Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Mom Confronts Principal For Sending Her 12-Year-Old Daughter Home Due To Dress Code Violation, Video Goes Viral
2.4K

Mom Confronts Principal For Sending Her 12-Year-Old Daughter Home Due To Dress Code Violation, Video Goes Viral

“So You’re Taking Her Education Away Over Her Dress Code?”: Mother Sticks Up For Her Daughter, Sparks A Debate On TikTokMother Sticks Up For Her 12-Year-Old Daughter Who The School Claims Had Violated Their Dress CodeSchool Kicks 12-Year-Old Out Of Class Because She Violated The Dress Code, But Her Mom Refuses To Accept ItMom Records Her Attempt To Get Her 12-Year-Old Back Into Class After She Got Kicked Out For Dress Code ViolationsMom Is Furious At School After They Tell Her Daughter She Can't Go Back To Class Over Dress Code Despite Her Having A New ShirtMother Won't Back Down After Being Told To Take Her 12-Year-Old Daughter Out Of School For Violating The Dress CodeMom Livid Over Her 12-Year-Old Being Denied Education Just For Dressing 'Inappropriately'Mom Is Fighting For Her 12-Year-Old's Right To Education After She Gets Suspended For Wearing A Crop Top‘So You’re Taking Her Education Away Over Her Dress Code?’: Mom Livid After Her 12-Year-Old Is Sent Home Over A Crop Top
ADVERTISEMENT

Recently, school dress code controversies have been pitting people against each other, questioning whether the rules are discriminating against girls.

In one of the latest stories, Khalesei Holt, a mother of a 12-year-old, recorded a TikTok of herself arguing with a Washington middle school principal over her daughter’s clothes. The conflict immediately reignited online discussions over the role the education system should play in regulating students’ appearance.

The video has garnered 9.3 million views since going up just before the weekend. It captures the conversation that the mother of three girls (according to her TikTok bio) had with the principal of Ford Middle School in Tacoma, and the on-screen caption declares that the girl was sent home for a dress code violation “at 12 years old.”

A 12-year-old from Washington got kicked out of class for violating the dress code

But her mom refused to accept it

@khalesei_holt♬ original sound – Khalesei holt

At the beginning of the video, the TikToker can be heard saying, “So I am done with it” and asserting that she is recording for her own protection. However, the principal says that the mother doesn’t have her permission to film and mentions attorneys.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 12-year-old, wearing a T-shirt and what appeared to be yoga pants, briefly enters the screen as the TikToker is saying, “But she’s still going to go to class.” At this point, it is still unclear if the outfit the student is wearing in the video is the one that got her in trouble in the first place.

“Not right now,” the principal replies.

“So you’re taking her education away over her dress code?” the TikToker says but doesn’t receive another response as the principal leaves the room.

“So, the principal’s walking away at Ford Middle School yet again over the dress code,” the mother adds.

She went to the principal

But the lady wouldn’t listen

ADVERTISEMENT
@khalesei_holt♬ original sound – Khalesei holt

The student handbook provides a detailed dress code:

  • Shorts and skirts are acceptable if their length is to the fingertips or longer when hands are at the student’s sides and the shorts or skirt sits at the student’s natural waist. Sweaters, cardigans, or long shirts are considered tops, not covers for the lower body. Rips, tears, or holes should not expose excessive skin or underwear above the fingertip;
  • Sleeveless shirts should not expose armholes or chest area. Spaghetti straps are not allowed;
  • Shirts need to cover a student’s midriff. No crop tops will be permitted;
  • Undergarments should not be exposed or seen. Students should not wear see-through, sheer, mesh or lace garments, clothing beneath it must comply with the dress code;
  • Pants are to be worn on the hips and not below. Sagging of pants is not permitted;
  • For safety reasons, slippers are not appropriate attire for school and are therefore not permitted;
  • Students are not permitted to wear anything that is profane, lewd, or could cause disruption or interference with school operation;
  • Clothing may not contain words or images that degrade on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation or pose a threat of imminent violence or disruption of school;
  • Students may not wear attire that has gang affiliation such as: bandanas or bandana print clothes, handmade rosaries, colored shoelaces, cloth belts that hang down, or color blocking (one color head to toe). Gang affiliated attire is constantly changing and expectations around this will be evaluated by administration as needed;
  • Writing on clothing and bodies will not be permitted;
  • Students are not permitted to wear articles of clothing or jewelry that advertise alcohol, tobacco products, illegal drugs or promote violence. (Franklin Pierce Schools Policy No. 3224 and Procedure 3224P);
  • Spikes, chains, grilles (for teeth) and studs are also not permitted on campus;
  • Students are not allowed to wear hats with bills on campus. Hoods or knit hats are allowed outside on school grounds only in cold, wet weather;
  • Students may not have hoods up inside of a building 11;
  • Religious or cultural head coverings are permitted;
  • In accordance to CDC guidelines and state suggestions, there could be a requirement to wear a mask. The mask should be appropriate and not have any inappropriate images or wording on it. If the student arrives with an inappropriate mask, a temporary mask will be provided.

