1 00:00:10,614 --> 00:00:15,294 Speaker 1: You're listening to a Muma Mea podcast. Mumma Mea acknowledges 2 00:00:15,334 --> 00:00:18,174 Speaker 1: the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast 3 00:00:18,214 --> 00:00:19,054 Speaker 1: is recorded on. 4 00:00:21,654 --> 00:00:21,814 Speaker 2: Hi. 5 00:00:21,974 --> 00:00:25,494 Speaker 1: I'm Claire Murphy. This is Mumma MIA's twice daily news podcast, 6 00:00:25,534 --> 00:00:29,534 Speaker 1: The Quickie. A recent report into sexual harassment experienced by 7 00:00:29,574 --> 00:00:34,174 Speaker 1: Australian teachers inside their classrooms exposed and uncomfortable truth about 8 00:00:34,174 --> 00:00:38,494 Speaker 1: the behavior of children moaning noises, sexually explicit comments, and 9 00:00:38,574 --> 00:00:41,534 Speaker 1: children as young as ten sending nudes is now part 10 00:00:41,574 --> 00:00:44,694 Speaker 1: of a teacher's daily experience. Today, we speak to a 11 00:00:44,734 --> 00:00:47,614 Speaker 1: teacher about how her profession has changed over the years 12 00:00:47,814 --> 00:00:50,014 Speaker 1: and how she thinks we might be able to deal 13 00:00:50,014 --> 00:00:54,654 Speaker 1: with a rising tide of concerning sexualized behavior. But before 14 00:00:54,654 --> 00:00:56,454 Speaker 1: we head back to the classroom, here's the latest from 15 00:00:56,454 --> 00:00:59,654 Speaker 1: the Quikie newsroom. Wednesday, November six The polls are now 16 00:00:59,734 --> 00:01:02,294 Speaker 1: open across the US as Americans vote for who they 17 00:01:02,294 --> 00:01:06,014 Speaker 1: would prefer as President Donald Trump, who was yesterday endorsed 18 00:01:06,054 --> 00:01:08,214 Speaker 1: by one of the biggest podcasts in the world, The 19 00:01:08,294 --> 00:01:11,894 Speaker 1: Joe Rogan Experience. Cast his vote in Florida before heading 20 00:01:11,934 --> 00:01:14,374 Speaker 1: back to his resort mar A Lago, where he'll watch 21 00:01:14,414 --> 00:01:17,014 Speaker 1: the results as they come in wearing a blue suit 22 00:01:17,054 --> 00:01:19,734 Speaker 1: and a red magahat. Trump told reporters he'd heard they 23 00:01:19,734 --> 00:01:22,734 Speaker 1: were doing very well, that lines at polling places were long, 24 00:01:22,814 --> 00:01:26,454 Speaker 1: and that Conservatives were voting very powerfully. He is able 25 00:01:26,494 --> 00:01:29,574 Speaker 1: to vote in Florida despite being a convicted felon, as 26 00:01:29,574 --> 00:01:32,654 Speaker 1: his conviction was based in New York. If his Florida 27 00:01:32,694 --> 00:01:35,374 Speaker 1: based case to do with the handling of sensitive documents 28 00:01:35,414 --> 00:01:37,974 Speaker 1: after the loss of the twenty twenty election had found 29 00:01:38,014 --> 00:01:40,254 Speaker 1: him guilty, he would not have been able to do so. 30 00:01:40,734 --> 00:01:42,814 Speaker 1: He also said that if the results show that he 31 00:01:42,894 --> 00:01:46,214 Speaker 1: has lost the election, he will concede defeat, but made 32 00:01:46,214 --> 00:01:48,494 Speaker 1: it clear he would only do so if the vote 33 00:01:48,614 --> 00:01:51,534 Speaker 1: was fair. There is fear that unrest will follow the 34 00:01:51,534 --> 00:01:54,454 Speaker 1: outcome of this election. A man has already been arrested 35 00:01:54,494 --> 00:01:56,614 Speaker 1: in the town of Fowler, near the Canadian border in 36 00:01:56,654 --> 00:01:59,894 Speaker 1: New York State, for threatening to burn down a polling station. 37 00:02:00,174 --> 00:02:02,934 Speaker 1: He'd been told he was ineligible to vote because he 38 00:02:02,974 --> 00:02:06,694 Speaker 1: hadn't reregistered after being released from prison. This voter in 39 00:02:06,774 --> 00:02:10,134 Speaker 1: Philadelphia feels confident people in her state will be respectful 40 00:02:10,174 --> 00:02:11,294 Speaker 1: of each other's choices. 41 00:02:11,374 --> 00:02:13,814 Speaker 3: I got in line at the palls at seven am. 42 00:02:14,134 --> 00:02:16,974 Speaker 3: There was already a line, but it moved pretty quickly 43 00:02:17,094 --> 00:02:19,814 Speaker 3: and took about twenty minutes. In and out. Everything was 44 00:02:19,854 --> 00:02:22,694 Speaker 3: really calm. People were friendly and chatting with each other. 45 00:02:23,254 --> 00:02:26,934 Speaker 3: I'm hopeful that that means that the outcome is going 46 00:02:26,974 --> 00:02:31,294 Speaker 3: to be calm and reasonable, regardless of what happens. 47 00:02:31,454 --> 00:02:34,174 Speaker 1: Meanwhile, this voter in New York says she's also hoping 48 00:02:34,214 --> 00:02:37,534 Speaker 1: that her fellow Americans managed to get through this process peacefully. 