Grammar school gave lesson on how to walk in high heels

A prestigious school in Victoria offered ‘modern etiquette classes’ to its students, which involved teaching the schoolgirls how to wear high heels.

Following the class, some students at Girton Grammar School hit out at the female-only session.

‘On the one hand, we are being expected to excel at STEM subjects alongside the boys,’ some students wrote in a letter to the Herald Sun. ‘On the other, we are being asked to bring in high heels so that we can learn to work in them.

‘It is demeaning and sexist.’

A prestigious school in Victoria has offered ‘modern etiquette classes’ to its students, which involves teaching the schoolgirls how to wear high heels (stock image)

The etiquette lesson was part of a weekly work shop for the students to help prepare them for life once they leave.

But the concerned students thought that the inclusion of a heel lesson was outdated as they said: ‘This is not 1950, this is 2017.’

Due to the concern the anonymous students expressed, the school was forced to scrap the heel workshop.

The etiquette lesson is part of a weekly work shop for the students to help prepare them for life once they leave

The etiquette lesson is part of a weekly work shop for the students to help prepare them for life once they leave

Headmaster Matthew ­Maruff told the Herald Sun the workshops were designed to provide students with information on ‘self-conduct in social and work environments’.

‘At all times, we encourage our students to speak out respectfully on any issue that concerns them,’ he said.

‘In this instance, we were very glad that two students let us know that they felt uncomfortable being asked to bring high heels to school as part of the modern etiquette session.

‘Several students did elect to seek advice related to wearing high heels after the session and the school was happy to support these students in that choice.’ 

Headmaster Matthew ­Maruff said the workshops were designed to provide students with information on 'self-conduct in social and work environments' (stock image)

Headmaster Matthew ­Maruff said the workshops were designed to provide students with information on ‘self-conduct in social and work environments’ (stock image)

The elite Bendigo school, which charges up to $13,800 a year, has received backlash over the initial decision.

In a segment on the Today Show the school was slammed by guest speakers.

‘This is a deal breaker for me, if I was looking for a school for my daughter in Victoria I would not be considering them, I mean are we in the 1950s?’ author Nikki Gimmel said.

‘I think it’s very interesting that it’s a male headmaster who has decided that the girls at his school need etiquette classes involving how to wear heels.

‘When I wear high heels I feel disempowered and not as strong as when I’m wearing my flat shoes and I think its a real worry, some girls just don’t want to wear high heels,’ Nikki said.

'I think it's very interesting that it's a male headmaster who has decided that the girls at his school need etiquette classes involving how to wear heels,' author Nikki Gimmel said

‘I think it’s very interesting that it’s a male headmaster who has decided that the girls at his school need etiquette classes involving how to wear heels,’ author Nikki Gimmel said

Radio host, Jo Stanley, was of a similar opinion and said it was a ‘missed opportunity’.

‘There’s no doubt school leavers need assistance with presentation and that’s male and female… it’s really helpful to teach our young people how to present themselves well, smile at people, look at them in the eye and be confident but being confident means being at one and happy in your own skin.

‘And if we’re forcing young women to [be] teetering around in heels when they’re not comfortable… then you’re not teaching them how to be confident as themselves.’  

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Girton Grammar School but they declined to comment further.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk