A high school teacher in Queensland, Australia, has come under scrutiny after parents accused her of exhibiting bizarre behaviour in the classroom, including identifying as a cat, growling at students, and encouraging them to purr.
According to reports in Australian media, the teacher, whose name has not been disclosed, worked at Marsden State High School in Logan City. Parents alleged that she insisted students address her as "Ms Purr" and displayed feline-like behaviour, such as hissing, growling, and licking the back of her hand.
Images circulating online showed the teacher wearing a cat-ear headband and a lanyard that read "purr," further fueling concerns about her conduct.
Several parents expressed outrage over the incident, with one claiming that the teacher asked her daughter to purr in exchange for a lollipop. Another parent alleged that the teacher growled at students who failed to pay attention in class.
"She forces the children to call her Miss Purr and makes cat noises when they don’t listen," a parent told The Courier-Mail. "She sits in class licking her hands. It’s absolutely disgusting. Something needs to be done about this."
The incident gained widespread attention on social media, with some parents questioning the professionalism of educators in the public schooling system. In response to the controversy, Queensland’s Department of Education stated that it was aware of the concerns and was addressing them.
"Teachers are held to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. This behaviour is not acceptable in Queensland state schools," the department said in a statement.
Amid growing backlash, the teacher in question denied the allegations, claiming that she had requested students to call her "Miss Purr" as a reference to her initials, P.R.R. However, Australian news outlet The Courier-Mail later reported that she was no longer employed at the school, despite receiving support from colleagues and the teachers' union.
The matter has sparked debate over classroom conduct and the role of educators in maintaining professional standards in schools. The Queensland Department of Education has yet to confirm whether further disciplinary action will be taken.
