Anger as school 'forces girl to shave underarms'

A Victorian mother has hit out at her daughter's school after it forced the teen to shave her armpits in front of students.

Melissa Woods told 3AW her 14-year-old daughter Taylah was "extremely upset" after a teacher at Wangaratta District Specialist School made her shave her underarms as part of a lesson in personal care.

Ms Woods says she never gave the school permission.

"I spoke to the teacher the very next day and she told me she has the right to do it, it's part of the curriculum," Ms Woods told 3AW.

"I wasn't satisfied with that so I went to the principal and sent her a letter – she wrote back saying… she regrets that they didn't have a permission slip for me to sign."

She said her daughter, who has neurodevelopmental disorder as well as ADHD, has previously been adverse to shaving.

"I said to her: 'That's fine. I have no problems with it. You come to me when you're ready'," Ms Woods said.

Ms Woods said she felt the school had "invaded her rights" by shaving her daughter.

The school is yet to comment publicly on the matter.

Source: 3AW

Author: Jack Hawke, Approving editor: Kieran Campbell