Queensland high school students complete assignments on Travers ‘Candyman’ Beynon
Two Queensland schools have defended assignments completed by students about one of the Gold Coast’s most controversial figures, Travers ‘Candyman’ Beynon.
A Gold Coast school and a prestigious Brisbane private school have spoken out about the assessment that includes provocative images that objectify and degrade women, according to News Corp.
Two students from Brisbane Boys’ College submitted an English assignment with their cover pages littered with Beynon’s trademark social media posts.
The submissions have reportedly left Beynon tickled pink however Opposition Deputy Leader John-Paul Langbroek isn’t impressed.
Langbroek expressed concerns the impact the racy material could have on “impressionable” young students.
Langbroek added it was healthy for young people to discuss current affairs but called Candyman publicity “tawdry”.
One of the more racy images depicts a woman lying on her back, naked and covered in sushi.
The woman appears to be posing as a serving tray for Beynon.
Another picture shows a shirtless Beynon lying on the floor, covered in whipped cream while five women wearing lingerie fuss over him.
In response to growing criticism Brisbane Boys’ College issued a statement to News Corp defending the assignment's purpose.
“As part of their Senior English course, Year 12 students are required to critically analyse the ethics and bias of a contemporary issue within the media,” the college statement said.
“It’s important to note the assessment is not a commentary on the topic itself. The purpose of the images was to demonstrate the way in which the issue had been portrayed.
“At no point did the college or the students endorse the images or behaviours associated with the topic.”
Year 10 pupils from Varsity Learning College also did assignment on Beynon.
The Department of Education later confirmed to News Corp that the projects were part of a “media bias” unit within the curriculum.
“Some students chose to focus their discussion on Mr Travers Beynon,” a spokesperson said in the statement.
One student who completed his assignment on the ‘Candyman’ defended the decision.
“A school assignment on media bias is probably the least of a student’s worries,” he said.
“It was a real world assignment with real world issues.”
A spokesman for Beynon said while it was wholly up to education authorities to set the curriculum, he was flattered “his life has been deemed worthy of scholastic study”.
News break – June 25
