “extremely seriously” and “acted immediately to condemn the unacceptable actions and punish the students.”

Teachers claimed in a 13-page report that a “boys will be boys” attitude prevailed at the school, which receives $13 million in government funding each year.

The school is part of the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) network – formerly known as the Christian Brothers.

A scathing KPMG report recently found EREA had “evaded accountability”, while Commonwealth Bank chairman Paul O’Malley, who is on the board of the St Kevin’s Advisory Council has accused EREA of “manifestly failing students”.

The claims of behaviour at St Bernard’s College raise further questions about the culture at Christian Brothers’ schools.

Dr Michael Davies, Principal of St Bernard's College in Essendon.

Teachers revealed their experiences to an Independent Education Union official who visited St Bernards on Monday, September 12, this year.

“On an excursion (teacher name withheld) had a group of boys on a tram where they proceeded to sing who let the dogs out in relation to a woman,” the leaked report said of one teacher’s claim.

“Other boys simulated anal sex and were air-dropping sexual images on the tram.”

Another teacher raised concerns about her personal safety after receiving threats from a student who had allegedly repeatedly sexually harassed her.

Other students were so “outraged” at her alleged treatment they asked how she was coping, she said.

Photograph of a Swastika taken at St Bernard's College in Essendon, Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

The student later allegedly said to the young teacher: “I know the way you go home”.

He also allegedly correctly named the suburb where the teacher lived, adding: “Miss do you go to the gym in (suburb name withheld)”.

That female teacher claims she was also subjected to a student looking her up and down and making comments about “her looks”.

A letter sent to parents at St Bernard's College following questions from News Corp Australia.

“In another Year 9 class, boys were dry humping each other,” the teacher claimed.

“In a Year 11 class, boys were having an open conversation about their penis size.”

A teacher also revealed how a student was suspended for “saluting the sieg heil in the classroom.”

A swastika, a Nazi symbol, was etched into the whiteboard in that teacher’s classroom, which was only removed two weeks later, the teacher said.

The school’s principal Dr Michael Davies, who resigned from Trinity Grammar in Kew following controversy over the sacking of popular teacher Rohan Brown – who was later reinstated – met with the union official.

Details of the interviews with teachers were provided to the school but the union was still awaiting a response on Friday.

“Staff were concerned that any reporting of events may reflect badly on their teaching practice rather than the appalling behaviour of students,” the union official wrote.

“Their experience is that these matters are not dealt with seriously and there is a

‘boys will be boys’ attitude towards matters of sexual harassment and violence.

The union has recommended “an independent person be appointed” to handle complaints at the school.

Swastikas, right, on a desk at St Bernard's College in Essendon, Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

Mr Davies said the school took the matters “extremely seriously.”

“In the case of these examples of bad behaviour we acted immediately to condemn the unacceptable actions and punish the students, including with suspensions, with the support of parents to hold these students to account,” he said.

“The College has also implemented a number of programs on respectful relationships, as well as working with experts like Prof. Helen Cahill to ensure this is at the forefront of how we work together with our families to support the young people in their development into adulthood.

“Prof Cahill is auditing our respectful relationship program, which includes sections that speak specifically to inclusivity across race, religion and sexual orientation.

“We are entirely committed to the education of our young men into respectful and responsible members of the broader community, and that includes calling out unacceptable behaviour when it occurs.’’