150 Students Were Removed From Class for Wearing Shoes With Too Many Lace Holes
Dress codes have caused a huge amount of controversy for parents and students all across the world this school year. Now, one school in the United Kingdom became part of the discussion when 150 students at George Stephenson High School in Killingworth, England were punished this week for wearing shoes that didn't adhere to the school's strict dress code.
The school, which hosts about 1,200 students between the ages of 11 and 18, pulled students from class and sent them to work in isolation, similar to detention.
One concerned mother, Allison Harding from Shiremoor, was not happy with the way the situation was handled after her son Jamie, 15, was sent to the gym because of his footwear, a pair of plain black low-top Kickers tennis shoes (pictured below). "The only difference between the shoes Jamie has and the ones on the school website is that there are three more lace holes," Harding told Chronicle Live. A sophomore, Jamie has already missed the first two days of school over this issue.
According to the school's back-to-school pamphlet, parents are expected to buy their children's shoes from a company called Wyndsor. The guide of acceptable footwear for senior boys includes shoes from RockStorm and Kickers that range in price from $23 to $66.
"They aren't giving people enough time to get sorted, and there are parents who don't have the money to pay for new clothes and shoes," Harding said. "The school is quick enough to get in touch about lateness or absence, saying your child's education is important, yet are making them sit out of lessons," she added.
The school's head teacher Ian Wilkinson, however, told Chronicle Live that the school's uniform policy is the same as it has always been, with a stricter approach to enforcement that parents were notified about in May of last year.
"Our uniform is an essential part of our identity and it helps to project the best possible image of the school, reinforcing good behavior," Wilkinson explained. "This was agreed with the full support of our governors and meant that anyone coming to school in trainers, denim jackets, hoodies, and other non-uniform items of clothing would be temporarily taken out of lessons and sent into the Student Support Base until the situation could be resolved."
While it seems that the school is set on continuing their strict enforcement of the dress code, Harding suggests another approach. "What they should do with everyone is send out a letter to parents and give them say two weeks to get the correct uniform," Harding said. "If they are not sorted by then, fair enough. Give them a time out."
It's unclear whether George Stephenson High will change its policy to give parents more time to buy their children the correct uniforms. If the problem worsens, it wouldn't be the first time students decide to protest their school's dress code.
You Might Also Like
Solve the daily Crossword
