‘Completely wrong’: Parents fire back at Chilliwack trustees following controversial dress code comments
Posted March 13, 2019 7:36 am.
Last Updated March 13, 2019 8:25 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CHILLIWACK (NEWS 1130) – Statements made by Chilliwack school trustees about female students are being called “gross,” with some parents saying politicians have no place in a girl’s closet.
On Tuesday, the board debated a motion, brought forward by Trustee Trustee Willow Reichelt, that looked to scrap the district’s dress code because it unfairly targets girls.
Trustee Darrell Furgason argued to keep the dress code, saying teachers shouldn’t have to look at “half-dressed” girls. He went on to say school isn’t the place to “experiment” with teaching young men not to assault women.
He and Trustee Heather Maahs suggested girls who dress a certain way are “needy” and looking for the wrong kind of attention, warning they could be targeted by sexual predators.
Watch the debate:
The morning after, the trustees are facing backlash for their comments.
The controversial idea are being called antiquated and inappropriate by some parents, with one woman telling NEWS 1130 how her 15-year-old daughter dresses has nothing to do with the risk of being assaulted.
“They’re completely wrong, I have also been a victim. You can be wearing sweatpants, sweatshirt, be completely covered and it’ll happen,” the mother says. “I want her to dress where she feels comfortable. She is very self-conscious, but no body has the right to tell us what to wear.”
She adds parents should decide what their daughters wear — not politicians.
The original motion to do away with the dress code was sent back to staff for review.
