The ABC reported allegations that Year Nine girls at Renmark High School were exposed to references of ‘bestiality’ during a ‘Respectful Relationships’ class.
Female students claimed they were told to leave their current classes to attend a presentation. There was staff from Headspace, Berri.
One student, Courtney White, 14 said:
We had a teacher that told us to grab a chair and sit in front of the board, and then the Headspace people came in and then the Headspace people came in and then [the teacher] left, so, we’re sitting in front of a board alone with no teachers, just Headspace people.
Quick note: She’s only fourteen (apparently). The above quote (which is word for word from the ABC article) is weird. It sounds like the teacher abandoned them.
When I was in high school, teachers were always present at speeches, presentations, etc. So, why did the teachers in Renmark High leave them now?
Mentions of bestiality: what is the truth?
The biggest controversy was an alleged reference to bestiality. The way some commented on it, it sounds like zoophiles are included in the LGBTQ+ community.
Were LGBTQ+ people linked to zoophiles? What was the real context? According to a Reddit post:
Apparently, (according to the other sub), what happened was the presenter made a reference that years ago, LGBT people were compared to those who’d practice bestiality, (well, not that long ago as it was said during the marriage equality debate). Some of the young students in the audience misunderstood what that meant and by the time it got back to their parents, it had become a lecture on bestiality.
NoteChoice7719, 5 April 2024
Other Reddit users were confused what happened. Some even doubted the students’ accounts.
If NoteChoice7719 is correct, the presenter wasn’t completely wrong. During the same – sex marriage debate in 2016 – 2017, people argued that same – sex marriage would lead to acceptance of bestiality. That was so disgusting. Frankly, it didn’t need to be repeated.
When news got out, parents were outraged. According to The Mercury, at least one mother removed her three children from the school.
Renmark High School receives backlash and apologises
The backlash against was Renmark High School was swift. So was their response.
RHS Principal, Mat Evans admitted that the school was in the wrong. He assured parents that it was being investigated. In the meantime, the presenter has been suspended from all government schools.
He admitted students were uncomfortable during the presentation. He also expressed regret about not informing parents and that school staff weren’t present.
So, was the ABC wrong?
When I first researched for this story, I was so disappointed in the ABC. I thought they were throwing LGBTQ+ under the bus. However, I don’t think that now.
There seems to be confusion on exactly what was said at the presentation. However, it sounds like both Renmark High School and Headspace Berri was in the wrong. They shouldn’t have make the students uncomfortable. The Principal and parents should’ve been informed
To be fair, I’m willing to believe that the presenter didn’t mean to link the LGBTQ+ community to bestiality or other illegal activities. The ABC probably should have made that clearer.