A leading private school has been thrown into crisis after male pupils were accused of introducing a “racist and misogynistic” fine system, leaving some female pupils so traumatised that they are refusing to return.
Male footballers from South Australia’s most expensive school, Pembroke, which is spread across two campuses in the leafy suburb of Kensington Park in Adelaide’s east, are said to have created a spreadsheet of fines for “infractions”.
These included a $56 fine for “kissing a whale” and other fines for “sloppy seconds,” “your girlfriend is crazy” and an unpublishable racial slur targeting Indigenous women, according to The Advertiser.
According to the newspaper, some female students are so angry about the list that they refuse to return to class.
One source called the male students “spoiled, racist, misogynistic” and referred to them as “little turds.”
Dozens of students were reportedly approached and a school meeting was held last Friday to discuss the issue.
However, it is unclear whether any students have been suspended or expelled.
The school, where annual boarding fees can run as high as $60,000, declined to comment explicitly on the scandal.
Male footballers from South Australia’s most expensive school, Pembroke, which is spread across two campuses in the leafy suburb of Kensington Park in Adelaide’s east, are said to have created a spreadsheet of fines to be imposed for ‘infractions’
These included a $56 fine for “kissing a whale” and other fines for “sloppy seconds,” “your girlfriend is crazy” and an unpublishable racial slur targeting Indigenous women, according to The Advertiser
However, Director Mark Slater said we are ‘working with families to address this challenge in a sensitive, sensitive and educational way’.
“It is an extensive process that is ongoing and is being managed in a way that ensures dignity, support and fairness for everyone,” Mr Slater said.
He added: ‘As a school we are never afraid of problems that arise nor do we ignore them.
‘We always strive to guide families and young people in their lives, with the realization that young people make mistakes.
“What we do is help people understand these mistakes and take action to create a better society.”
Mr Staker described the scandal as “an issue that is reflective of society in general”.
The school, where annual boarding fees can run as high as $60,000, declined to comment explicitly on the scandal. But principal Mark Slater suggested the scandal was “an issue that reflects society at large.”
“We all have a responsibility to ensure that the way we treat ourselves and each other is based on the school’s values of respect, fairness and kindness,” he said.
“We hope that we can learn and grow from this experience.”
Daily Mail Australia approached the school for further comment.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC Radio Adelaide he disagreed with the principal and that the school’s behaviour was not representative of society.
However, he questioned the influence of toxic social media personalities, such as Andrew Tate, on the development of the minds of young boys.
“I can’t help but wonder, especially when we see really offensive, misogynistic language and activity being used on social media, as you know, by the Andrew Tates of the world, to what extent that fuels this kind of behavior… it worries me,” Malinauskas said.
He added: ‘It is true that no matter what the school fees are, whether it is the most expensive or the cheapest, there are challenges in every school. After all, we are talking about children here, and children do stupid things sometimes.’