A high school principal allegedly told her female students that the length of their skirt and shorts made male teachers ‘uncomfortable’.
Furious students from Francis Greenway High in northern New South Wales, were told to change into longer shorts because their current shorts or skirts could put males in an ‘awkward situation’, the Newcastle Herald reported.
Female students from years eight to 11 were called into a meeting with the school’s principal, Jo Edwards, who allegedly said their length of skirt could attract unwanted attention.
A high school principal told their female students that the length of their skirt and shorts have made their male teachers ‘uncomfortable’
After the meeting, 20 students were sent home from school, while other students spent the day feeling victimised after the conversation.
The parents of the public school are now calling for a change in leadership after female students felt ‘ashamed’, ‘targeted’ and ‘worthless’.
Mrs Edwards allegedly told female students the length of their shorts and skirt could lead to the girls being categorised as provocative and may put them at risk of being sexually assaulted.
Parents have now bound together to broach the topic with claims the principal was ‘victim blaming’ and should be kicked from the job.
Kerri Field was shocked when her daughter Alexis came home from the school assembly.
‘The principal proceeded to have a talk about the uniform which then turned to how the male the teachers feel uncomfortable with girls in such short shorts and the boys are distracted,’ Mrs Field told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Alexis wore trackie pants to avoid anyone wanting to measure her. I’m happy with the sports shorts she normally wears, they are not too short and have the modesty lining inside them so nothing is ever visible,’ Mrs Field said.
Female students from years seven to 11 were called in to a meeting with the principal, Jo Edwards who allegedly said their length of skirt could attract unwanted attention
‘I feel disgusted, because we are trying to empower those girls,’ Mrs Field added.
Another concerned mother said the tone of the assembly was ‘not appropriate for impressionable young teenagers’.
‘We don’t have a problem with the school wanting to enforce the uniform policy. But the whole way they’ve gone about it was wrong – making these children feel like every male is looking at them like they want to do something to them.
‘It sexualises them,’ she told the Newcastle Herald.
Since the meeting, students have said they want the principal to apologise for the comments.
Sufiya Walks, who is a student at the school said the comments were derogative.
Since the meeting, students have said they want the school leader to apologise for the comments
‘We feel anger, frustration – girls are worried what our male teachers and students are thinking. We should be feeling safe in school, not threatened. We’ve been treated like objects, not people,’ Miss Walks said.
In a statement to the Daily Mail Australia, Francis Greenway High said, ‘The principal has reiterated the importance of students wearing the correct uniform to school according to the policy endorsed by the school community.
‘It was not her intention to reflect on the character of students addressed earlier, and she has apologised if her choice of words caused offence. The Principal did not refer to rape in connection with the issue.
‘The school takes great pride in its uniform and recognises that the school community sees it as important to the school.’