49 00:02:37,814 --> 00:02:39,774 Speaker 3: I heard a phrase that I really liked. 50 00:02:39,814 --> 00:02:46,694 Speaker 4: Witch is nauseously optimistic, and I just believe that sanity 51 00:02:46,774 --> 00:02:47,454 Speaker 4: will prevail. 52 00:02:47,934 --> 00:02:51,254 Speaker 1: The first polling booth to close hands returned an interesting result. 53 00:02:51,654 --> 00:02:54,534 Speaker 1: Dixon Notch' is a tiny town in New Hampshire whose 54 00:02:54,574 --> 00:02:58,134 Speaker 1: voting population is just six adults. They all turned out 55 00:02:58,134 --> 00:03:00,334 Speaker 1: to vote in the primaries, where they all chose to 56 00:03:00,414 --> 00:03:03,934 Speaker 1: back Republican Trump challenger NICKI Hayley, but this time they've 57 00:03:04,014 --> 00:03:07,814 Speaker 1: split their vote, with three backing Trump and three backing Harris. 58 00:03:08,094 --> 00:03:10,574 Speaker 1: It's only the second time in the small town's history 59 00:03:10,614 --> 00:03:13,294 Speaker 1: they've reported a tie. The last time was when Barack 60 00:03:13,294 --> 00:03:16,494 Speaker 1: Obama ran against Mitt Romney. The polls will close later 61 00:03:16,534 --> 00:03:18,854 Speaker 1: this morning Australian time, and the results will start to 62 00:03:18,854 --> 00:03:21,454 Speaker 1: come in after that will keep you posted as the 63 00:03:21,494 --> 00:03:25,294 Speaker 1: result of this election unfolds. A truck driver who was 64 00:03:25,334 --> 00:03:28,134 Speaker 1: passing the area where toddler William Tyrell went missing in 65 00:03:28,134 --> 00:03:30,774 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen will be the next to give evidence of 66 00:03:30,854 --> 00:03:34,254 Speaker 1: the new inquiry into the child's disappearance. Police are working 67 00:03:34,254 --> 00:03:36,814 Speaker 1: on the theory that William's foster mother disposed of the 68 00:03:36,814 --> 00:03:39,334 Speaker 1: two year old's body after he died in an accident, 69 00:03:39,614 --> 00:03:42,334 Speaker 1: allegedly covering it up so she and her husband wouldn't 70 00:03:42,334 --> 00:03:45,254 Speaker 1: lose custody of another child in their care. Police have 71 00:03:45,334 --> 00:03:47,374 Speaker 1: yet to release the details on how they think this 72 00:03:47,454 --> 00:03:50,094 Speaker 1: all unfolded, but a truck driver who was in the 73 00:03:50,134 --> 00:03:53,294 Speaker 1: area the day of the disappearance will give evidence about 74 00:03:53,334 --> 00:03:56,374 Speaker 1: what he saw before. The inquest will also view two 75 00:03:56,534 --> 00:03:59,894 Speaker 1: electronically recorded interviews by police of a key witness who 76 00:03:59,894 --> 00:04:03,334 Speaker 1: cannot be named or identified, from twenty fourteen and again 77 00:04:03,494 --> 00:04:06,894 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty two. The inquest into William Tyrell was 78 00:04:06,934 --> 00:04:10,694 Speaker 1: reopened Monday for further evidence. Williams's foster mother has denied 79 00:04:10,734 --> 00:04:14,374 Speaker 1: any involvement in his disappearance. Queen Camilla has had to 80 00:04:14,374 --> 00:04:17,654 Speaker 1: pull out of several planned engagements after falling ill. The 81 00:04:17,734 --> 00:04:20,054 Speaker 1: seventy seven year old is now resting at home while 82 00:04:20,094 --> 00:04:23,094 Speaker 1: she recovers from a chest infection, the Palace giving no 83 00:04:23,174 --> 00:04:26,014 Speaker 1: further details on her condition. She'll miss the Field of 84 00:04:26,054 --> 00:04:29,894 Speaker 1: Remembrance at London's Westminster Abbey on Thursday, where former service 85 00:04:29,934 --> 00:04:33,134 Speaker 1: personnel and others plant a poppy memorial to remember those 86 00:04:33,174 --> 00:04:35,894 Speaker 1: who've lost their lives in the armed forces. She'll also 87 00:04:35,934 --> 00:04:38,654 Speaker 1: miss the reception for the Olympic and Paralympic medal winners 88 00:04:38,694 --> 00:04:41,414 Speaker 1: from the Paris Games. The Palace is hoping she'll be 89 00:04:41,414 --> 00:04:45,654 Speaker 1: better in time for Remembrance Day. Olivia Rodrigo's very specific 90 00:04:45,734 --> 00:04:48,414 Speaker 1: red flag when it comes to dating men has pulled 91 00:04:48,414 --> 00:04:52,294 Speaker 1: in an ally, someone who has first hand experience. Rodrigo 92 00:04:52,374 --> 00:04:54,574 Speaker 1: recently revealed that her red flag was that if a 93 00:04:54,614 --> 00:04:56,654 Speaker 1: guy says he wants to go to space, it's an 94 00:04:56,654 --> 00:04:59,774 Speaker 1: immediate no from her. The clip was posted to x 95 00:04:59,774 --> 00:05:03,894 Speaker 1: where singer Grimes responded, seemingly trolling her ex Elon Mask, 96 00:05:04,014 --> 00:05:06,694 Speaker 1: saying it's true only women should be going to space. 