“Even given the worst possible outcomes for the accused, what possible significance could their schools be in investigations to allegations of events in a suburban alley and a private home,” asks former school principal NOEL BEDDOE.

Recently, there have been allegations of sexual assault, unconnected, by two groups of male teenagers.

Both cases have attracted widespread media coverage and comment. 

In both cases the schools attended by the accused have been named, images of their entrances published. In the case of one, Scots College in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the principal has been named, his picture published as have calls for his resignation.

The federal education minister has expressed concern about what schools teach about sexual consent and the NSW education minister has been pictured chairing a meeting about sexual education in the schools of her state.

I protest!

My CityNews legal colleague Hugh Selby no doubt would counsel us that we have, so far, allegations, maybe charges, that it is for the courts to establish what happened and that all accused are entitled to the (vitally important) assumption of innocence.

Anyway, even given the worst possible outcomes for the accused, what possible significance could their schools be in investigations to allegations of events in a suburban alley and a private home?

An anecdote: I was a member of a school executive when the Board of Secondary Studies (as then it was) in NSW invited schools to be involved in the trialling of a potential addition to the curriculum of the state, including aspects of discussion of sexual behaviour.

The principal, a highly respected member of the Catholic community of that quiet country town, was doubtful; believing the matter not a part of the school’s role.

Some members of the executive believed that the importance of responsibility in that significant area of human behaviour, its potential to enhance or damage lives certainly could be reinforced.

The question was discussed at a meeting of the Parents and Citizens Association; those folk were of the view the area should be covered in guidance and example at the family level, but addressing it at school could do no harm. 

We proceeded. The matter went into the school’s offering taught by our very experienced and respected physical education staff – that faculty took on the title of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Personal Development.

That was in 1971. Since then the area has been retained and developed as part of mandatory curriculum

A further anecdote: I was principal of a complex high school – 63 languages spoken in the homes, the highest level of adult unemployment of any urban area in Australia – in 1993 when one of our senior girls complained to a staff member she had been raped by a fellow student in a school lavatory in class time.

The issue proceeded to charges, a court case, massive coverage in local print media and on TV news.

Educational Regional Director Steve Buckley publicly stated that all curriculum and organisational offerings at the school were exemplary. Nowhere were there any complaints about our operation. I was not asked to testify at the trial and nowhere was I named or criticised. Our community stated their support of what we were doing. These things all were a great help in a difficult time.

So perhaps before people begin to imply criticism of the performance of schools on the basis of the alleged behaviour of a few individuals, it would be better if they demonstrated a bit of knowledge (and, hopefully, respect) for what schools actually do.

Are those who linked schools with these allegations seriously trying to suggest that our community so accepts the leadership of our local schools in matters of morality that the responsibility for failures rests with the education process?

I was a high school principal for 20 years in the public education system of NSW. The vast majority of my contact with students, teachers, parents, and other community members was overwhelmingly delightful.

In some of those few cases where the school must insist on appropriate standards of behaviour, I experienced professional and personal attacks by parents and resistance to the school’s authority.

So who were the parents most likely to try to use contacts and power to try to overthrow the standards and requirements of the school when their children had offended? Members of the white middle class. Those who were almost unfailingly co-operative? Our Islamic community.

Noel Beddoe was principal of three NSW high schools that between them won three Director General’s Awards for Excellent Performance.

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