Queensland teacher demoted following inappropriate comments to student
A Queensland department head, Scott Barnard, has been demoted and transferred to a different school. The disciplinary action follows reports that he made inappropriate comments to a student, including a remark about sitting in the student's "butt warmth."
First reported 6 hours ago · latest update 6 hours ago
The names of the students and the school Barnard taught at have been suppressed.
“When ... student O sought your assistance with positioning paper for printing, you stated words to the effect that you thought as a girl, she would ‘know plenty of positions’. Student O interpreted this to mean ‘sex positions’ and it caused her to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed,” the commission said.
He also told another student she had nice lips, and asked students to locate some “faggots”, which he said meant sticks, not the derogatory slur for LGBTQIA+ persons.
Barnard, who had been working for the Education Department since 2005, denied the conversations about the Greek statues, making nude artworks, and the “positions” and prostitution comments.
According to the ruling, Barnard had received a sexual harassment complaint in March 2024, and an internal investigation found he should be disciplined for the allegation that he had engaged in an inappropriate and unprofessional manner towards students, which he denied.
Citations · 2 reports from 2 outlets
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‘Certificate 3 in prostitution’: Teacher demoted and moved schools over comments
Scott Barnard was the head of a department head a Queensland school when he told a student he was glad to be sitting in her butt warmth.
6 hours ago · Julius Dennis‘Certificate 3 in prostitution’: Teacher demoted and moved schools over comments
Scott Barnard was the head of a department head a Queensland school when he told a student he was glad to be sitting in her butt warmth.
6 hours ago · Julius Dennis