Leaked teachers' spreadsheet at prestigious Brisbane school The education minister blamed schools for 'not meeting the needs' of...
- Leaked teachers' spreadsheet at prestigious Brisbane school
- The education minister blamed schools for 'not meeting the needs' of students.
A renowned all-girls private institution has faced allegations of neglecting students and their families following the exposure of a confidential spreadsheet that labeled pupils as 'unusual' and 'disrespectful'.
Somerville House is a residential and non-residential school located in the southern region.Brisbanewhere charges vary between $23,000 and $30,000.
It was disclosed on Saturday that a spreadsheet – created by employees – contained derogatory remarks regarding Year 7 students from 2021.
Some kids were described as 'unconventional', 'strange', 'untidy', with one receiving the comment 'classmates believe they have lice', according to the Courier Mail.
Comments were made regarding students' looks, conduct, factors related to learning disabilities, and academic skills. Medical conditions and therapies involved whether a child was taking medication or receiving psychological counseling.
The spreadsheet also included details about parents' personalities and their marital status.
The leadership of Somerville House is reported to have extended an apology to the students who are now in Year 11 following a discussion on Thursday.
However, parents have later stated that their daughters were instructed to "think about the teachers," and school administrators showed "disappointment" that the document was released.
Exams planned for Thursday were 'moved back by a day' because of the 'temporary closure of school laptops'.
The school sent an email to parents on Friday, stating that 'cyber specialists' had been hired to look into how students gained access to the spreadsheet.
However, some parents have expressed disapproval of Somerville House's approach to the matter, with an unidentified parent stating to The Courier Mail that the school was attempting to protect its reputation.
"There has genuinely been no attention given to the students," they stated.
It's all quite uncool, and (the children) can clearly recognize it for what it is—that the school is trying desperately to protect its image.
A second person requested disciplinary action, asking: 'Has anyone truly considered that these young girls are highly susceptible... where is the concern and welfare currently for these young women?
Yes, educators must address various elements of students' social health and academic performance; we recognize... it's the way these teachers composed their remarks. They were not professional, but rather harmful and spiteful comments.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare criticized the school for not meeting the needs of its students and their parents during a heated outburst.Nine's Weekend Today on Saturday.
"They have let down the students, as well as the parents of the children who attend that school," he stated.
Schools need to gather information, but they must do so in a secure manner and also in a professional manner... And I don't believe those actions have taken place here.
Principal Dr. Sandra Hastie stated that an inquiry regarding the incident is currently being conducted.
"We deeply regret the pain and suffering that many in the School community are going through," she stated.
We are deeply disappointed with the events that have transpired, as certain comments fall below our standards and principles. As soon as we learned about this situation, we collaborated with outside specialists to assist in examining what occurred.
We are addressing this matter with great seriousness, and the health of our students remains our main concern. We have reached out to our school community and provided access to counseling and support services.
We have also extended our Employee Assistance Program to students and their families, ensuring they can access the necessary support.
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