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Australian teachers have opened up about the appalling, widespread sexual behaviours of students as young as seven, with claims the situation is at ‘crisis point’.

The nation’s educators have described students in primary school being coerced into sending nudes of themselves, talking about rape fantasies and making sexual noises in class.

More than 1000 teachers responded to a national survey, with the a report analysing the results due to be released on Monday. The Sexual Harassment of Teachers report is being published by Collective Shout, a movement against the objectification of women and the sexualisation of girls, and parenting educator Maggie Dent.

Teachers Routinely Sexually Harassed By Students

The survey revealed that Australian teachers, particularly females, are being subjected to routine sexual harassment by male students. This included being propositioned, threatened with rape, subjected to sexist slurs and mimicking of sex acts seen in pornography.

One teacher revealed: “I had a student tell his girlfriend about his rape fantasies involving me. He also threatened to rape his girlfriend if she told anyone.”

Teachers revealed students are sexually moaning, asking for nudes and intimidating them as they try and teach in classrooms.

“Moaning is a big problem. Even ‘good’ kids are doing it to win favour with others…The moaning I’ve heard was from boys,” one teacher revealed.

Almost half of the 1000 teachers surveyed have experienced sexual harassment within a school. A similar number had witnessed a colleague being sexually harassed within a school.

Educators also revealed that they didn’t feel safe in the classroom after being sexually harassed, with one confessing:

“[As a teacher I have] never felt so drained, mentally and emotionally, in the past two years dealing with the increase of this behaviour with no school supports in place.”

There’s also an alarming number of sexual harassment being perpetrated by students in primary school.

“Year 5 and 6 students sending nudes after being continually asked to do so – photos then being passed around to other boys,” a teacher revealed.

Teachers indicated that children in year two has accessed and shared pornographic content. The educators are concerned that the behaviour is often dismissed.

“Too many times I’ve seen male students get away with a warning for really inappropriate sexual behaviour towards female students because ‘they’re too young, just boys being boys…’”

In the wake of the survey findings, Collective Shout is urging action including radical intervention and a national, uniform response.

  • This is indeed horrifying. I have to admit that I think at least some behaviour from primary kids is from lack of understanding – even if they understand what they’re doing, they may not understand just how bad it is. That said, it should absolutely be addressed really strongly straight away.

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  • It’s a different world out there today and very sad to hear.

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  • Is this ‘boys only’ schools that the teachers are being harassed in? I hate to think it is co-ed as what are these same boys to the young girls in their classes if they are acting like that towards their teachers? I knew that teachers were being given far too many things to do in the schools as parents by and large seem to have abandoned their parenting role and no longer teach respect and behaviour at home – but this is way far too much. If the Education Department cannot step in and sort this out with school dismissal and eviction, then what roads are we heading down with our youth in the future?

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  • This is disgusting to think that teachers are being harassed in this way. They go to school to educate their students, not to be sexually intimidated. Maybe there needs to be cameras in classrooms for the teachers and other students safety. Not sure if having male teachers for boys and female teachers only for the girls would work out though

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  • There should be cameras in every classroom recording this behaviour and then consequences such as detention or suspension.

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  • This kind of disgusting behaviour and actions are completely unacceptable on any level and swift and accountable action is needed. This type of behaviour needs to be addressed from a young age and there needs to be zero tolerance and consequences for such behaviour in schools. This type of behaviour also needs to be addressed in the wider community.


    • Any inappropriate behaviour and actions need to be reported and acted upon by the teacher and the school. There need to be consequences for children that engage in this type of unacceptable behaviour. It would seem like a very good idea to get authorities involved in delivering this message to children as part of the curriculum.

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  • Absolutely disgusting. I would be distraught. No wonder teachers are leaving the industry. What is wrong with parents today because surely the schools have made them aware of the behaviour. I would be horrified and furious if I was informed my children were behaving on this depraved manner. And if schools are unable or unwilling to act and parents are so uncaring they choose not to discipline perhaps it’s time to register anyone over the age of 16 as a sex offender! This will mean unable to travel to certain countries, apply for certain jobs etc. Over the top? Maybe, but then perhaps parents will actually do something.

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  • This is disgraceful way to treat a Teacher or any woman these kids need to learn some respect and manners

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  • It’s quite shocking how the study reveals that Australian teachers, particularly females, are being subjected to routine sexual harassment by male students. This included being propositioned, threatened with rape, subjected to sexist slurs and mimicking of sex acts seen in pornography. I get that going through puberty gives physical, sexual, social and emotional changes, wherein sex hormones play a big part, but it doesn’t justify this behaviour .


    • The impact of sexual harassment can be huge ! Victims of sexual harassment can suffer significant psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, headaches, sleep disorders, weight loss or gain, nausea, lowered self-esteem and sexual dysfunction.
      I think it’s very important that school takes a stands and parents support school and their kids in this

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  • What do we really expect as a society? Children are being given sex ed way younger than when I grew up, too young for them to understand, and they’re constantly being exposed to inappropriate content online and even with Netflix and things too. As a society sex, even subtleties are constantly being rammed down our throats. Some of the popular songs are pure filth.

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  • Hmm this sounds like it should be reported formally

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  • This is disgusting and what a horrible environment for teachers, who already have so much work to do. I would think the school would have a zero policy on this behaviour and they should be expelled. Boys like that grow up to sexually harass and abuse women. Where are the parents!

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  • Teachers no longer have a passion for their career. Their dealing with these kinds of behaviours, coping the blame from the parents but not being allowed to enforce any kind of discipline.
    I understand a child having a phone for security reasons, to only be able to contact their parents and another emergency contact. But they shouldn’t have access to the internet or any forms of social media.
    It sickens me that parents aren’t controlling their kids anymore, and I’ve always hated the “boys will be boys” saying. NO! That is a pathetic excuse for parents who can’t be bothered to teach their child respect. No girl, no woman, no child or any person should be disrespected ever.
    Kids are horrible these days. My child is in preschool and has been the victim of bullying. I’m terrified for primary school.

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  • These findings are very concerning and shocking ! My first thought is “why do primary school kids have phones anyway” ? and why do they have access to pornographic contents ? don’t the parents monitor the devices ? and why are the behaviours often dismissed ? I’m all for a radical intervention and a national, uniform response indeed


    • I agree with you, I am not sure why kids this age have mobile phones or access to stuff like this. It brakes my heart to think parents think it is ok to let children view this stuff. I hope that my daughter doesn’t experience this when she reaches that year. It is very very concerning.

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  • Why does this surprise anyone?
    As a society we are debase, roiling in our pleasures and celebrating them, indulging in inappropriate videos and saying it is right. So why wouldnt the children mimic us, watch these videos and devalue and dehumanise women and relationships? Becoming immoral, abusive, and lustful beings?

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  • Oh my goodness, this is awful and i can’t believe i have just read that this is happening. My daughter is in Primary school but i have not come across anything like this. Wow I am so very shocked after reading this article and that children of this age are doing this.

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  • This is terrifying. No one should be made to feel uncomfortable or have disgusting threats thrown their way. It’s mind blowing that this is coming from kids. And the photos from year 5/6s is devastating to read. I really wish more parents would monitor their kids phones and give proper punishment when such out of line behaviour is happening. I really empathize with any new teachers, fresh out of uni and excited to make a difference, to have a bunch of kids moan and be inappropriate.

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