Parents of students at St Rita’s College in Clayfield are calling for police involvement following a “smash or pass” rating scandal involving their children’s photos.
The controversy, which also implicates St Joseph’s Nudgee College students, has raised serious concerns about privacy and online behaviour among teenagers.
According to reports, a Year 8 St Rita’s student shared individual photos of her entire class with a Nudgee College boy. Subsequently, a video featuring these images was allegedly created and uploaded to TikTok.
One St Rita’s parent, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “We have asked the school to refer this matter to the police.” The parent expressed scepticism about claims that the material had not been widely shared on social media, citing the likelihood of redistribution among teenagers.
St Rita’s College has reportedly suspended the student who initially shared the images for one day. The school’s deputy principal, Catherine Allen, informed parents that efforts were being made to remove the shared information.
Photo Credit: Queensland Government (des.qld.gov.au)
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Nudgee College principal Scott Thomson has denied allegations that their students used social media to rate the attractiveness of St Rita’s students. In a letter to parents, Thomson stated, “Based on our investigations, there is no evidence to support the allegations in the story.” He acknowledged that a Nudgee student had shared St Rita’s student identification photos with a small group of peers but maintained that the school was unaware of any public sharing on social media.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia / Kgbo
The incident has sparked broader discussions about the prevalence of “smash or pass” rating games in Brisbane schools. A parent from another local school, All Hallows, commented on the widespread nature of these activities, describing them as “incredibly damaging to kids” with potentially “horrific” fallout.
Published 30-July-2024