Teacher shaves student's armpits
Australian teacher shaves a student's armpits without permission. Google Street View

An Australian mother is in shock after a teacher shaved her daughter's armpits without her permission.

Taylah Woods, 14, who has learning disabilities, was left "extremely upset" after a teacher at the Wangaratta District Specialist School in Victoria "invaded her rights" by shaving her armpits in front of two other girls in a class.

Her mother Melissa said the teacher informed Tylah the next day she had the "right to do it" as it was part of the school's teaching on life skills

Speaking on radio station 3AW, she said: "I didn't understand why they had to do it.".

Woods is now demanding answers from the special needs school, which says it would "definitely seek specific permission" for parts of their curriculum in the future.

School principal Libby Hosking said: "This is a very sensitive issue. We're very concerned and regret that the family and the child were very upset."

But Hosking said that parents were alerted to the inclusion of shaving in the curriculum.

"The overview went home in the final week of term one, with a note that explained this is what we would be doing."

Hosking said the school taught students about getting consent and "that was sought in this instance".

But Woods said she had not given the school permission, saying her daughter had previously told her that she did not want to shave.

"That's invading her rights as a person to decide whether or not she wants to get it done or not."

Woods has since written to the school's regional director for clarification as to why the incident happened.