There has been increasing debate over the efficacy of strict school uniform policies in recent years, with many people advocating for either a complete removal of school uniform policies or a rethink of said policies.
One mother was recently shocked to find that her 13-year-old daughter had been punished for a violation that some have dubbed as “Victorian.”
13-year-old Olivia Harrison was recently told that her school trousers caused her to show off too much “ankle.”
Harrison was attending school in Leeds when she was told that her pants, which sat just above her shoes, would need to be changed as they were too “distracting.”
Harrison questioned the policy, but was sent to isolation as a result of her attire.
“[The staff member] said I had to change my trousers and socks because you could see my ankles and she said it was distracting for other pupils and teachers,” Olivia told Leeds Live .
“I said, ‘are you saying they’re going to get turned on?’ And [the staff member] said, ‘well I wouldn’t put it like that.'”
Olivia also explained, “She said my trousers showed my figure too much as well.”
After being sent to isolation for refusing to wear a pair of trousers from lost property, Olivia was ordered to be sent home for two days with an additional three days to be spent in isolation when she returns to school.
Olivia’s mother is concerned about the line that the school has been taking in regards to uniform policy.
“It’s got really bad the last two weeks,” Karen Harrison told Leeds Live. “They should be more interested in education and not what pupils are wearing.” Ms Harrison also explained that many kids had been receiving punishments for uniform violations of late.
However, the school’s governing body released a statement saying: “We have the highest standards across all areas of school life, whether that is in the classroom, in terms of behaviour and with regard to uniform. We make no apologies for this and are pleased that the majority of students abide by these standards.”
People have been outraged that the school would claim that Olivia’s outfit was “distracting for [teachers].”
“Distract teachers, [I’m] sorry? A 13-year-old girl, why t f would that distract a teacher??” wrote one startled individual.
There were also those who described the school’s actions as being, “Positively Victorian.”
Do you think that the uniform policy is a little “Victorian” or do you think that the school was in the right? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
h/t: Leeds Live
