Recent reports from advocacy group Collective Shout reveal a disturbing reality in Australia’s classrooms, where teachers and young students are increasingly threatened by the pervasive reach of pornography. The findings, highlighted in The Australian and supported by Rachael Wong of Women’s Forum Australia, expose a cascade of sexualised behaviours—children as young as five are engaging in sexually inappropriate actions toward their peers and teachers, while teenage boys, emboldened by online content, are threatening female educators with vile acts.
This dire situation should be a clarion call for policymakers to take immediate action to protect our children and teachers from the toxic influence of pornography.
The statistics paint a bleak picture.
Nearly half of the teachers surveyed reported sexual harassment by male students, primarily in Years 9 and 10, but troubling behaviours are emerging even among kindergarten-aged children.
Young girls are coerced into sending inappropriate images, while boys exhibit disrespectful and threatening behaviour.
The evidence underscores a pervasive breakdown in childhood innocence, as explicit material warps young minds.
Educators like Maggie Dent and advocates at Collective Shout are clear: this isn't “boys being boys” but the fruit of a society where pornographic content is readily accessible, influencing even our youngest children.
Collective responsibility is essential. Schools alone cannot bear the weight of undoing the influence of explicit content and reorienting students towards respectful relationships.
Families and community members must step up to counteract the pervasive reach of pornographic material.
Parents, as primary educators, must initiate conversations with their children on the risks associated with pornography, explaining the effects it has on relationships and personal health.
The anti-pornography organisation Fight the New Drug provides valuable resources, such as the documentary Brain Heart World, to help parents address these concerns in a clear and impactful way.
These uncomfortable yet essential dialogues can begin at home, reducing children’s vulnerability to this predatory industry.
Schools, too, must reinforce this message, incorporating age-appropriate education on the dangers of pornography into the curriculum.
The current education system often finds itself unequipped to address this challenge, with many teachers reporting that they do not feel safe in their workplaces.
We must equip our educators with clear guidelines and support mechanisms to manage inappropriate behaviours effectively.
Additionally, resources like books promoting harmful behaviours, such as Welcome to Sex by Yumi Styne and Melissa Kang, have no place in our schools.
Parents and guardians must remain vigilant about educational materials and have the power to review what their children are exposed to.
Government intervention is overdue. It is high time for federal, state, and territory lawmakers to crack down on pornographic websites and social media platforms that expose children to explicit content.
Strict age verification and punitive measures for non-compliant sites are not optional but essential to safeguard our children.
Such steps are not about restricting free speech; rather, they protect children from exploitation and abuse.
Pornography is an industry with a multi-billion-dollar incentive to target young viewers, nurturing addiction and skewing perceptions of healthy relationships.
It has devastated countless lives, facilitated child exploitation, and degraded societal respect for women and girls.
A society that values its children cannot continue to allow pornography to saturate their lives unimpeded.
We at Family First call on policymakers to prioritise the wellbeing of children and teachers.
Let us ensure schools are safe places for learning and growth, free from the insidious influence of an industry that preys on youth.
The time to act is now—let us protect our children, support our educators, and reclaim the moral fabric of our society.