Lauren Wiggins, Moncton teen, takes stand against 'unjust' school dress code

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by nik-

She's wearing a perfectly moderate dress. If the rules forbid that, then no, it's not best to just go along with the rules.

The dress is perfectly fine but the school or school board has made their decision. Maybe she can do battle with the local country club next for not allowing jeans on the course (because that is acceptable attire in most other places.)

Schools should really have mandatory uniforms. It would stymie or eliminate a number of problems that students face.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

The dress is perfectly fine but the school or school board has made their decision. Maybe she can do battle with the local country club next for not allowing jeans on the course (because that is acceptable attire in most other places.)

Schools should really have mandatory uniforms. It would stymie or eliminate a number of problems that students face.

And this is exactly why she used the term rape culture.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

And this is exactly why she used the term rape culture.

WTF are you even talking about? That has nothign to do with... what?

[ernie]

Originally Posted by nik-

all these "those are the rules" posts are hilarious. Stupid rules shouldn't be just accepted because they're already in place.

But you also don't ignore the rules as you try to change them....

[nik-]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

The dress is perfectly fine but the school or school board has made their decision. Maybe she can do battle with the local country club next for not allowing jeans on the course (because that is acceptable attire in most other places.)

Schools should really have mandatory uniforms. It would stymie or eliminate a number of problems that students face.

Again, the fact that the school board made this decision is the crux of this issue. It's a stupid rule, you don't just accept stupid rules because a decision was previously made to put them in place. You change them.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Okay. Why in this case is it probably best to just go along with the rules?

Schools and schools boards can be very difficult bureaucracies to deal with or fight against.

Schools have a broad demographic and as such need to have strict or conservative standards regarding various things like attire so that all students are made to feel comfortable and welcome.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by ernie

But you also don't ignore the rules as you try to change them....

Now it's an article on the national news agency. So this seems like exactly the way to affect change.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

And this is exactly why she used the term rape culture.

You lost me at 'good evening'.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Yeah, the term "sexual distraction" doesn't help but I think it's more likely that we're in old curmudgeonly "a lady must be modest in public" territory - more of the seen-but-not-heard vein of sexism.

Partly though it's just that I hate the term "rape culture".

I agree, I also hate the term, and not sure it really applies here.

The principal didn't suggest that they're not allowed to wear it for their own safety or something like that. It says that it's a "distraction" to the male students. Which it very well could be, but that's not her fault. It also doesn't suggest that she's going to be assaulted because of it. Sit through a Chem 20 class for 90 mins and tell me the *ahem* well-developed female student next you in a tube top and shorts doesn't become distracting.

None of these are reasons for a stupid dress code. If you want a strict dress code, have a uniform. Otherwise, kids will lobby to wear/do what they want, just like adults.

And one final note ** Parent's and teachers. You will not stop your teenage children from looking at the opposite sex and engaging in intercourse. It is a natural part of our biology. Keeping them in the dark does nothing but hurt these types of situations. Maybe better/more relevant health classes and possibly more interesting core subjects is a way to go. I don't recall anyone telling me what was/wasn't ok to say or do to a girl during any of those classes. Don't recall any sort of lesson on sexual harassment outside of "don't make fun of a girl on her period!" or "That boy getting a boner is natural! Don't laugh!"

I also find it insulting as a man to insinuate that we can't control ourselves to the point that we need female dress codes to temper us. I can't believe that dress is causing such a stir. Looks pretty classy to me. I'm sure we all attended school with girls who were much more dressed-down.

[PsYcNeT]

Obviously the only answer is to have schools segregated by gender.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Obviously the only answer is to have schools segregated by gender.

We know what the answer is.



edit: as a side note ... why even take that picture? Seriously, no one even knows it's you.

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by nik-

all these "those are the rules" posts are hilarious. Stupid rules shouldn't be just accepted because they're already in place.

Would you feel the same if it were termed "that's the law?" Obviously school rules do not carry the same weight as the law, but they essentially teach students about following laws for the future. There will be some rules that we do not agree with, but the mature thing to do is to follow it and if it is really that important, try to get that rule changed (or if you're going to break a rule, don't get caught ).

FWIW, I don't think there is anything sexual at all about the dress, aside from showing off that hideous tattoo. Speaking of the tattoo, a 17 year old with a tattoo like that signals to me that she might have a rebellious spirit and she might have decided to openly break the dress code and report it to the media in an effort to change an archaic rule. Good on her if this is her end goal, I just really dislike those who manipulate the media to achieve their end goals for something as silly as a school dress code.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Cuz

Would you feel the same if it were termed "that's the law?" Obviously school rules do not carry the same weight as the law, but they essentially teach students about following laws for the future. There will be some rules that we do not agree with, but the mature thing to do is to follow it and if it is really that important, try to get that rule changed (or if you're going to break a rule, don't get caught ).

Would I feel the same if it was termed as something it's absolutely not? I don't know? That's not a valid comparison. Obviously, from my previous posts in this thread, I don't think she should follow this rule because it's ridiculous.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by nik-

Obviously, from my previous posts in this thread, I don't think she should follow this rule because it's ridiculous.

School ends in one month and she will be free to do as she wants. She will be able to wear whatever clothes she feels like all the time (until, of course, she goes somewhere else that has a strictly enforceable dress code ie: place of employment, restaurants/bars, golf clubs, etc.)

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Cuz

FWIW, I don't think there is anything sexual at all about the dress, aside from showing off that hideous tattoo. Speaking of the tattoo, a 17 year old with a tattoo like that signals to me that she might have a rebellious spirit and she might have decided to openly break the dress code and report it to the media in an effort to change an archaic rule. Good on her if this is her end goal, I just really dislike those who manipulate the media to achieve their end goals for something as silly as a school dress code.

Hahaha this is a joke right?

[Minnie]

This is idiocy on the part of the school administration and school board and good for her for challenging it. I hope the rest of the students stand with her on this. It needs to be challenged and changed. My oldest graduated in 2009 and there was never this sort of stupidity at his school. I listened to friends from all over the place talk about how their kids couldn't even put a streak of color in their hair without getting in deep #### from the school. I watched kids walk into that school with all sorts of color in their hair, with mohawks, and any other sort of hairstyle and level of dress and not once did we hear stories like this.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

School ends in one month and she will be free to do as she wants. She will be able to wear whatever clothes she feels like all the time (until, of course, she goes somewhere else that has a strictly enforceable dress code ie: place of employment, restaurants/bars, golf clubs, etc.)

The point is that she should be free to wear a perfectly reasonable dress while in school as well. Just because she's currently not, doesn't mean she should just accept it.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by nik-

The point is that she should be free to wear a perfectly reasonable dress while in school as well. Just because she's currently not, doesn't mean she should just accept it.

The problem is that arriving at a consensus on what is "perfectly reasonable" is a difficult, if not impossible task.

[Kelekin]

This is why I went to online high school. Everyone using the internet is already naked and the principal can't see you to to discipline you.

P.S. - now you can assume everyone on this board is posting while naked if you weren't already assuming so.

[Erick Estrada]

Not gonna lie. I would find that distracting if I was in her class lol.