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THE Bishop of Sandhurst says it is "enormously disappointing" Catherine McAuley College students participated in a degrading chant about women.
But Bishop Shane Mackinlay said a culture of disrespect is a societal issue rather than just a concern for Catholic schools.
3.30pm
A FAMILY violence support service says it's disappointing a group of Bendigo students chose to sing a degrading chant about women.
A video of the incident, which was initially posted on social media site Snapchat, shows students from Catherine McAuley College and other Bendigo schools singing the chant on a bus home from a party at the weekend.
Centre for Non-Violence client services general manager Yvette Jaczina said that sort of behaviour could lead to other issues.
"We need to call out sexist and misogynistic behaviour," Ms Jaczina said. "Disrespect towards women and girls is a key driver to violence against women and girls.
"We have a really significant problem of violence against women and girls. We saw that in the most tragic circumstances last week and we continue to see that.
"It doesn't mean these young boys are violent, but it's about where it can lead to. We need to call it out and create cultural change."
Ms Jaczina said the boys in the video and others in the community needed to learn from the events at the weekend.
"I'm sure there would be boys in Bendigo who would speak up about respect towards girls and women," she said. "We just need to give those boys a platform to do so and support them.
"Schools in our community are also committed to the respectful relationships program. The schools will have the tools to manage this.
"It's about creating a dialogue and using this as an opportunity to learn."
A young Bendigo woman has called out the boys' behaviour. The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the chant was part of a systemic problem.
"The chant is disgusting," she said. "Not only does it objectify all women, but also promotes rape culture.
"These boys only know that chant from the St Kevin's tram incident and for them to not only disregard the negative media attention St Kevin's received but to also learn the lyrics is foul.
"The boys need to learn that males and females are equals and there is no excuse for their actions. Being "drunk" or "joking around" is not an excuse."
Earlier
A GROUP of Bendigo high school students has been filmed singing a chant that degrades women.
The video, which was initially posted on social media site Snapchat, shows students from Catherine McAuley College and other Bendigo schools singing the chant on a bus home from a party at the weekend.
Two male students, who were not in uniform, are seen leading the chant.
The Bendigo Advertiser has chosen not to share the video.
Catherine McAuley College principal Brian Turner sent a letter to parents on Monday labelling the chant demeaning and unacceptable.
Mr Turner said the college had contacted every one of its students identified in the video, along with the family who held the party and the bus line that transported the students.
Mr Turner plans to talk with the students at a meeting on Tuesday morning.
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"We want to get them all together to investigate the matter properly and then work through the process," Mr Turner said.
"After the recent attention and focus on events happening in Melbourne, it's quite gobsmacking that we're having a similar conversation.
"A lot of students are disappointed. This is not a reflection of the wider school community."
Mr Turner said the school would work with students to ensure they understood the behaviour was unacceptable.
"I think young people make mistakes," he said. "We need to educate our students on the consequences of acting in such a manner.
"They need to understand that all of our actions need to be scrutinised."
Mr Turner said a number of students had come to the college on Sunday with concerns after the video was circulated on social media.
"I think we need to empower those young women to be strong and independent," he said. "We don't tolerate that culture and we want to be proactive."
Mr Turner told parents in a letter on Monday the video did not reflect that values of the school.
"The college wants to reinforce that the lyrics of this song and any other associated culture are disgusting," Mr Turner said in the letter.
"Our college theme this year is Making Mercy our Common Home. This behaviour is not reflective of these values."
Students at Melbourne private school St Kevin's were recorded singing a similar chant while in uniform on a tram in October last year.