A SCHOOL has been widely condemned after forcing all of its male students to apologise during an assembly to their female classmates.
The incident occurred last Wednesday in Brauer College in Victoria, Australia.
All the boys at the school were told to stand up and apologise to the girls for 'offensive behaviour' on behalf of their gender, although the precise motivation behind the bizarre order was never explained to them.
Speaking to Australian news outlet 7NEWS, Danielle Shephard spoke of how her 12-year-old son was left totally confused by the exercise.
"He said that he was made to stand up and basically apologise... it wasn't explained properly to the male students what they were doing or why they were doing it," Danielle explained.
Brauer College Principal Jane Boyle, who organised the exercise, argued that the assembly was "well intended," but recognised that some may have viewed the mass-apology as "inappropriate".
In a statement, she wrote: "Schools play an important role in the promotion of safety and respect of all students, and discussions in schools around respect towards girls and women are a key part of this vital work.
"This week, at a whole school assembly, Brauer College discussed the topic of respect for women and the importance of bystander behaviour and speaking up to report incidents of inappropriate behaviour.
"The assembly included the screening of a video message by Brisbane Boys' College Captain Mason Black about being proactive in stopping incidents of sexual assault and harassment.
"As part of this discussion, boys were asked to stand as a symbolic gesture of apology for the behaviours of their gender that have hurt or offended girls and women.
"In retrospect, while well-intended, we recognise that this part of the assembly was inappropriate."
You can say that again, Jane.
See More: Australia, School, Sexism
