Girls at a prestigious private school founded by a church say they were ordered to remove Christian crosses because they offend their classmates.
Year 12 students at Melbourne’s Methodist Ladies College (MLC), in the affluent eastern suburb of Kew, say students are allowed to wear furry ears, tails and rainbow-themed pride items, but not crosses indicating his Christian faith.
An anonymous student told the Herald of the sun that the school was practicing “religious discrimination” because teachers asked those who wore them as jewelry to remove them when other students complained that they were offensive to non-Christians.”
“My friend was wearing a cross and there was another girl in our class who said she found the cross very offensive and that’s why the teacher told her to take it off,” she told the publication.
‘My friend’s parents, who are very religious, tried to get answers from the school and were told ‘it doesn’t look good for the school.’
“This is supposed to be a religious school, but they listen to minority opinion instead of mainstream religious students.”
Students wearing Christian crosses reportedly asked to put them on a longer chain so they would not be visible, but students say they are being told to take them off.
Methodist Ladies College, which charges around $39,000 in fees for a Year 12 student and an additional $36,000 for boarding, has strict uniform requirements and does not allow make-up, jewelery or long loose hair.
Students attending Melbourne’s Methodist Ladies College say teachers ask them to remove worn-out Christian crosses.
The school is also very strict regarding inappropriate long dresses and unapproved clothing.
A spokesperson for the school told the Herald Sun they were “deeply committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and diversity”.
“Our Christian heritage serves as a foundation for welcoming people of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds, fostering an environment where each student is supported in expressing their identity and beliefs,” the spokesperson said.
‘With respect to religious jewelry, such as cross necklaces, the university’s uniform policy supports consistent presentation among students while respecting individual beliefs.
The school has strict uniform rules, where make-up, jewelery and long untied hair are prohibited (file image pictured)
Parents pay thousands of dollars in school fees for their daughters to attend Methodist Ladies College
“We apply all policies carefully and sensitively, ensuring individual beliefs are respected while supporting our shared identity through the MLC uniform.”
In August 2022, it was reported that a year 8 student attending a private girls’ school in Melbourne was being allowed to “identify as a cat”.
“No one seems to have a protocol for students who identify as animals, but the approach has been that if it doesn’t disrupt the school, everyone is supportive,” a source close to the family told the Herald Sun.
The school did not confirm this, but said they were “dealing with a variety of psychological issues.”
In a statement, the school said the students presented with “a variety of issues, from mental health, anxiety or identity issues.”
An anonymous student claims the girls were told to remove their cross necklaces because they offended other students.
Melbourne Methodist Ladies College was started by the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1882 and it was not until 1978 that the school’s principal was an ordained minister.
“As a multicultural, nondenominational university, we value diversity and broad expressions of achievement,” the school’s website states.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the school for further comment.
