From Madison Welch鈥檚 perspective, the message to Grade 6 and 7 girls at South Meridian Elementary last week was clear: shorter shorts, crop tops and spaghetti straps 鈥渟ometimes distract the boys.鈥�
But the 11-year-old says it was a surprise and 鈥渞eally embarrassing鈥� when she and a friend were singled out soon after its delivery and made to cover up with school jerseys 鈥� Madison, for wearing a top her grandmother had bought her, that left her shoulders exposed; her friend, for 鈥渨earing a T-shirt just to her pant line.鈥�
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Not only did Madison not have any inkling that her outfit violated the school鈥檚 dress code, but she said the girls had also just been told, as part of the same message, that the jersey rule for inappropriate dress wasn鈥檛 to take effect so immediately.
鈥淭hey had said the rules didn鈥檛 start until the next day,鈥� Madison told Peace Arch News Friday. 鈥淓veryone was confused as to why we had to wear one.鈥�
PAN reported on the issue online last Thursday, after parents took to social media 鈥� first in a closed Facebook group, then in response to PAN鈥檚 online article 鈥� to share concerns and opinions as to how it was handled.
District spokesman Doug Strachan confirmed at that time that the Grade 6 and 7 boys were not included in the dress-code discussion, and that parents were not given advance notice that the girls would be spoken to.
He also said, after consulting with the school鈥檚 principal, that the girls 鈥渨ere not told鈥� that certain clothing could be a distraction. And, he said, the jersey measure was 鈥渘ot an institutionalized approach.鈥�
Madison, who turned 11 in September, said she understands that some outfits simply aren鈥檛 appropriate for school and that 鈥渋t should matter if it鈥檚 super-inappropriate.鈥�
鈥淏ut if it鈥檚 off the shoulder, showing the shoulder a little, that should be OK,鈥� she said.
A reminder about the school鈥檚 dress code was included in the school鈥檚 May 2018 newsletter.
鈥淐hildren need to be properly dressed for attendance at school. Appropriate dress is primarily the responsibility of parents. If in doubt, be conservative,鈥� it states, in part.
鈥淥ur only guideline is that dress be in good taste. Clothing should not be offensive or distracting. For example, shorts are acceptable providing that they are not too short. Tops should not reveal bare back, shoulders, or midriff and undergarments should not be visible.鈥�
A photo of the outfit Madison had been wearing that day was forwarded to Strachan Friday morning via email, after her mother, Jackie Welch, posted it to Facebook.
Asked for comment regarding whether the district agrees it was inappropriate for school, and to respond to Madison鈥檚 assertion that she and her peers were indeed told certain outfits 鈥渟ometimes the distract the boys,鈥� his response was limited.
鈥淭he principal says there was a very positive and fruitful meeting on a school dress code, involving the Parent Advisory Council executive and parents, that will aim at balancing individual liberty, social convention, functionality, community standards and school community values,鈥� Strachan said by email late Friday afternoon, referring to a parent meeting held Thursday evening at the 16244 13 Ave. school.
鈥淭he conversations will continue.鈥�
Parent Derek Thornton 鈥� who first brought the matter to PAN鈥檚 attention 鈥� said Friday that he still felt the matter was 鈥渘ot handled very well by the school,鈥� though he said Thursday鈥檚 meeting brought some relief.
鈥淚 feel comfortable/confident that another student will not be made to wear a jersey to cover up and that it sounds like any discussions regarding attire will be done with the parents and not during school/learning hours,鈥� he told PAN via email.
