A female teacher at one of Australia’s most prestigious schools fell victim to an attempted blackmail by a male student who demanded she send him nude photos.
Jasmin Hyde, who taught maths at Cranbrook in Sydney’s exclusive eastern suburbs, fell victim to a blackmail attempt by a student in June 2020.
It is one of several accusations of a toxic culture within the elite school made in 2011 Documentary about Vier Hoeken which aired Monday night, while other female teachers were reportedly subjected to wolf whistling and shouting.
The student threatened to accuse Ms Hyde of sexually assaulting him if she did not send him nude photos.
The boy was eventually expelled and chose to leave the $46,000-a-year school.
He wrote Mrs Hyde an apologetic letter saying he was ashamed and devastated by his behaviour.
Jasmin Hyde (pictured), who taught maths at Cranbrook in Sydney’s exclusive eastern suburbs, was the victim of a blackmail attempt by a student in June 2020
It is one of several allegations of a toxic culture within Cranbrook made in a Four Corners documentary that aired Monday night, with other female teachers allegedly subjected to wolf whistling and shouting.
“I have caused so much pain and disappointment to you, my teachers and the wider school community, my friends and my family,” the student wrote.
But Ms Hyde was deeply disappointed with the school’s response and took her complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
“In my experience, Cranbrook did not have a safe, inclusive and supportive culture for me and its female teaching staff,” she told the committee in October 2023.
‘That has to change. It must change for the sake of me, and it must change for the sake of your current and future teaching staff, and of the many young girls who are about to begin their studies at Cranbrook.”
After the extortion attempt, Ms Hyde said she was taken to a cafe to discuss her concerns with the director and his deputy.
But she was surprised when the officer reportedly suggested it was no surprise she was getting attention from the boys as she looked pretty.
“Justifying sexual harassment enables future abuse,” Ms Hyde wrote to the committee.
“This is the standard that Cranbrook management approves, the tone from the top: that young, attractive women at your school should not only expect but tolerate sexual harassment.
“I wonder what the parents of your future female students would think about this.”
Cranbrook said in a statement that the deputy never intended to offend and “I’m sorry if (he) did.”
The Australian Human Rights Commission confirmed Ms Hyde’s complaints of sexual discrimination.
Cranbrook alumni include technology billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, two generations of the Packer media and gaming dynasty, Kerry and James, and a string of illustrious business high-flyers, politicians, academics and media and sports stars.
ABC investigative journalist Louise Milligan revealed seven legal threats were made ahead of her unveiling at Cranbrook School on Monday night.
Daily Mail Australia approached Cranbrook for comment.
ABC investigative journalist Louise Milligan has revealed that seven legal threats were made ahead of her revelation about Cranbrook School
Milligan tweeted earlier on Monday that she was aware of multiple legal threats that had already been made regarding the elite private school segment in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
