School children apologize for ‘things we didn’t do’ at assembly over sexual assault

A boy who had to apologize to his classmates for the “gender behaviors” says he was forced to “apologize for things we didn’t actually do”.

During an entire school assembly at Brauer College in Victoria, Australia, all male students were asked to stand up, turn to a girl in their class and apologize.

The parents were “furious” and “outraged,” Sky News Australia reported, adding that the boys’ parents had not been notified in advance.

The assembly was held amid growing concern over the treatment of girls in school, including in the UK.

Levi, 12, said it made him uncomfortable.

“I don’t think it’s okay to be sexually assaulted,” he told the Nine Network.

“I felt a bit pressured to get up, and if I didn’t, I felt like a bad person.”

Another student, Vini, said many students left the rally feeling upset and confused.

“I had girls behind me crying,” he says. “We had to apologize for things we didn’t actually do.”

A statement issued by the Victoria Department of Education on behalf of Jane Boyle College Principle said the assembly was “well intentioned” but “inappropriate”.

Several parents have complained to the department, Nine Network reported.

Vini’s mother, Rebecca Hughes, said the school had handled the case in a “very bad way”.

“All he does is say they’re perpetrators in the future – they’re predators, they’re rapists,” she added.

The Principle Jane Boyle said in a statement, “Schools play an important role in promoting safety and respect for all students.

“This week (we) discussed the topic of respect for women and the importance of spectator behavior and speaking out in reporting incidents of inappropriate behavior.

“As part of this discussion, boys were asked to present themselves as a symbolic gesture of apology for behaviors of their gender that have hurt or offended girls and women.

“In retrospect, although well intentioned, we recognize that this part of the assembly was inappropriate.

“Today the school is reaching out to parents to explain the reasons for the assembly and to make sure that any student who needs support is aware that it is available.”