The 'toxic male culture' at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts (WHSPA) has a concerned parent fearing for his daughter's safety.
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The father of the 16-year-old student, who didn't want to be named, said there was an increasing misogynist and racist culture at the school.
'Right now for 15-16-year-old girls, it is a really toxic environment," he said.
"There is a real toxic male culture, misogynist and racist.
"It is not uncommon to hear the word n****r in the school yard. That word is used openly by a lot of kids of this age at the school despite other kids saying 'this is racism, we don't want to hear this'.
"The girls also are often subjected to constant comments about their bodies.
"I would say it is not a safe culture for 15-16 year-old girls to be in at the moment. There is a lot of real concern in the school community."
Last year WHSPA asked the Department of Education to investigate the school after a former student alleged instances of bullying, racism and discrimination.
This time around a Department spokesperson said Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts had zero tolerance for bullying, racism, misogyny, or anti-social behaviour of any kind.
"WHSPA rejects any suggestion that there is a toxic culture among students at the school. The school is strongly committed to the wellbeing of every student," the spokesperson said.
But the concerned parent fears the Year 10 formal "joke awards", crossed the line.
He said the student survey calling for votes for such things as the 'best rack, rear of the year, most likely to work as a stripper and best wog', had outraged some students and parents alike.
"I know the school does not condone these awards.
"But there is probably a real concern for me that the culture of the school where kids would get to that age and not realise that there is anything wrong with having a whole year's cohort of students vote on each others' body parts and other things which are really not appropriate .
"There is a real concern we've got with teenage suicide, the cluster down in Kiama, we've got another girl who was in this year at WHSPA who left about a year ago, she suicided a couple of weeks ago .
"I just feel at that age that they are so vulnerable and this stuff shouldn't be happening."
His daughter was among a group of students who asked for the 'joke awards' to be shelved.
But they were told the awards were a joke and would be held.
In fact, an online disclaimer says 'all awards have been made as a source of entertainment, none are intended in an offensive or degrading way, and we apologise for any inconvenience'.
WHSPA distanced itself from the awards.
"WHSPA has not sanctioned a Year 10 formal event, and any event that has been organised by students or parents, has been done without the school's authority, knowledge, or approval," the spokesperson said.
"The school is deeply disappointed of the creation of these highly inappropriate and derogatory awards.
"The school will investigate and any students found to have been involved will be counselled and disciplined according to the school's disciplinary policy.
"This unsanctioned event and inappropriate awards, are contrary to the many programs the school has to combat bullying and what it has put in place to support students' mental health needs."
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