Principal admits ‘failures’ after anti-abortion speaker addressed Scotch students

The principal of one of the state’s most exclusive private schools has apologised after a controversial anti-abortion speaker addressed year 11 boys in a presentation that shocked students and staff.

Dr Emma Wood spoke to the students in September as part of the school’s Christian education curriculum.

Wood runs the anti-abortion “Pro-Love Logic” organisation and gives presentations to help students understand the relationship between “widespread abortion and the individualistic sexual culture the West has embraced”.

Principal Scott Marsh sent a letter to parents of year 11 students on Friday after he commissioned an internal review.

“I am ultimately responsible for activities involving our students,” Marsh wrote in the letter seen by The Age.

He said the review found there were procedural failings in how the presentation was arranged and managed.

“The presentation should have been classified and managed as an incursion because it involved an external speaker addressing boys outside the normal class timetable,” Marsh wrote.

The principal said it was a clear failure in processes.

“We are sorry for the distress this caused some boys and families,” he said.

However, he did not apologise for the content of the speech delivered by Wood.

Her presentations for high school students include defining abortion as “an act of harm inflicted on an unborn human being that both intends and accomplishes that unborn human’s death”.

The all-boys school was established in 1851, and is the oldest secondary school in Victoria. Based in Hawthorn, it educates nearly 2000 boys from prep to year 12. From next year, it will charge more than $47,000 for year 11 students.

The principal said in his letter that the review did not make any findings against individual staff members, but focused on what occurred, the procedural failings and how to address them.

“A further session will be held for the same year 11 cohort this term,” Marsh said.

“It will present a different perspective on the topic and provide boys with a further opportunity to consider, discuss and reflect on the issues raised within their Christian education classes.”

A source not authorised to speak publicly said Wood’s lecture had made staff and students feel uncomfortable.

“Everyone was taken aback … it wasn’t a discussion,” they said.

In a previous letter from the principal to parents in September, he said the controversial speaker was recommended by other schools.

It did not go into detail about which schools recommended Wood. Wood teaches at Campion College in NSW, which was investigated after its dean of studies and a senior history lecturer made comments supporting the White Australia policy.

Wood, who holds a PhD in philosophy from Victoria University of Wellington and “specialises in bioethics and political philosophy”, according to her website, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

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Caroline Schelle is an education reporter, and joined The Age in 2022. She previously covered courts at AAP.Connect via X or email.