Teens at Sydney private religious school made to share beds with teachers, inquiry hears
Summary
A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry heard claims that teens at Redeemer Baptist School, a private religious school in western Sydney, were made to share beds with teachers. Former students also said the principal once walked through a common area naked, and the school had a culture of strict control and public punishment.Key Facts
- Former students said some teens had to share beds with teachers during school camps or stays.
- One former student saw the principal, Jonathon Cannon, walk naked in a common area and reported it.
- The student who reported was then scolded by the principal’s brother and his parents.
- Staff at the school often used kinship titles like “uncle” and crossed usual personal boundaries.
- The school emphasized surveillance, informing on others (called “dobbing”), public punishments, and humiliation.
- Two students were publicly punished after teachers found a love note, which was read aloud.
- The New South Wales parliamentary committee is investigating the school and government oversight.
- The Department of Communities and Justice received warnings about risks since 2004 but did not conduct a thorough investigation.
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