97 00:05:07,134 --> 00:05:10,374 Speaker 1: Grimes and Mask ended their relationship in March twenty twenty two. 98 00:05:10,734 --> 00:05:13,414 Speaker 1: They share three sons together. That's what's going on in 99 00:05:13,414 --> 00:05:16,654 Speaker 1: the world today. Next, sexual harassment in the classroom. It's 100 00:05:16,694 --> 00:05:19,494 Speaker 1: a growing trend and teachers can't stop it alone. 101 00:05:24,774 --> 00:05:28,294 Speaker 4: I'm twenty five and I'm teaching sixteen and seventeen year old. 102 00:05:28,574 --> 00:05:30,654 Speaker 4: A boy just came up behind me and held me 103 00:05:30,734 --> 00:05:33,494 Speaker 4: by my hips, and he wouldn't let go even when 104 00:05:33,534 --> 00:05:36,494 Speaker 4: I told him to. Thankfully, most of my students are 105 00:05:36,494 --> 00:05:39,174 Speaker 4: wonderful and they helped me get him off me. I 106 00:05:39,214 --> 00:05:41,734 Speaker 4: talked to Admin, but I was essentially gaslit after being 107 00:05:41,774 --> 00:05:44,134 Speaker 4: told it isn't as serious as I'm making it out 108 00:05:44,134 --> 00:05:44,334 Speaker 4: to be. 109 00:05:45,374 --> 00:05:47,934 Speaker 5: A lot of them I've noticed watch Andrew Tait and 110 00:05:48,054 --> 00:05:52,334 Speaker 5: sneak O videos and repeat the same misogynistic talking points. 111 00:05:52,614 --> 00:05:55,694 Speaker 5: I often hear very sexist and homophobic remarks from them, 112 00:05:55,694 --> 00:05:58,694 Speaker 5: and it's disheartening because these boys are so young. I 113 00:05:58,734 --> 00:06:01,694 Speaker 5: also catch them staring at my backside when I'm turned away, 114 00:06:01,974 --> 00:06:04,174 Speaker 5: or they try to look under my skirt by dropping 115 00:06:04,174 --> 00:06:07,014 Speaker 5: their pencil. I also heard in the hallways of them 116 00:06:07,054 --> 00:06:11,054 Speaker 5: referring to me as that big booty substitute. It has 117 00:06:11,134 --> 00:06:14,414 Speaker 5: subconsciously changed the way I dress around my students, and 118 00:06:14,494 --> 00:06:15,694 Speaker 5: I rarely wear skirts. 119 00:06:16,254 --> 00:06:19,134 Speaker 6: So I'm a young female teacher and one particular high 120 00:06:19,134 --> 00:06:22,254 Speaker 6: school boy. He's always tried to get away with calling 121 00:06:22,294 --> 00:06:25,654 Speaker 6: me things like sweetheart, or asking to borrow a ruler 122 00:06:25,774 --> 00:06:28,134 Speaker 6: so he could measure how the his dick was and 123 00:06:28,174 --> 00:06:31,694 Speaker 6: it's just flatantly disrespectful and to be honest, super uncomfortable. 124 00:06:32,574 --> 00:06:36,134 Speaker 1: Unfortunately, these stories are becoming all too common for teachers, 125 00:06:36,374 --> 00:06:39,294 Speaker 1: from kindergarten all the way through to the final years. 126 00:06:40,134 --> 00:06:42,854 Speaker 1: The findings of a landmark national survey have revealed the 127 00:06:42,894 --> 00:06:47,294 Speaker 1: disturbing reality facing teachers across Australia. Nearly half of all 128 00:06:47,374 --> 00:06:51,134 Speaker 1: teachers have experienced sexual harassment within school environments, with an 129 00:06:51,134 --> 00:06:55,854 Speaker 1: overwhelming eighty percent of these incidents perpetrated by students. The 130 00:06:55,934 --> 00:06:59,294 Speaker 1: Sexual Harassment of Teachers or SHOT Report paints this troubling 131 00:06:59,334 --> 00:07:04,054 Speaker 1: picture of the daily challenges faced by educators, particularly female teachers. 132 00:07:04,494 --> 00:07:07,774 Speaker 1: The survey, conducted in partnership with parenting expert Maggie Dent, 133 00:07:08,174 --> 00:07:11,894 Speaker 1: showed the female teachers a routinely subjected to sexual harassment, 134 00:07:12,254 --> 00:07:17,254 Speaker 1: ranging from inappropriate comments to serious threats. The statistics are stuck. 135 00:07:17,654 --> 00:07:21,654 Speaker 1: Nearly forty seven percent of respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment 136 00:07:21,734 --> 00:07:25,054 Speaker 1: within schools, with this figure rising to forty eight percent 137 00:07:25,094 --> 00:07:28,014 Speaker 1: amongst female teachers, who made up ninety four percent of 138 00:07:28,054 --> 00:07:32,334 Speaker 1: survey participants. Seventy nine point nine percent of teachers reported 139 00:07:32,374 --> 00:07:36,174 Speaker 1: an increase in sexualized behaviors in schools with male students 140 00:07:36,214 --> 00:07:39,974 Speaker 1: in years nine to ten identified as the primary aggressors 141 00:07:40,094 --> 00:07:44,334 Speaker 1: in over half of all reported incidents. They report