An 11-year-old girl who wanted to wear shorts to school has won her battle to change the dress code policy after penning a candid letter.
Sofia Myhre, from Perth, called on Education Minister Sue Ellery to consider amending Western Australia’s dress code to allow girls to wear shorts to school.
The Wembley youngster revealed her school recently changed the outdated uniform policy – meaning girls are no longer restricted to wearing dresses or skirts.
And following her passionate plea, public schools across the state will now offer girls the option to wear shorts and pants.
Sofia Myhre (pictured with her mother Krystina) who wanted to wear shorts to school has won her battle to change the uniform policy after penning a candid letter
The 11-year-old called on Education Minister Sue Ellery to consider amending Western Australia’s dress code to allow girls to wear shorts to school
‘I thought it was unfair that my brothers got to wear shorts when they wanted to and they could play sport freely,’ little Sofia told 7 News.
Her mother Krystina Myhre said the move to change the dress code is ‘one step closer to equality for women’.
In her daughter’s letter to the education minister, Sofia revealed she was previously not allowed to wear shorts to school unless they were playing sports.
‘I don’t like wearing skirts to school,’ she wrote.
‘I think it’s really unfair that my brothers have been allowed to wear shorts and all through primary school. I haven’t been allowed to except when I have sport.
‘The dresses are even worse but at least you don’t have to wear them!
‘I really love kicking the footy, netball and doing handstands at recess and lunch. It is annoying doing these things in a skirt.’
The Wembley youngster revealed her school recently changed the outdated uniform policy – meaning girls are no longer restricted to wearing dresses or skirts
Little Sofia said she feels more ‘confident’ after her school made the decision not to limit students to wearing only dresses or skirts
Little Sofia said she feels happier after her school made the decision not to limit students to wearing only dresses or skirts.
‘I am very happy about this,’ she wrote.
‘I want you to know that we feel more confident now. I think it should be a new rule for every schools so it’s fair for everyone.’
The education minister – who recently met with Sofia and her mother – has since asked the department to amend the state’s dress code.
‘In 2017, we want 11-year-old girls to be active at school, we want to encourage them to be active,’ Ms Ellery told 7 News.
‘And if they feel uncomfortable doing that in a skirt, we should give them the option of shorts.’
Despite the statewide policy change, private schools will not be affected.