The headmistress of a top $50,000-a-year Sydney girls’ school has deleted photos of her teenage pupils performing a rowdy rap routine in afro wigs and chunky gold jewellery after they sparked a furious backlash.
Wenona principal Briony Scott posted photos on her own Instagram account of the three schoolgirls performing at the North Sydney school’s end-of-term “clean-up” day.
But the posts quickly sparked criticism, sparked by the artificially dark tan of one of the girls wearing the afro wigs.
Dr Scott deleted the photos immediately after learning of the dispute, telling the Daily Mail Australia she did so to avoid any “misinterpretation”.
“It is a common practice for students, as across the country, to resort to self-tanning for their end-of-year ceremonies and celebrations,” she said.
‘No additional makeup or color was applied beyond what a student would expect to wear to a typical formal party.
‘I have removed this photograph to avoid further misinterpretation.’
The two teenagers in afro wigs wore matching burgundy silk pajamas, while they and a third girl sported fake jewelry, including heavy gold chains and oversized dollar sign pendants similar to those worn by black rap stars.
Photos of two girls from an elite private girls’ school have been removed to avoid “misinterpretation,” its headmistress said.
The girls took to the stage to give their performance and the photos were posted on the school principal’s Instagram account before being deleted after a dispute broke out.
The two girls could be seen walking through the corridors of the elite girls’ school in high spirits as they took part in the cleaning day to celebrate the end of term.
They also took to the stage to perform their rap duet with oversized sunglasses perched on their afro wigs over their long blonde hair.
A person familiar with the school said they were “absolutely appalled” by what had happened.
‘Wenona, a private girls’ school so full of privilege that after all the scandals from the days of chaos in private schools, decided to participate in this,’ the person said.
They then proceeded to post this on the director’s Instagram account.
‘The students photographed were sporting terrifyingly dark fake tans, afro wigs and were decked out in stereotypical black ‘rapper’ chains and jewellery.
“This is absolutely unacceptable.”
Jessica Gannaway, an education professor and researcher at the University of Melbourne, said the act could be interpreted as a representation of stereotypes that always had the potential to be harmful.
The elite girls’ school in Sydney’s north has been operating since 1886 and charges fees of more than $50,000.
“When we look at incidents like this, a bigger question for me is what impact it has on communities that have historically had tropes and stereotypes like this directed at them,” Dr. Gannaway said.
‘Regardless of whether the intent was to clown or not, behavior like this can be incredibly damaging and highlights the need for students to learn about the history of discrimination.’
Wenona, which was established in 1886, costs up to $50,000 a year to enroll a girl in Year 12 and adds an additional $37,000 for those who board at the school.
Just to enroll a girl in school requires two tuition payments totaling $4,400.
Wenona’s website says the school aims to “deliver a contemporary, relevant and world-class education for girls, with a culture based on positive and respectful relationships, a focus on leadership and service.”
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