Qld teacher survey reveals educators sexually harassed by

Queensland teachers are being sexually harassed, with threats of rape, exposure to simulated porn-like acts, asked for nudes and are moaned and groaned at by children, a new survey says.

Many female teachers reported they did not feel safe at work.

Teachers are being sexually harassed, with threats of rape, exposure to simulated porn-like acts, requests for nudes and are being moaned and groaned at by children in Australian schools.

The findings of a national survey of more than 1000 Australian teachers from kindergarten to high school reveal widespread, entrenched and normalised harmful sexual behaviours in classrooms.

The survey results are analysed in the report ‘Sexual Harassment of Teachers’ (SHoT) to be released on Monday. The report is published by Collective Shout in partnership with parenting author and educator Maggie Dent.

The aim of the survey was to gain understanding of the prevalence of sexual harassment in Australian schools.

Teachers – almost all female – reported being subjected to routine sexual harassment by male students. They were propositioned, threatened with rape, subjected to sexist slurs and mimicking of sex acts seen in pornography.

While trying to perform their duties as educators, they were sexually moaned, groaned, and grunted at, asked for nudes and intimidated. Some of the harmful sexual behaviours were exhibited by children from as young as Kindergarten to Year 3.

Many female teachers reported they did not feel safe at work and the response from executives and principals was inadequate when they did report sexual harassment.

Teachers reported dealing with multiple disclosures from adolescent victims of harmful sexual behaviours.

Survey respondents reported seeing more victims of Image Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA). They report instances of children as young as Year 2 accessing and sharing pornographic content through personal devices or social media. Girls in Years 5 and 6 were coerced into sending sexual images.

Teachers expressed despair about the rapid rise of harmful sexual behaviours which they attributed to early exposure to pornography, the malign influence of social media influencers, and broader societal sexist attitudes.

A number reported significant mental health decline. Some took long-term leave, changed schools or left the profession entirely.

Teachers reported major gaps in policies, procedures and codes of conduct. As a result, their safety, and the safety of mostly female students, is significantly compromised.

Originally published as Qld teacher survey reveals educators sexually harassed by