Angry parents after being banned from drinking at school events

Dozens of students at Catholic high schools in Sydney, Australia, have been banned from bringing a date into their official year 12 under a new policy, causing “huge uproar”.

Under the rules, which apply to the 147 schools within the city’s Catholic archdiocese, parents will also be banned from drinking alcohol at end-of-year celebrations.

Issued earlier this year, the policy applies to graduation dinners, formals and other Year 12 events, as well as end of year celebrations for Year 6 students.

“As a school system we have a duty of care to our staff and students at any school event,” a spokesperson for Sydney Catholic Schools told news.com.au.

“Prohibiting alcohol at school events is in line with our code of conduct. The focus of these events is on celebrating our students, their school life, friendships and achievements. We do not believe that alcohol is a necessary part of any school event or party.”

As for the exclusion of “outside” partners from graduation celebrations, many of the archdiocese’s charter schools never allowed them in the first place, the spokesman said, and students have historically been allowed to bring “students from inside”. their community.”

As this is the first time the policy has been “consistently articulated” across all schools, there will be some flexibility in terms of dates.

“Implementation will be considered with feedback from our school leaders and communities for 2025,” the spokesperson said.

They said the ban on outside partners is unrelated to a situation last year at one of its schools, St. Ursula at Kingsgrove.

The institution made national headlines when it banned a 12-year-old student from bringing her female partner to her prom, later criticizing the decision following public backlash.

“The content of this policy is not a direct response to media issues surrounding school formals from previous years, but was a response to the call in those issues for a system position on historical events,” the spokesperson said.

“Sydney Catholic Schools has articulated a consistent position which prioritizes the health, safety and risk mitigation of every school event and ensures that our students and the celebration of their education is at the heart of every function organized at school.”

As for the alcohol ban, a mother of a 12-year-old student, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Sydney Morning Herald that “naturally” there had been “a lot of resentment between parents about being treated like a child”.

“What worries me the most is the mixed message it sends to our children. On the one hand, they say: ‘Well done, students, you have finished your formal schooling; go into the big world we’ve prepared you for as adults,’ she said.

“But this new policy basically (says) they don’t trust you, or your parents, or your teachers to behave, in case we tarnish their precious reputations.”

Alcohol is also prohibited at all New South Wales public school events where students are present, even for participants over 18 years of age.