incidents 142 00:07:44,374 --> 00:07:49,454 Speaker 1: including sexual moaning, groaning and grunting, explicit sexual propositions, rape 143 00:07:49,454 --> 00:07:53,494 Speaker 1: threats and jokes, mimicking of pornographic content and requests for 144 00:07:53,574 --> 00:07:57,814 Speaker 1: nude photos, and sexual intimidation. One teacher said she had 145 00:07:57,814 --> 00:08:01,214 Speaker 1: a student tell his girlfriend about his rape fantasies involving 146 00:08:01,254 --> 00:08:03,934 Speaker 1: the teacher, and he also threatened to rape his girlfriend 147 00:08:03,974 --> 00:08:07,294 Speaker 1: if she told anyone about it. The consequences of this 148 00:08:07,374 --> 00:08:11,494 Speaker 1: harassment are profound. Fifty nine percent of teachers report feeling 149 00:08:11,614 --> 00:08:15,254 Speaker 1: unsafe in their workplace following incidents of sexual harassment, and 150 00:08:15,334 --> 00:08:18,414 Speaker 1: the psychological toll has led some to take drastic measures. 151 00:08:18,734 --> 00:08:21,374 Speaker 1: Eight percent of changed schools, two percent of left the 152 00:08:21,414 --> 00:08:25,614 Speaker 1: teaching profession entirely, many report significant mental health decline, and 153 00:08:25,694 --> 00:08:28,454 Speaker 1: some have taken long term leave. And it's not just 154 00:08:28,494 --> 00:08:32,054 Speaker 1: sexual harassment occurring between students and teachers. Two thirds of 155 00:08:32,054 --> 00:08:36,814 Speaker 1: the survey's respondents reported observing student to student sexual harassment too, 156 00:08:36,974 --> 00:08:40,054 Speaker 1: while fifty seven percent received at least one disclosure from 157 00:08:40,094 --> 00:08:44,774 Speaker 1: a student about being sexually harassed. The problem starts early, 158 00:08:45,014 --> 00:08:49,094 Speaker 1: with inappropriate behaviors reported in children as young as kindergarten age. 159 00:08:49,534 --> 00:08:53,334 Speaker 1: Teachers documenting instances of children in year two accessing and 160 00:08:53,494 --> 00:08:56,894 Speaker 1: sharing pornographic content and girls in year five and six 161 00:08:56,974 --> 00:09:01,174 Speaker 1: being coerced into sending sexual images. As we heard earlier, 162 00:09:01,254 --> 00:09:04,014 Speaker 1: many female teachers report that when they do speak up, 163 00:09:04,214 --> 00:09:09,134 Speaker 1: the response from executives and principles is insufficient. Teachers attribute 164 00:09:09,134 --> 00:09:12,534 Speaker 1: this rise and harmful sexual behaviors to several factors. Early 165 00:09:12,574 --> 00:09:16,334 Speaker 1: exposure to pornography, the negative influence of social media, and 166 00:09:16,454 --> 00:09:20,014 Speaker 1: brought a societal sexist attitudes, helped along by various loud 167 00:09:20,054 --> 00:09:23,774 Speaker 1: voices like Andrew Tait and Donald Trump. Sarah has been 168 00:09:23,774 --> 00:09:26,134 Speaker 1: a teacher for twelve years and remember the first time 169 00:09:26,174 --> 00:09:27,654 Speaker 1: she copped abuse from a student. 170 00:09:28,894 --> 00:09:31,854 Speaker 2: There's been a few over the years, mainly I guess 171 00:09:32,214 --> 00:09:36,654 Speaker 2: the older ones. It's more about the language that they 172 00:09:36,694 --> 00:09:40,134 Speaker 2: were using. And there was one particular student. It was 173 00:09:40,214 --> 00:09:43,574 Speaker 2: my first experience. It was a little bit jarring, I guess, 174 00:09:43,614 --> 00:09:45,094 Speaker 2: and I think it was for him as well. He 175 00:09:45,174 --> 00:09:47,054 Speaker 2: sort of ran out of the room and all of 176 00:09:47,094 --> 00:09:50,054 Speaker 2: the kids were sort of a bit stunned. Was more 177 00:09:50,094 --> 00:09:53,814 Speaker 2: the language he was using rather than innuendo, I guess, 178 00:09:54,014 --> 00:09:56,534 Speaker 2: but it was just a ten year old. It was 179 00:09:56,694 --> 00:09:58,854 Speaker 2: really quiet, Yeah, jarring. 180 00:09:59,254 --> 00:10:00,374 Speaker 1: Do you remember what he said? 181 00:10:00,734 --> 00:10:04,694 Speaker 2: Something along the lines of you goo fuck yourself or 182 00:10:05,014 --> 00:10:08,014 Speaker 2: something like that. It wasn't just the swearing, it was 183 00:10:08,094 --> 00:10:10,414 Speaker 2: in the context that it was. It was just so 184 00:10:10,614 --> 00:10:13,934 Speaker 2: bizarre and out of absolutely nowhere. 185 00:10:14,494 --> 00:10:17,454 Speaker 1: How did you deal with that particular student in that moment. 186 00:10:17,494 --> 00:10:19,734 Speaker 1: You said that he might have even shocked himself with 187 00:10:19,774 --> 00:10:22,334 Speaker 1: his own behavior, but how do you handle that from there? 