‘Miss Purr’ no longer working after widespread condemnation

A teacher who referred to themselves as a cat, asked students to call them “Miss Purr”, hissed and licked the back of their hands is no longer working at the school after widespread condemnation.

A teacher at Marsden State High School has allegedly asked students to refer to them as a cat. Photo: Supplied

A Queensland high school teacher is no longer at work after claims emerged they had been referring to themselves as a cat, while also hissing at students and licking the backs of their hands in disturbing classroom behaviour.

The Courier-Mail understands the teacher had still been working at Logan’s Marsden State High School until news surfaced of her alleged antics last week.

Comments have been disabled on the school’s social media accounts following widespread online condemnation of the alleged behaviour over the weekend.

Photos and short videos showed the teacher in a classroom wearing a cat ears headband and a lanyard with the word “purr” on it.

Marsden has a student cohort of more than 3000.

The Courier-Mail was told the teacher had been asking to be referred to as Miss Purr, and was seen wearing the ears around school grounds over multiple days, including at an assembly.

The teacher wearing the cat ears headband. Photo: Supplied

A relative of one student claimed the teacher had even hissed and growled at them when they asked a question or didn’t listen.

“(The teacher) forces the children to call her Miss Purr and screeches and growls when they don’t listen,” the relative said.

“(The teacher) sits in class and licks her hands.

“It’s absolutely disgusting.

“Something needs to be done about this.”

The relative said she was confused by the teacher’s behaviour and expected multiple complaints would have been received.

“I myself would like answers, it all could be innocent as I know a lot of kids can be overly dramatic,” they said.

A teacher at a school south of Brisbane has allegedly asked students to refer to them as a cat. Photo Supplied

Another relative of a student told this masthead their child barks at the teacher when walking past them.

“It’s more frustrating that the mainstream schooling and education system we are sending our kids to every day has teachers doing things like this,” they said.

“I want teachers who I can rely on to teach my kids what they need in life, and be someone they can look up to which isn’t someone that wears ears.

“How can a student respect a teacher acting and walking around with animal ears?”

Speaking at a press conference in Townsville on Tuesday morning, Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek confirmed the teacher is no longer working at Marsden State High School.

“That’s obviously a significant issue that has had a lot of coverage over the last few days. I can reassure Queenslanders that the teacher is not teaching at the school,” he said.

“It was something that happened in a relatively short part of the year. As soon as it was identified, this is something the principal has taken action on and that teacher is no longer teaching at that school.”

When asked how long the teacher was working at the school, Mr Langbroek said he didn’t have all the details.

“As I understand it, though, it’s only something that has really come to light at the start of this term,” he said.

A Department of Education spokesperson said the school was aware of parents’ concerns and the principal had addressed the issue directly with the teacher.

“Teachers are held to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics,” the spokesperson said,

“This behaviour is not acceptable in Queensland state schools.”

Originally published as ‘Miss Purr’ no longer working after widespread condemnation