Hundreds of students at a Hamilton-area high school walked out of class Friday morning after an “inappropriate” announcement enforcing the student dress code.
Waterdown district high school students were reminded during an announcement Thursday to keep their shoulders and stomach covered in accordance with the school’s dress code. The announcement was made just two days after Hamilton police said they were investigating multiple reports of sexual assault and harassment at the school.
Many students say the timing of the announcement left them feeling victimized.
“They just said that girls now have to cover their shoulders and stomach, and we just didn’t think it was fair,” said one 12th grade student.
Other students said that this is the first time they have experienced the enforcement of the dress code.
“They have never gone over (the dress code) that much, or at least they have never really followed it,” said another 10th grader. “It feels like they’re blaming us in part that if we dressed less provocatively or covered ourselves up, then things like this wouldn’t happen as much or the kids wouldn’t feel pressured to do things like this. The timing just seems very inappropriate. They could have waited. “
Waterdown High School students came out in protest this morning. The school made an announcement yesterday (2 days after a sexual assault investigation began) reminding students not to wear tank tops or tank tops. Many young women are livid. In tears pic.twitter.com/inNT1zoWww
– Kelly Botelho (@botelhok) October 8, 2021
Several students who attended today’s strike were seen holding signs and wearing blouses.
In a letter sent to parents on Thursday, the school principal apologized saying that “the timing of the announcement was insensitive to current concerns about sexual assault. We are sorry and wish to apologize to anyone who has interpreted this announcement as a lack of support for victims of sexual assault or abuse. We vigorously denounce the blaming of the victims. Sexual assault has nothing to do with someone’s clothes. “
Hamilton Police are still investigating and encouraging survivors to contact them.
Reference-toronto.citynews.ca