SCHOOL BOYS FORCED to APOLOGIZE to FEMALE CLASSMATES — FOR BEING MALE

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Some parents of male students at a school in Australia are seething after their sons were forced to stand up in assembly and apologize to their female classmates on behalf of their gender — males of the world.

The incident happened at Brauer school in Warrnambool, Victoria, on Wednesday. One parent, Danielle Shephard, who has a 12-year-old son at the school, told 7News her son was feeling confused after being told to apologize to the female half of the class.

"He said that he was made to stand up and basically apologise … It wasn't explained properly to the male students what they were doing or why they were doing it," she said.

Brauer organised the assembly about respect for women and girls, but parents weren't told what form the discussion would take.

The school's principal, Jane Boyle, told the network that while the assembly was "well-intended," she recognized that the public apology could be considered "inappropriate” to some.

"This week, as a whole school, we discussed the topic of respect for woman and the importance of bystander behaviour and speaking up to report incidents of inappropriate behaviour.”

"The assembly included the screening of a video message by Brisbane Boys' school captain Mason Black about being proactive in stopping incidents of sexual assault and harassment perpetrated against females.”

"As part of this discussion, boys were asked to give symbolic gestures of apology for the behaviours of their gender that have hurt or offended girls and women.”

Boyle said the school panned to contact the parents and hopefully explain the reasons behind the assembly.