188 00:10:22,654 --> 00:10:24,774 Speaker 2: Well, he took that out of my hands, really, he 189 00:10:24,974 --> 00:10:28,294 Speaker 2: just ran off. And it was really dealing with the 190 00:10:28,294 --> 00:10:30,454 Speaker 2: rest of the class because they were a witness to 191 00:10:30,494 --> 00:10:32,934 Speaker 2: all of this, so it was just having to deal 192 00:10:33,014 --> 00:10:35,774 Speaker 2: with everybody else. A lot of the kids are saying 193 00:10:35,774 --> 00:10:38,974 Speaker 2: are you okay? Are you okay? To me? And I'm 194 00:10:39,174 --> 00:10:42,814 Speaker 2: you know, I just sort of remained very stoic or 195 00:10:42,934 --> 00:10:45,614 Speaker 2: just think I thought that was interesting, and we just 196 00:10:45,734 --> 00:10:49,774 Speaker 2: kept going along with the lesson. You know, you've got 197 00:10:49,774 --> 00:10:51,494 Speaker 2: three two kids in the class that you have to 198 00:10:51,534 --> 00:10:55,174 Speaker 2: make sure that they're not affected by what they see. 199 00:10:55,574 --> 00:10:58,614 Speaker 2: You really can't react. It's just a non reaction more 200 00:10:58,654 --> 00:10:59,174 Speaker 2: than anything. 201 00:10:59,934 --> 00:11:02,414 Speaker 1: I guess that's something I didn't consider is when teachers 202 00:11:02,454 --> 00:11:05,654 Speaker 1: are being harassed by students that these other kids are 203 00:11:05,654 --> 00:11:09,094 Speaker 1: witnesses constantly to this. And I guess there's two ways 204 00:11:09,134 --> 00:11:11,094 Speaker 1: that can go. Oh, Either these kids, as you mentioned, 205 00:11:11,094 --> 00:11:14,334 Speaker 1: can be really sympathetic or empathetic with your situation and 206 00:11:14,374 --> 00:11:16,774 Speaker 1: help support you through it. But also they're learning these 207 00:11:16,814 --> 00:11:20,214 Speaker 1: behaviors and they might even start to do that themselves. 208 00:11:20,774 --> 00:11:24,494 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and that's the main concern normalizing any sort of 209 00:11:24,534 --> 00:11:27,094 Speaker 2: this behavior. While we don't make a big deal of it, 210 00:11:27,654 --> 00:11:31,534 Speaker 2: we need to make sure that they fully understand that 211 00:11:31,534 --> 00:11:34,094 Speaker 2: that is not okay. It's not about you, It's really 212 00:11:34,134 --> 00:11:36,494 Speaker 2: about the rest of the little minds that are there. 213 00:11:37,014 --> 00:11:39,374 Speaker 1: Now, you've been a teacher for more than a decade, now, 214 00:11:39,414 --> 00:11:42,654 Speaker 1: have you seen the situation in classrooms where it does 215 00:11:42,734 --> 00:11:46,814 Speaker 1: come to this over sexualization and the language in the 216 00:11:46,854 --> 00:11:49,974 Speaker 1: behaviors of students. Has it gotten worse? 217 00:11:50,814 --> 00:11:55,294 Speaker 2: Most definitely, the behaviors I've noticed in the last few years, 218 00:11:55,814 --> 00:11:59,574 Speaker 2: probably even I would say the last two years. I'm 219 00:11:59,614 --> 00:12:04,374 Speaker 2: going to say I'm really quite discerning more sexualized than 220 00:12:04,654 --> 00:12:08,614 Speaker 2: ever before. The moaning while you're in classroom, just the 221 00:12:08,614 --> 00:12:10,614 Speaker 2: class crounds trying to get a bit of a laugh 222 00:12:10,694 --> 00:12:13,294 Speaker 2: as the other kids. But the context that they're using 223 00:12:13,334 --> 00:12:16,694 Speaker 2: it in, it's quite clear that they know exactly what 224 00:12:16,734 --> 00:12:20,614 Speaker 2: they're doing, what they're talking about, and hopefully make the 225 00:12:20,694 --> 00:12:23,694 Speaker 2: teacher feel uncomfortable enough to have to deal with it. 226 00:12:24,294 --> 00:12:27,534 Speaker 1: So you think it's different with the intent behind it. 227 00:12:27,574 --> 00:12:29,494 Speaker 1: And what I mean is when you said that, it's 228 00:12:29,494 --> 00:12:31,894 Speaker 1: clear they understand what they're doing and what it is 229 00:12:31,934 --> 00:12:35,174 Speaker 1: that they're talking about, Whereas I think in decades past, 230 00:12:35,254 --> 00:12:38,254 Speaker 1: kids mimiced things or did things without really truly understanding 231 00:12:38,254 --> 00:12:40,734 Speaker 1: what it was they were saying or the implications of that. 232 00:12:40,814 --> 00:12:44,654 Speaker 1: But you think kids now really fully understand the sexualized 233 00:12:44,694 --> 00:12:46,054 Speaker 1: content that they are mimicking. 