Urrbrae Agriculture High School teacher removed from campus after wearing Charlie Kirk costume
A teacher is under investigation after attending school dressed as a gruesome, gunshot-wounded US activist Charlie Kirk – but parents say they weren’t told for days.
Parents have reacted with shock, and some a chuckle, after finding out a senior high school teacher attended campus dressed as assassinated American right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk.
The Advertiser understands Urrbrae Agricultural High School’s Guy Harrison had a fake bullet wound in his neck and was wearing a fake bloodstained shirt when he attended a staff Halloween event last Friday.
It took six days for parents to be told about the incident, with some parents saying on Friday morning they “didn’t know anything”.
Mother Gemma Wilkinson, whose year 11 daughter was in Mr Harrison’s class, said she was only made aware about the issue in Friday’s copy of The Advertiser, and “the school hasn’t put anything out to parents”.
The Education Department confirmed a letter had been sent to parents on Thursday afternoon and that its contents did not differ from a statement principal Todd George provided on Thursday.
Mr George said the teacher had “made the completely unacceptable decision to dress as Charlie Kirk” as part of a Halloween event with staff at the school.
Ms Wilkinson said “he probably should know better” but it could be “worse”.
“I don’t feel like it’s a sackable offence, but it should be addressed, definitely,” Ms Wilkinson said.
“I’m not sure (about it being) offensive, more just out of touch.
“It shows poor judgment, but I think there are worse things you can dress up as.”
A parent – who did not want to be named – told The Advertiser on Friday it was “probably a tasteless thing for a teacher to do”.
“But if they came to my Halloween party, I would have thought it was hilarious,” she said.
Another parent said he’d been a part of the school’s community for a couple of years and that he’d “never experienced this sort of behaviour”.
The school’s principal was spotted on Friday morning speaking to parents as they dropped off students in the car park.
On Thursday, Mr George said Mr Harrison had been immediately instructed to cover up the outfit and directed away from the school when he became aware of the costume.
“He remains away while an investigation is undertaken,” Mr George said.
“I have apologised to parents and reiterated this was totally unacceptable.
“We have also addressed this matter with students who were aware of the outfit, and have provided wellbeing support.”
When The Advertiser contacted Mr Harrison’s education email, it returned an automated reply: “I am currently on leave,” it said. “Thank you, Guy Harrison.”
The Education Department was also contacted for comment and asked why it took so long for the school to notify parents, if Mr Harrison was immediately directed off campus or whether he continued to teach after October 31.
Mr Kirk, the founder of student activism group Turning Point USA, died after being shot in the neck while speaking at the Utah Valley University on September 10.
The 31-year-old father of two was a well-known supporter of US President Donald Trump, who was the first to announce Mr Kirk’s death.
At the time, Mr Trump described his death as a ‘dark moment for America’ and blamed the radical left for causing political violence.
Tyler Robinson, 22, turned himself into police 33 hours after the shooting and was charged with Mr Kirk’s murder.
The choice of inappropriate Halloween outfits saw a Paralowie High School student suspended for wearing a white supremacist costume on campus in 2022.
The costume was said to resemble clothing famously worn by American white supremacist group, the Ku Klux Klan.
Originally published as Urrbrae Agriculture High School teacher removed from campus after wearing Charlie Kirk costume
