The mother of a B.C. student who was made to wear a jersey over an outfit deemed 鈥渋nappropriate鈥� this week says her daughter wore the off-the-shoulder top to school about a dozen times this year before it became an issue.
And, she noted, it was purchased by her daughter鈥檚 grandmother.
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鈥淪he was pulled into the office, her and one of her friends, (and) told that her shoulders hanging out was too inappropriate for school,鈥� Jackie Welch told Peace Arch News Friday, of her daughter Madison鈥檚 experience three days ago.
鈥淚f her grandmother thought it was cute, how can it be inappropriate?鈥�
Surrey school officials, Welch said, 鈥渘ever, ever contacted me about it.鈥�
PAN reported this week that two students at South Meridian Elementary in South Surrey were made to wear jerseys over their clothes Tuesday, and that female Grade 6 and 7 students were gathered into the school library on the same day for a 鈥渄iscussion鈥� regarding appropriate dress.
School district spokesman Doug Strachan confirmed Thursday that parents were not given advance notice of the discussion, and that Grade 6 and 7 boys were not included in it. The jersey measure, he told PAN, was a 鈥渙ne-off鈥� to deal with the issue in the moment, and was not an 鈥渋nstitutionalized鈥� approach.
Many parents took to a closed Facebook page, and then to PAN鈥檚 Facebook page after the story went public Thursday afternoon, to voice their opinions on the issue.
Some describe what happened as 鈥渞idiculous,鈥� others pointed to a need for education, including around 鈥渞ape culture.鈥� Several expressed concern with the focus on girls, while others were critical of how some youth are dressing.
鈥淢aybe some self respect and decorum would go a long way,鈥� writes Sandy Evans. 鈥淲hy not instill some dignity and class at a young age. Dress for success.鈥�
Kim Streifel commented that 鈥渟ome schools dress codes are ridiculous鈥� when it comes to the girls.鈥�
鈥淣ow if the girls are wearing booty shorts or micro minis鈥� shame on those parents,鈥� Streifel adds. 鈥淚 think the school has every right to teach the girls this is inappropriate, if they鈥檙e parents are failing to do so. In my opinion.鈥�
Cindy Dalglish, a Surrey school board candidate in last month鈥檚 civic election, writes it is 鈥渧ery troubling鈥� that the boys weren鈥檛 included in the larger discussion.
鈥淲hat a person wears does not give the right for others to assign anything to it,鈥� she adds. 鈥淚ncluding admin and teachers.鈥�
Another commented that the issue is not about boys, but 鈥渁bout a child containing their innocence while they still have it.鈥�
Welch told PAN she felt the school sexualized her daughter 鈥� who is in Grade 6 and turned 11 in September 鈥揵y making her wear the jersey.
鈥淪he was going to school thinking it was an outfit that she liked,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd it wasn鈥檛 the first time she鈥檚 worn it.鈥�
Welch said she is strict about what her daughter wears, 鈥渆ven at home,鈥� and that she鈥檇 had no concerns with Madison鈥檚 choice of attire Tuesday. She posted a photo of Madison in the outfit that got her in trouble at school to PAN鈥檚 Facebook page Friday morning 鈥渟o people can see it鈥� before forming an opinion.
According to a reminder that was included in a May 2018 newsletter, the school dress code鈥檚 鈥渙nly guideline is that dress be in good taste.鈥�
鈥淐lothing should not be offensive or distracting. For example, shorts are acceptable providing that they are not too short,鈥� the reminder reads, in part.
鈥淭ops should not reveal bare back, shoulders, or midriff and undergarments should not be visible.鈥�
Strachan had told PAN Thursday that the school is to continue discussions with parents around dress-code guidelines, approaches and options.
Sent a copy of the photo of Madison鈥檚 outfit Friday morning, Strachan was not immediately available to comment further.
The issue was also raised at the school鈥檚 parent-advisory committee meeting Thursday. Welch said she was asked by the PAC to attend, but was unable to stay long enough to hear the discussion.
She told PAN she was later advised that the committee had expressed to the principal that 鈥渢hey felt it was 100 per cent inappropriate to be making (the girls) put a jersey on.鈥�
鈥淭hey felt if there was an issue with the clothing they should be going straight to the parent, and not pointing her out at school,鈥� said Welch.
The principal, she was told, 鈥渨as quite receptive to the discussion.鈥�
Welch said she would like to see the school revisit its dress-code guidelines, and that she would be interested in participating in that process.
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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