SA schools embroiled in controversy in 2022
Racist articles, bullying accusations and violent brawls – some SA schools have made news for all the wrong reasons this year.
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The education sector is no stranger to public scrutiny and this year is no exception.
Over the past eight and a half months, various schools have made it into the news cycle on scandalous and sometimes illegal grounds.
We’ve already reported on eight South Australian teachers who had shocking secrets exposed in court.
But it doesn’t stop there, find out why these seven SA schools are making headlines for all of the wrong reasons in 2022.
VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLYARD
A 15-year-old girl was arrested after a schoolyard bashing that left a fellow student in hospital.
The attack took place at Whyalla Secondary College in the state’s north in May.
Sickening footage emerged of the attack that showed a 16-year-old girl being kicked, punched and stomped on, while stunned onlookers watched the incident unfold.
In the video, the attacker can be heard screaming and swearing as she throws the victim to the ground.
The accused was charged with assault to cause harm and was bailed to appear before the Whyalla Youth Court in June.
The incident sparked pleas from parents at the school to end the violence, with some describing the environment as being “like a prison yard”.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education later told The Advertiser violence and aggression are not tolerated in the school.
SICK TIKTOK BULLYING
Parents made their feelings known after lists emerged rating female school students as young as 13 on popular video sharing app TikTok.
At least 20 videos were posted to the social media platform naming students from Golden Grove High School in Adelaide’s northern suburbs earlier this year.
One student featured on a “top 10 sl**s” list, other videos circulated by an anonymous profile using the school’s logo as its profile picture named the school’s “biggest flops”, “biggest catfishes (sic)” and “wannabees”.
In one disturbing clip shared in May, viewers were asked to guess who a student was, based on demeaning and crude descriptions including what type of underwear they wear.
One mother described the lists as “vulgar” and said the principal of the school should be aware of it.
An Education Department spokeswoman said students impacted by the videos were being offered wellbeing support.
TOILET DOORS REMOVED
Golden Grove High School also came under fire for removing toilet doors in an attempt to bring facilities in line with new gender-neutral bathrooms.
The school community was informed by letter from principal Peter Kuss of the school’s intention to remove two outer doors leading into existing toilet blocks in May.
Parents and caregivers expressed concerns, reiterating their children’s fears to use the bathrooms.
At the time, an Education Department spokesperson said the toilets were adequately private, but later demanded the doors be rehung.
However, it wasn’t long before the department backed down and confirmed only four female toilets doors and one male toilet door will be returned while the three remaining missing doors – all male – will be left off.
Several students and parents told The Messenger vaping was likely behind the decision to remove the doors.
Modbury High was also embroiled in the controversy, as photos emerged of toilet doors missing throughout the northern suburbs campus.
The school was quick to return all doors to their facilities.
PRINCIPAL SUSPENDED, ETHICS TRAINING ORDERED
A prominent private school principal was suspended by the Teachers Registration Board (TRB) for failing to detect the sexual abuse of a student by a teacher.
The principal of King’s Baptist Grammar School Don Grimmett was handed a 12-week suspension in April after he conceded he should have suspected the abuse, which occurred during his employment at another high school.
A complaint, filed by the registrar in November 2021, alleged that Mr Grimmett failed to make mandatory notifications to the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) contrary to the Children’s Protection Act 1993.
It claimed three reports were made to him by staff and a parent in July and August 2016 concerning a teacher employed at the same school in reference to observed conduct with a female student.
The conditions of Mr Grimmett’s suspension included only returning to work if he could show evidence he completed an ethics course, including one-on-one counselling and review of his conduct.
PRINCIPAL ACCUSED OF BULLYING RESIGNS
The principal of a prestigious private school in Walkerville resigned in the wake of misconduct allegations, citing pressures on her mental health.
Bullying and nepotism were among the claims levelled against now former St Andrew’s School principal, Jackie Becher.
A three-month investigation – led by former senior deputy president of the Fair Work Commission Matthew O’Callaghan – followed more than 20 complaints from staff and parents.
The information gathered by Mr O’Callaghan remains in strict legal confidence, but board chairwoman Peta St Clair said in an email to parents there had been “no adverse findings against Jackie, nor has she been removed from her role”.
This week, a separate investigation by SafeWork SA found the school in breach of the Work Health and Safety Act.
The regulator claims the school did not have a valid bullying policy, having previously posted a “psychological risk complaint” notice to the staffroom notice board.
The school faces a maximum penalty of $250,000 if it fails to execute all SafeWork SA requests by September 28.
EX-PRINCIPAL LEAVES TWITTER
A former private school principal has removed a social media account containing a variety of disparaging remarks, as the reasons for his sudden departure from the job remain unknown.
The Twitter account of ex Endeavour College principal Glyn Roberts appeared to have been removed last Friday.
The account had previously posted criticisms of various politicians and the Port Adelaide Football Club, including statements that former prime minister Scott Morrison was “a huge hypocrite” and anyone who believed in German dictator Adolf Hitler was “quite clearly racist fascist scum and an abomination”.
He also urged Port to “sack Hinckley” (sic) and called FIFA “spineless useless money grabbing cowards”.
Only two weeks ago Mr Roberts shared a job advertisement inviting applicants to “Come and join our vibrant teaching community in 2023”.
However, searches of his other social media accounts show he changed his LinkedIn profile to state he was “looking for work” only days later.
Mr Roberts was not seen around the Mawson Lakes campus, before the school’s chairwoman Leanne Ridsdale confirmed he had resigned by mutual agreement.
STUDENT MAG ACCUSED OF ANTI-SEMITISM
Last week, an editor of an Adelaide University publication was sacked over controversial comments directed towards Jewish groups.
Media student Habibah Jaghoori initially refused to step down after student newspaper, On Dit was accused by the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) of racism and inciting “hatred”.
The article detailed claims of Israeli atrocities against Palestinians, concluding by calling for “death to Israel”.
Ms Jaghoori went on to stand by her comments in a meeting with her peers, prompting a complaint to the university’s student union, YouX.
The publication had also been placed under review, and last Tuesday the union made the decision to remove Ms Jaghoori from the 4 person team.
One student said this wasn’t the first time he had encountered anti-Semitic behaviour at the university.
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