An Australian high school teacher is under fire for allegedly identifying as a cat, complete with hissing, growling, and licking her hands in front of students. Parents at Marsden State High School in Logan City, Queensland, are outraged, claiming the teacher demanded students call her “Miss Purr.” Some even say she made kids purr for candy.
Photos circulating online show the teacher sporting a cat-ear headband and a lanyard reading “purr.” One parent reported that if students weren’t paying attention, she would growl at them. Another claimed she sat in class licking her hands—behavior more suited for a stray than a state educator.
“She forces the children to call her Miss Purr and cat screeches and growls when they don’t listen,” one outraged parent told *The Courier-Mail.* “It’s absolutely disgusting. Something needs to be done about this.”
Frustration boiled over on social media, with parents questioning how the education system allows this. “It’s more frustrating that the mainstream schooling and education system we are sending our kids to every day has teachers doing things like this,” one parent posted.
The Queensland Department of Education couldn’t ignore the uproar. In response to the controversy, the department released a statement affirming that teachers are held to high standards of professionalism and ethics. “This behavior is not acceptable in Queensland state schools,” the statement read.
As the scandal peaked, *7News Australia* reported that the teacher denied the accusations. She claimed “Miss Purr” was simply a play on her initials, P.R.R., and nothing more. A follow-up report from *The Courier-Mail* later revealed she was no longer at the school—despite backing from fellow teachers and the teacher’s union.
The bizarre saga has left parents questioning the standards of modern education. When teachers start acting like animals, it’s time to ask who’s really running the zoo.
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Five Fast Facts
- Queensland has some of the largest schools in Australia, with Marsden State High School enrolling over 3,000 students.
- Cat-ear headbands, like the one allegedly worn by the teacher, became a fashion trend in Japan before spreading worldwide.
- There’s an actual psychological condition called “species dysphoria,” where individuals feel they are a different species.
- Teachers in Australia must meet strict professional conduct codes, which include avoiding behavior that could harm a child’s learning environment.
- The world’s most famous fictional feline-human hybrid is likely Catwoman, who first appeared in DC Comics in 1940.
