TSS stands down two teachers after boys told to remove their trousers
Two teachers from The Southport School on the Gold Coast have been “stood aside” after Year 9 students were asked to remove their trousers while being supervised with night vision goggles.
Two teachers from The Southport School have been stood aside. (Photo: ABC)
Headmaster Greg Wain said students were participating in a planned blackout challenge last month, where the boys were required to remove a shoe or item of clothing, throw it into a dark room and work cooperatively to find it and put it back on.
A teacher supervised the activity with night vision goggles.
However, Wain said one of the teachers decided to increase the challenge by asking boys to each remove a shoe and their trousers.
Wain said the removal of trousers in any circumstances was never intended to be part of the exercise.
“This changed activity was not authorised and, understandably, several boys objected to removing their trousers and doing the activity in their underpants,” he said.
“Changing the activity and asking the boys to participate in their underpants was completely unacceptable.”
Complaints have been lodged by several parents and an external investigation is under way.
TSS said a national legal firm is investigating and support has been provided to boys who were upset.
“They should not have been placed in that situation,” Wain said.
“The boys were well within their rights to object.”
In a statement released yesterday, TSS said the two supervising teachers were “stood aside” pending the outcome of the investigation.
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