A principal at a girls’ school in Sydney has asked girl students not to “compromise the employment” of male teachers by wearing revealing clothes.
In a shocking development, a principal at a girls’ school in Sydney, Australia, has asked the girl students not to “compromise the employment” of male teachers by wearing revealing clothes.
Suellen Lawrence, the principal of Cheltenham Girls High School, made the controversial comments in a video address to students while trying to inform the girl students about swimming carnival dress codes.
“Some of the shorts were very short. And some of the tops were very stringy tops. Wear some clothing that covers you properly,” she told students in a video obtained by 7NEWS.
“Please remember girls there are male teachers in this school and they don’t want to be looking at that either. Don’t compromise their employment because you can’t do the right thing," added the principal.
The comments made by principal left the students in shock.
A parent told 7NEWS that the comments made by principal sexually charges the relationship between male teachers and their students and it also raises questions over the professionalism of the teachers.
“(My daughter) was quite upset actually, she came home and it was the first thing she wanted to talk about with the family,” the father said.
Some parents said that the principal's comments meant that tempting men would be the fault of girl students.
When students expressed their displeasure over the controversial comments the principal said, “For those girls that have taken this out of context and have decided to make it into some sort of big issue. I’m sorry for you, you need to go back and listen to what was said.”
NSW Department of Education Executive Director of School Performance Cathy Brennan told 7NEWS that the comments were “inappropriate” and she was “confident that there is genuine remorse”.
The principal later apoligsed to the students for her comments.
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