An expensive private school in Sydney’s northern suburbs has described as “unfortunate” the decision by a school captain to give a speech in which she dared to describe the $28,000 a year college as less than perfect.
In a message to parents, posted on Facebook, Ravenswood School for Girls council chairman Mark Webb said the speech, by school captain Sarah Haynes, “detracts from Year 12 celebrations.”
The speech has gone viral, with hundreds of people congratulating Sarah on her bravery and honesty in criticizing a school that relies heavily on marketing to attract fee-paying students, and others saying that Sarah wasn’t entirely open about what was going on behind the scenes.
Mr Webb revealed in his note that some of the issues raised by Sarah in her speech “relate to a disagreement about disciplinary action.”
Sarah’s sister left Ravenswood earlier this year.
Sarah said: “At a time when my family and I needed Ravo the most, it let us down. I know that there have been rumours and gossip about my sister leaving the school and I’d rather not add fuel to the fire but would prefer to say that people who I trusted and respected made an unjustified, cruel and incorrect decision.”
Sarah told the audience she had drafted two versions of her valedictory address: one for the school’s administration, and another which she planned to actually deliver.
She said she had happily promoted Ravenswood to prospective parents over the years, but was dismayed when her speeches were routinely censored by staff.
Mr Webb told parents: “Ravenswood has an overriding obligation to provide a safe and respectful learning environment for every student – and all our girls have the right to feel valued. This applies not only to the way girls behave towards one another but also to allowing their freedom to express individual opinions in speeches or otherwise.”
Sarah’s speech received praise on Facebook, with one viewer saying: “This young lady will go far. What she says is true of many elite private schools and reflects my own experience. We need more people like her with courage to speak the truth.”
Another said: “Sarah’s speech – honest and brave. The school’s response – a complete cop out. The Chair would do awfully well as a politician – justifying the school’s failure to address the issues Sarah has raised by ‘not wanting to detract from year 12 celebrations’.”
