Private school girls in tears over dress length ‘mass public humiliation’

Some of Melbourne’s most prestigious schools are being accused of imposing unreasonable and “petty” uniform rules on girls.

The dress length checks at Mentone Grammar left some girls in tears.

School uniform violations continue to cause friction between teachers and students, as girls ignore “petty” rules.

The Herald Sun reported girls from Mentone Grammar were pulled out of class on Monday to have their school dresses measured, with those wearing dresses deemed to be too short sent home.

But a parent from Methodist Ladies’ College said uniform surveillance was a daily occurrence at her daughter’s school.

“Girls in year 12 even are pulled out of class over their earrings, jewellery, hems and fake eyelashes,” she said.

“It’s ridiculous, I can’t believe you would pull someone out of class just for that.”

“There are teachers at the front gate, the back gate and the side gate looking at the girls’ uniforms,” she said.

A parent has spoken out about the uniform surveillance at Methodist Ladies’ College. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The current uniform for the leading Kew private girls’ school, which charges $36,000 a year for year 12, was introduced more than 20 years ago.

The school’s student code of conduct notes that disciplinary action may follow instructions to remove jewellery, non-uniform items, inappropriate skirt length or failure to tie hair back.

Such battles are ongoing at most schools in Victoria, with girls taking to social media to documents battles with teachers and their parents over hem lengths, hair colour and the wearing of jewellery.

Rules at schools such as Genazzano, Wesley, Siena College, Haileybury, Our Lady of Mercy College and Huntingtower are under attack from students for putting minor uniform misdemeanours ahead of their wellbeing and health.

As the Herald Sun reported last year, current and former students report getting detentions for wearing the wrong colour hair ribbons, not having their blazers on even in hot weather and having security guards follow them to assess their uniform compliance.

Girls from private schools such as Toorak College, Lowther Hall, Korowa, Catholic Ladies’ College, Santa Maria and Siena College shared their stories of harsh uniform infringements and teachers acting as “spies”.

Students from public schools such as Kew High, Balwyn High and Wantirna College shared similar tales including a girl from Mentone Girls Secondary who said students were dobbed in by strangers for not having the right uniform on public transport.

Students brag about putting back on their jewellery and untying their hair as soon as teachers’ backs are turned.

Parents raise concerns over ‘mass shaming’

Girls at a southeastern private school have had their dress lengths checked by teachers in a process one parent dubbed “mass public ­humiliation”.

Year 10, 11 and 12 female students from Mentone Grammar who had dresses deemed too short were sent home on Monday.

The length checks, which left some girls in tears, have been a hot topic of discussion among parents.

One parent told the Herald Sun some girls were asked to kneel and that her daughter told her between 50 and 150 girls were sent home – a claim denied by the school.

“The boys didn’t get pulled out of class and have their shorts measured,” the parent said.

“It was mass shaming. The school humiliated hundreds of girls and they feel powerless to speak up about it.”

The parent said male staff were involved in the process and some female staff even conducted physical checks.

“Male members of staff should not be telling a girl her skirt is too short,” the parent said.

The school uniform guide does not mention hem lengths.

Mentone Grammar principal Mal Cater said: “As is usual at the start of the year in schools, when students returned last week they were reminded of the school’s uniform and appearance requirements.

“A small number were asked to address their uniform and appearance and parents received a reminder about the school’s uniform policy.

“A few came to school on Monday having not attended to their uniforms. After the school consulted with both the students and their parents, they went offsite to do so.”

Nick Duggal, partner at Moray & Agnew Lawyers, said imposing “stricter school uniform requirements on girls than boys could potentially give rise to discrimination complaints”.

“Broader duty of care issues can also arise in imposing draconian or invasive clothing requirements on girls,” he said.

Mr Duggal said the existence of a legally vetted uniform policy can help schools avoid discrimination or other legal claims.

Mentone Grammar, which charges more than $30,000 for year 12, markets itself as setting a “benchmark for outstanding co-education”.

Its famous alumni includes cricketer Shane Warne.

Despite many schools adopting more gender-neutral uniform policies, schools continue to monitor and set policies for the length of girls’ skirts and dresses.

Students at two state high schools – Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College and Balwyn High School – were told in June last year their short dresses were a distraction for the male staff.