‘Culture of misogyny’: teacher surrounded by hundreds of students and pelted with food at elite Brisbane boys’ school, court told | Australian education

A teacher at Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane has alleged she was subjected to a “culture of misogyny” after an incident involving hundreds of students that left her with a serious psychiatric injury.

Barrister Gerard Forde told the Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday that Victoria Sparrow was surrounded by up to 300 male students in the school playground.

During the incident, students allegedly pelted Sparrow with food and drink while chanting, an act Forde characterized in court as an “assault.”

Allegations of Systemic Misogyny at Marist College Ashgrove

Sparrow alleges that the school contributed to the incident by allowing a culture of misogyny to “develop and exist.”

Forde submitted that at least three other female staff members had also made complaints regarding their treatment at the school. One teacher, identified by a pseudonym, was reportedly the subject of “numerous gross and offensive comments” by students during a Zoom lesson during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The legal team further claimed the school failed to maintain discipline and lacked appropriate safety measures and protocols regarding playground duty.

Additionally, Forde stated that the school failed to offer Sparrow adequate support after the incident took place.

In another cited example of school volatility, Forde told the court a student entered the teachers’ lunchroom and threatened a teacher and his family, after which the teacher was subsequently stood down.

Legal Dispute Over Documentation

Sparrow served a notice of claim for workers’ compensation on July 9 of last year. The claim must proceed to a compulsory conference to facilitate a negotiated settlement.

The current court proceedings have evolved into a “disclosure fight,” with Forde arguing that the school has falsely claimed to produce all relevant documents. He specifically noted the absence of “regular file notes” from meetings held to discuss the complaints.

Justice Patrick McCafferty has adjourned the case to allow for a more specific list of the documents in dispute to be submitted.

The case is scheduled to return to court this Friday.