17-Year-Old Gets Sent Home For Her Turtleneck Dress, And Her Dad Speaks Up
Not only do schools teach math, but they also turn kids into adults who will one day take over society.
Have the rules of education become so strict that we're completely stripping kids of their personality and confidence? It might the case with a 17-year-old high school senior who was sent home due to her dress-and-turtleneck combo.
The Dress That Started It All
This is the outfit the student in Kamloops, British Columbia, wore that day to school. It's a combination of a high-necked, white turtleneck under a lace-edged black dress.
The dress goes all the way to her knees, and the turtleneck covers her whole upper body. There's no excess skin exposed.
She Was Removed From Class For Making The Teacher Feel Uncomfortable
Not long after class started, the teacher singled her out and told her that the outfit she was wearing could make her, or the teacher's assistant who is a male, uncomfortable.
She was then removed from class, brought to the principal's office, and sent home in tears.
Her Dad Expressed His Outrage In A Viral Facebook Video
Her dad took to his Facebook account and expressed his hurt and disappointment in a video that has since gone viral.
He explained: "My beautiful, Grade 12, 17-year-old daughter went to school today feeling excited, feeling good about herself, ready to learn," but the focus was instead on her outfit.
This Isn't The Way To Treat Women
"I am pretty upset at this happening in 2021," he says in reference to the news you hear about teachers singling students out for their outfits, thinking it was never going to happen to him and his family...until it did.
"This is unacceptable. We shouldn't treat our females like this. We shouldn't be telling them they can’t dress a certain way. This is absurd," the dad said.
He Says The Teacher Is In The Wrong Profession
Wilson pointed out that this isn't an isolated instance, but a flaw in the system: "Today I am frustrated, I am hurt, I am disappointed about the system."
He warns: "If you're a teacher and you’re distracted by clothing your students are wearing, then you are in the wrong profession... Maybe you should try something new.”
The System Itself Is An Issue Many Agreed On
The teacher's defense was that the teen's outfit reminded them of lingerie, probably because of the silky fabric combined with the lace.
However, this raised the question of whether it's a grown man's fault for feeling uncomfortable over a young woman's outfit. Should it be on her to change, or on him to not look at her sexually in the first place?
Students Of The School Organized A Walkout In Solidarity
The school is now facing backlash from the community. The students organized a walkout protest that was covered by media outlets, probably thanks to Wilson's viral video.
Students held up posters and signs with slogans such as "I am not my dress" and "education is more important than what I wear."
The School Says That Some Clothing Hinders Teaching
When the dad confronted the vice-principal, who is a woman, about whether the dress made her uncomfortable, he said that she quietly said no and that there wasn't an issue.
They even pulled the dress code, and one of the four main points was that clothing should not be distracting, which he says is unacceptable.
Students Are Wearing The Same Outfit In Solidarity With Karis
Some of the students protested by dressing in similar outfits to the one that got Karis sent home.
Both Christopher and his daughter said they're speaking out because they want to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen to the students that come after her. Even if it's just for one person.
The Sentiment Was Shared By Many Parents All Over Social Media
Students and parents alike took to Twitter and Facebook to share how they have experienced similar situations.
Some simply expressed their outrage that such a situation could even still happen today.
Another Teacher Made Waves With Some Inappropriate Behavior, This Time With How They Ran A Potluck
In preparation for their first-grade classroom's holiday party, a Meridian Public School District teacher sent a particularly nasty note home with each child detailing what they believed was and wasn't acceptable holiday behavior.
And it included a very Scrooge statement that left parents and people alike shocked.
"If They Don't Bring Anything, They Don't Eat"
When Takaria Scott opened her son's letter from his teacher outlining what they wanted to have happen for the classroom holiday potluck, she didn't expect to be met with a nasty letter. Her son's teacher took a hard stance and said that "my philosophy is: if they don't bring something, they don't eat anything" and left a space for the parents to write what their child was bringing.
Takaria was shocked and upset and posted the note with the caption: "Now for these kids to be between 6-7yrs this should not be a philosophy. Kids are kids man. This is definitely not acceptable in my eyes." Preach, Takaria.
People Were Understandably Upset
Turns out most people on the internet are more understanding of kids' situations than this teacher.
Takaria's post went viral with a lot of people voicing how unfair this "philosophy" is.
There Were Similar Stories From Other Commenters
Many comments featured people's personal stories about how their parents struggled to make ends meet and many times didn't have an extra dish to bring to feed their classmates.
This is a harsh reality for a lot of families and may even be for kids in this teacher's class.
The Superintendent Apologized For The Letter
As Takaria's post gained traction online, eventually it was brought to the attention of Dr. Amy Carter, the Superintendent of the Meridian School Board, who wrote an apology letter.
She made a point to note that she wants students to "view school as a safe space" and that "all students will participate and no students will be made to feel uncomfortable if they don't bring refreshments."
Thank Goodness Takaria Said Something
If it wasn't for Takaria speaking up about the letter, some kids could've been shamed and made to feel lesser just because they couldn't bring snacks.
Not only is that horrible, but it also goes against the spirit of the season. Hopefully, this is a wake-up call for this teacher to change their philosophy to one that's more accepting.
It Turns Out A Lot Of People Have Had Bad Experiences With Teachers
Like this person who was sort of given a compliment?
If you consider being told you'll almost be as good as a boy at something a compliment...which it is not.
That's Not The Right Way To Deal With That
How is this acceptable?
Anxiety is difficult enough as it is, and the last thing a kid needs at a new school is a teacher threatening to punish them for expressing their feelings...in a super creepy way, might I add.
It Was A Trap!
I get not wanting to accept a paper late, but this kid was really trying.
If you're going to accept a rough draft, you can't turn around and fail them for it!
Wow, That Crosses A Line
This hardly seems like the right way to deal with any situation.
That kid had clearly already been through it that year, now he has a teacher calling him out for that stuff in class?
How Dare She Have A Big Vocabulary
Imagine being mad at a kid because they could read and comprehend words above their grade level?
That seems like the kind of thing that should be encouraged, not discouraged.
