Up to 70 female students at a Sydney high school were barred from attending their graduation celebrations because they were wearing fake nails, prompting outrage from parents.
Parents of the Year 10 students from Mackellar Girls Campus in Manly Vale were left horrified when their daughters were stopped from participating in their end-of-year graduation ceremony this week after staff banned them for having clear but fake nails.
The decision meant a large section of the Year 10 cohort were forced to miss the ceremony and instead sat in a separate room during the graduation because their fake nails breached the school's strict dress code.
Up to 70 female students at Mackellar Girls Campus were barred from attending their graduation celebrations because they were wearing clear fake nails
Mackellar Girls Campus in Manly Vale has come under fire from parents and locals for not letting students attend their graduation ceremony because they were wearing fake nails
Speaking to news.com.au, the mother of one of the girls sidelined by staff said the decision was unfair and alienated the students involved.
'They pretended these girls didn’t exist. At least acknowledge them,' she said.
The mother also questioned the 'double-standard' of why some of the teachers were allowed to wear bright red nails, while the plain acrylics worn by the students were frowned upon.
Another parent said it was 'absolutely disgusting behaviour' for a publicly-funded local government school to deny parents the opportunity to see their daughters graduate and receive awards.
Locals, including former students of the school, responded strongly to a Manly Observer Facebook post about the incident.
One said the staff decision was 'a very harsh unnecessary punishment'.
'Some common sense is needed here.'
Another called it 'absolutely ridiculous' and 'petty'.
'It seems they were clear nails anyway! Not bloody red or hot pink! I would be livid! After all they have been through the last few years. It's just nasty in my opinion,' the comment read.
The government-funded Mackellar Girls Campus is part of Northern Beaches Secondary College in Manly Vale.
Under the school's 'Rules and Policies' on their website, it states that all students have a right to be 'treated with courtesy, fairness and respect' and 'enjoy success and recognition'.
English (United States) ·