234 00:12:46,254 --> 00:12:50,494 Speaker 2: Most definitely when you've got kids sending notes around the 235 00:12:50,494 --> 00:12:53,174 Speaker 2: classroom saying do you want to start to dick and 236 00:12:53,214 --> 00:12:56,734 Speaker 2: stuff like this, we're talking about kids that are eight 237 00:12:56,894 --> 00:13:00,814 Speaker 2: nine years old. That's literally happened this year. They are 238 00:13:00,894 --> 00:13:05,014 Speaker 2: aware of what they're saying, what they're talking about, and 239 00:13:05,294 --> 00:13:07,374 Speaker 2: that is really really disturbing. 240 00:13:08,174 --> 00:13:10,614 Speaker 1: So teachers now having to kind of factor this into 241 00:13:10,654 --> 00:13:13,734 Speaker 1: their day to day routine that they will potentially have 242 00:13:13,814 --> 00:13:18,334 Speaker 1: to respond to these sexualized commentary and that it might 243 00:13:18,374 --> 00:13:20,614 Speaker 1: actually be something that happens to them on a daily basis. 244 00:13:21,254 --> 00:13:24,774 Speaker 2: Oh, one hundred percent. Absolutely, It's just something that's part 245 00:13:24,814 --> 00:13:28,654 Speaker 2: of our everyday working life. We know that it is 246 00:13:28,774 --> 00:13:31,254 Speaker 2: going to happen. It might not happen every day, it 247 00:13:31,334 --> 00:13:35,494 Speaker 2: might not happen every week, but we know that it's happening. 248 00:13:35,894 --> 00:13:38,854 Speaker 2: We know that we have to have an artillery of 249 00:13:39,534 --> 00:13:44,814 Speaker 2: language and vocabulary that's age appropriate. But also it gets 250 00:13:44,894 --> 00:13:46,814 Speaker 2: straight to the point to the kids so that they 251 00:13:46,894 --> 00:13:51,454 Speaker 2: understand that what they're listening to, what their what they're 252 00:13:51,494 --> 00:13:55,534 Speaker 2: hearing isn't the norm, isn't okay for kids of that age. 253 00:13:56,134 --> 00:13:58,454 Speaker 2: Teachers know that they have to deal with it at 254 00:13:58,454 --> 00:13:58,894 Speaker 2: the time. 255 00:14:00,014 --> 00:14:03,374 Speaker 1: How do some teachers respond to this, Sarah? What tools 256 00:14:03,414 --> 00:14:05,214 Speaker 1: do they have in place to try and make these 257 00:14:05,294 --> 00:14:08,294 Speaker 1: kids understand that what they're doing is extremely inappropriate. 258 00:14:08,934 --> 00:14:12,774 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've got our protective behaviors, the health lessons that 259 00:14:12,814 --> 00:14:18,534 Speaker 2: we have to do every single year. It teaches kids strategies. 260 00:14:18,934 --> 00:14:22,534 Speaker 2: They've got trusted adults that they can deal with, so 261 00:14:23,014 --> 00:14:25,814 Speaker 2: they can speak to anyone. They've got the right to 262 00:14:25,814 --> 00:14:28,934 Speaker 2: feel safe at all times, and they also have the 263 00:14:29,054 --> 00:14:31,934 Speaker 2: right to be able to say whether they like to 264 00:14:32,014 --> 00:14:35,734 Speaker 2: a trusted adult without fear of judgment. We have those 265 00:14:35,814 --> 00:14:40,414 Speaker 2: lessons in in our curriculum and it's all throughout primary 266 00:14:40,454 --> 00:14:45,294 Speaker 2: school and it's age appropriate at each year. The underlying 267 00:14:45,414 --> 00:14:48,414 Speaker 2: message is we all have the right to feel safe 268 00:14:48,494 --> 00:14:49,294 Speaker 2: at all times. 269 00:14:50,214 --> 00:14:52,854 Speaker 1: We have really focused in on the sexual harassment because 270 00:14:52,854 --> 00:14:54,974 Speaker 1: that is what this report really focused in on. But 271 00:14:55,094 --> 00:14:58,414 Speaker 1: are you seeing a rise in other inappropriate behaviors, whether 272 00:14:58,494 --> 00:15:01,654 Speaker 1: it be violence, whether it be other language like swearing 273 00:15:01,894 --> 00:15:04,174 Speaker 1: or verbal abuse, that you're seeing a rise in that 274 00:15:04,294 --> 00:15:04,974 Speaker 1: kind of thing too. 275 00:15:05,814 --> 00:15:11,774 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, yes, And it's at a point now where swearing 276 00:15:11,934 --> 00:15:18,854 Speaker 2: is almost an accepted part of everyday teaching. We don't 277 00:15:18,974 --> 00:15:23,694 Speaker 2: accept that and we will not at any times tolerate 278 00:15:23,734 --> 00:15:27,774 Speaker 2: that as being okay. Unfortunately, a lot of kids just 279 00:15:27,974 --> 00:15:31,214 Speaker 2: have that in their vocabulary that they just come out 280 00:15:31,334 --> 00:15:34,974 Speaker 2: with fucking hell or the oh shit. It's just a 281 00:15:35,054 --> 00:15:38,094 Speaker 2: run of the meal saying for them, and we really 282 00:15:38,534 --> 00:15:42,014 Speaker 2: have to try very hard to not normalize that sort 283 00:15:42,054 --> 00:15:45,534 Speaker 2: of language and not accept it, and it's getting younger 284 00:15:45,534 --> 00:15:46,134 Speaker 2: and younger. 