Dress Code Confidential

Yesterday a friend shared a story on FB that I feel deserves national attention.  It won't get it, but the story deserves to be told.

A 9 year-old girl was recently given an in-school suspension for violating the dress code at Brookhaven Elementary School in Brookhaven, MS.  Why?  Because, according to the school the child's clothing was too tight fitting which violates their policy.  She was covered from neck to ankle, not showing boobs or butt (neither or which she has yet) or anything in between.  They problem was with her belly.  The girl happens to be overweight.  A lot of her clothing fits tightly around her belly.  If she wore clothing that fit properly around her mid-section, it would be too long which also, incidentally, violates Brookhaven's ridiculous policy.  So unless the parents go out and have a custom wardrobe made-to-measure for their child, the little girl will be in constant violation of a one-size-fits-all dress code.

All I can say is, you have got to be freaking kidding me.  Trust me, this child already gets enough hate out of her classmates.  The grown-ups in her life are supposed to be more mature and able to provide a safe place where children can thrive.  Instead they've misapplied a policy as a way of fat shaming a little girl.  She is just a child.  Do you really want to create an environment where a child feels attacked every day, not by children, but by administrators who should know better?  Go ahead.  That kid will end up dropping out and/or contemplating suicide before she even gets to puberty.

Think I'm being dramatic?  You obviously have never lived life in the fat lane.  Kids in the plus sized community are bombarded daily with images and advertising telling them what they should look like.  Their families, teachers, and other adults in their lives constantly drill into the heads that they don't meet society's arbitrary standard of beauty.  They feel ugly.  They try to spend time inside afraid of a critical, and sometimes downright cruel, public which leads them to an even more sedentary life, which invites even MORE criticism, and so on.  They develop depression and eating disorders.  Some resort to self harm.

I feel like we've made progress in recognizing and addressing discrimination towards minorities and those of different religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity.  No, things aren't Utopian, but we're slowly moving in the right direction.  Still, I don't feel like we've grown when it comes to recognizing different appearances.  'Fat' is not a protected class.  I don't think it should be a protected class, but I also don't think people should be bullied or demeaned simply because they fall into that demographic.

At the heart of this issue is a 9 year-old girl who will never look at herself the same way.  She was shamed and criticized by the people meant to protect her.  I'm sure she doesn't fully understand the situation and wonders what she did wrong.  On one hand I hope her parents sue the school district for what little amount it's worth.  But on the other hand I worry about what a discrimination suit would do to her fragile psyche.  We spend so much time telling our children about accepting others for their differences and not bullying.  Maybe the teachers are the ones that need schooled.  If you are so emotionally stunted that you are unable to show compassion to a child, then you have no place in a school.  Go elsewhere.  I'm sure the KKK and Aryan Nation are looking for recruits.  And they appreciate hate-mongering in their organizations.  God speed.