285 00:15:47,054 --> 00:15:51,454 Speaker 1: Sarah, how gendered is this behavior. Is it mostly young 286 00:15:51,534 --> 00:15:54,494 Speaker 1: male students who are doing this kind of thing? Is 287 00:15:54,574 --> 00:15:58,734 Speaker 1: it targeting generally female teachers like a male teachers experiencing 288 00:15:58,774 --> 00:16:01,734 Speaker 1: this and a young girls also participating in this, or 289 00:16:01,774 --> 00:16:03,654 Speaker 1: are they finding themselves on the end of that. 290 00:16:03,654 --> 00:16:07,054 Speaker 2: I mean, I would say that it's probably more boys 291 00:16:07,334 --> 00:16:12,374 Speaker 2: than girls. However, it's definitely not heavily swayed towards the boys. 292 00:16:12,894 --> 00:16:16,014 Speaker 2: As far as the teachers go, well, primary schools are 293 00:16:16,054 --> 00:16:22,214 Speaker 2: predominantly female teachers. We do have male teachers and they 294 00:16:22,894 --> 00:16:26,174 Speaker 2: experience this just as much as with the female teachers. 295 00:16:26,334 --> 00:16:29,214 Speaker 2: I wouldn't say that it's gender based at all. 296 00:16:29,294 --> 00:16:33,094 Speaker 1: This is the sticky part, Sarah, because there's a conversation 297 00:16:33,294 --> 00:16:35,614 Speaker 1: always that comes up around this about how much of 298 00:16:35,614 --> 00:16:37,854 Speaker 1: a role parents are playing in this and how much 299 00:16:37,934 --> 00:16:42,894 Speaker 1: is a teacher's responsibility. What are parents not doing that 300 00:16:43,054 --> 00:16:45,334 Speaker 1: is allowing their children to behave this way or is 301 00:16:45,374 --> 00:16:47,574 Speaker 1: it something that we are doing or is it all 302 00:16:47,774 --> 00:16:49,854 Speaker 1: in the hands of social media and their exposure to 303 00:16:49,854 --> 00:16:51,694 Speaker 1: those kinds of things that we keep getting told. 304 00:16:52,694 --> 00:16:55,574 Speaker 2: As a teacher, we see the kids for a big 305 00:16:55,614 --> 00:16:58,454 Speaker 2: part of their day, and so we have a responsibility 306 00:16:58,734 --> 00:17:03,494 Speaker 2: to teach them right from wrong. However, what I have 307 00:17:03,574 --> 00:17:06,894 Speaker 2: seen has change is most definitely parenting. Don't get me wrong, 308 00:17:06,934 --> 00:17:10,334 Speaker 2: it's getting hard at parents out there. They really don't 309 00:17:10,534 --> 00:17:15,214 Speaker 2: have a lot of time to vet their screen time. 310 00:17:15,734 --> 00:17:21,014 Speaker 2: They are being influenced by social media immensely. We're having 311 00:17:21,054 --> 00:17:25,174 Speaker 2: to deal with the social media fallout at school because 312 00:17:25,334 --> 00:17:29,814 Speaker 2: it is happening at home, which is really not our domain. However, 313 00:17:30,094 --> 00:17:35,574 Speaker 2: we're having to become the instigators for ensuring that these 314 00:17:35,614 --> 00:17:38,854 Speaker 2: things stop, or ensuring that the parents are at least 315 00:17:38,894 --> 00:17:41,534 Speaker 2: aware that these things are happening. But a lot of 316 00:17:41,534 --> 00:17:43,574 Speaker 2: the time they're not. But then some of the time 317 00:17:43,614 --> 00:17:45,974 Speaker 2: they are, and they're okay with it. They think it's 318 00:17:46,014 --> 00:17:48,214 Speaker 2: just one of those things part of growing up, and 319 00:17:48,334 --> 00:17:49,814 Speaker 2: it's a little bit disturbing. 320 00:17:50,254 --> 00:17:52,454 Speaker 1: You're right, there's a lot of pressure on parents to 321 00:17:52,574 --> 00:17:55,854 Speaker 1: do the right thing, to vet screen time. But it 322 00:17:55,974 --> 00:17:59,894 Speaker 1: seems like kids' ability to get around parental controls or 323 00:17:59,934 --> 00:18:04,214 Speaker 1: to access these things is getting easier and easier for them. 324 00:18:04,374 --> 00:18:08,814 Speaker 1: And I've been reading examples of kids who've been busted 325 00:18:08,934 --> 00:18:12,254 Speaker 1: looking at poor nography while they're at school on a 326 00:18:12,414 --> 00:18:16,054 Speaker 1: school device. So the access is there. 327 00:18:15,894 --> 00:18:18,694 Speaker 2: Right, absolutely, So I was going to actually so we 328 00:18:19,334 --> 00:18:22,374 Speaker 2: have had to put in a lot of measures to 329 00:18:22,534 --> 00:18:26,214 Speaker 2: ensure that things aren't looked up on our school screens, 330 00:18:26,254 --> 00:18:29,094 Speaker 2: and they have been in the past, and we've put 331 00:18:29,374 --> 00:18:32,894 Speaker 2: measures in and the kids just somehow get around it. 332 00:18:33,054 --> 00:18:35,694 Speaker 2: But we think that we've got it right now. We 333 00:18:35,774 --> 00:18:38,974 Speaker 2: think that if they go to look up certain things, 334 00:18:39,014 --> 00:18:45,454 Speaker 2: and we're talking about really strange things like sexualized looking 335 00:18:46,334 --> 00:18:50,294 Speaker 2: cartoon characters, and we put these things in place in 336 00:18:50,334 --> 00:18:53,094 Speaker 2: the schools so that they can't get onto it, but 337 00:18:53,574 --> 00:18:57,814 Speaker 2: sometimes it gets past I'm not a tech wiz. That's 338 00:18:57,854 --> 00:19:01,014 Speaker 2: certainly out of my wheelhouse, but we employ people to 339 00:19:01,094 --> 00:19:04,134 Speaker 2: make sure that they can't get to certain things on 340 00:19:04,174 --> 00:19:04,774 Speaker 2: their screens. 341 00:19:05,094 --> 00:19:08,574 Speaker 1: Can you give me an idea without identifying anyone, the 342 00:19:08,654 --> 00:19:10,294 Speaker 1: kind of incidents that you might have had to deal 343 00:19:10,294 --> 00:19:12,174 Speaker 1: with at your school, saye, in the past few weeks, 344 00:19:12,174 --> 00:19:14,254 Speaker 1: things that have stood out for you that have now 345 00:19:14,294 --> 00:19:15,574 Speaker 1: become regular behaviors. 346 00:19:16,294 --> 00:19:21,974 Speaker 2: So looking up inappropriate things, inappropriate pictures on iPads on computers, 347 00:19:22,494 --> 00:19:27,894 Speaker 2: we've had no passing around. We've had them come up 348 00:19:27,934 --> 00:19:30,214 Speaker 2: to the office and say, of such and such touched 349 00:19:30,254 --> 00:19:33,974 Speaker 2: my private parts, and then the other one said bull 350 00:19:34,134 --> 00:19:38,374 Speaker 2: they asked me to. So there's certain things that are 351 00:19:39,054 --> 00:19:45,294 Speaker 2: not age appropriate, but curiosity which sometimes can be age appropriate, 352 00:19:45,414 --> 00:19:48,534 Speaker 2: but then it gets taken a bit too far and 353 00:19:48,574 --> 00:19:52,174 Speaker 2: you think, is that age appropriate? No, it's not moaning. 354 00:19:52,334 --> 00:19:54,974 Speaker 2: We have that on a not a regular basis, but 355 00:19:55,014 --> 00:19:58,054 Speaker 2: that's one of the things that teachers generally have to 356 00:19:58,094 --> 00:19:59,534 Speaker 2: deal with in the older kids. 357 00:20:00,934 --> 00:20:03,374 Speaker 1: The SHOP report makes it clear that this situation has 358 00:20:03,454 --> 00:20:06,694 Speaker 1: reached a crisis point. Teachers are calling for radical intervention 359 00:20:07,014 --> 00:20:11,214 Speaker 1: and a strong, uniform national response. The safety of educators, 360 00:20:11,254 --> 00:20:16,934 Speaker 1: particularly female teachers, is significantly compromised by major gaps in policies, procedures, 361 00:20:16,974 --> 00:20:21,054 Speaker 1: and codes of conduct. The reports findings underscore an urgent 362 00:20:21,134 --> 00:20:24,334 Speaker 1: need for comprehensive reform in house schools address and prevent 363 00:20:24,414 --> 00:20:28,654 Speaker 1: sexual harassment. Without immediate action, we risk losing more talented 364 00:20:28,774 --> 00:20:33,334 Speaker 1: educators from a profession already facing significant challenges in retention 365 00:20:33,534 --> 00:20:37,574 Speaker 1: and recruitment. Sarah says parents and teachers have to get 366 00:20:37,614 --> 00:20:40,254 Speaker 1: on board with this together, because denying that it's your 367 00:20:40,374 --> 00:20:43,374 Speaker 1: child or that it isn't that serious isn't helping them 368 00:20:43,854 --> 00:20:44,214 Speaker 1: or you. 369 00:20:45,494 --> 00:20:50,894 Speaker 2: I think more parent involvement within the schools, so schools 370 00:20:50,974 --> 00:20:55,854 Speaker 2: providing parent workshops, the norms that they are seeing from 371 00:20:55,934 --> 00:21:01,014 Speaker 2: their kids and parents being aware of exactly what is happening. 372 00:21:01,174 --> 00:21:04,414 Speaker 2: It does happen on an individualized basis. Side, the teacher 373 00:21:04,454 --> 00:21:07,614 Speaker 2: will bring a parent and let them know their child 374 00:21:07,734 --> 00:21:11,534 Speaker 2: has exhibited these behad you. But I think from a 375 00:21:11,694 --> 00:21:19,134 Speaker 2: community base, schools providing parents and parents actually uptaking those 376 00:21:19,334 --> 00:21:23,254 Speaker 2: information sessions, I think would be a really good start. 377 00:21:24,214 --> 00:21:25,934 Speaker 1: Thanks for taking the time to feed your mind with 378 00:21:26,014 --> 00:21:28,694 Speaker 1: us today. The quickie is produced by me Claire Murphy 379 00:21:28,734 --> 00:21:32,134 Speaker 1: and our executive producer Taylor Strano, with audio production by 380 00:21:32,174 --> 00:21:32,694 Speaker 1: Lou Hill.