The student handbook says that Ford Middle School “is a place of work and learning”

The school says it applies “progressive discipline” for dress code violations:

  • Student changes/covers clothes and calls home;
  • Student changes/covers clothes, calls home, and takes home policy for parent signature;
  • Student changes clothes, conference call with parent /students;
  • Student changes clothes, parent conference with admin;
  • After school learning.

Another follow-up video shows police on the scene but there is not much context

ADVERTISEMENT
@khalesei_holt♬ original sound – Khalesei holt

Some people think the mom overreacted

ADVERTISEMENT

But she said she even brought her daughter another shirt

And has many supporters, too

Mom Confronts Principal For Sending Her 12-Year-Old Daughter Home Due To Dress Code Violation, Video Goes Viral
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on Facebook
Rokas Laurinavičius

Rokas Laurinavičius

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

Read less »
Rokas Laurinavičius

Rokas Laurinavičius

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

Read less »

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
J. Normal
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought that is what she should have been sent home for. The crop top is just her trying to push boundaries, Garbage bag ( to wear as a cover up shirt) and detention for it.

Load More Replies...
ejfs
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother works at a school which has a dress code. Most of it is for health and safety (no slippers/flip flops, nothing so oversized that it hampers movement or catches on equipment and so on) but female students are not allowed to wear X,Y and Z whereas the male students can. I tried to raise the issue of gender equality with her and she just shut me down. "Girls shouldn't wear revealing clothing in case a man looks at them". We're talking 5-11 year olds. If an ADULT finds a CHILD's body distracting or whatever then we need to look at the ADULT as well. If you're disturbed by shoulders, legs, midriffs, etc on literal children MAYBE DON'T BE IN A JOB AROUND CHILDREN.

S.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

EXACTLY - Really a shame how these sorts of ridiculous dress codes systems makes it easier to not only perpetuate sexism, but also for pedophilia to exist. Who in their right minds would be that concerned with the shoulders of a KID? Not even a teenager, but literal kiddos. Makes me shudder.

Load More Replies...
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm probably too European to understand what's going on. How can a teacher get offended and decide to deny a girl her education just based on a shirt that she's wearing? What perversity in their mind got triggered that they are sexually aroused by a 12 year old girls belly button? As I said, I'm probably too European to understand this insanity.

Random Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here. Here no one cares what kids wear in school, unless someone shows up in their underwear or something. Kids are there to learn, how they dress is irrelevant. And if an adult makes a fuss about a girl's clothing being "distracting" they are the one who will get in trouble for creeping on a child. US dress codes are bonkers.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
J. Normal
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought that is what she should have been sent home for. The crop top is just her trying to push boundaries, Garbage bag ( to wear as a cover up shirt) and detention for it.

Load More Replies...
ejfs
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother works at a school which has a dress code. Most of it is for health and safety (no slippers/flip flops, nothing so oversized that it hampers movement or catches on equipment and so on) but female students are not allowed to wear X,Y and Z whereas the male students can. I tried to raise the issue of gender equality with her and she just shut me down. "Girls shouldn't wear revealing clothing in case a man looks at them". We're talking 5-11 year olds. If an ADULT finds a CHILD's body distracting or whatever then we need to look at the ADULT as well. If you're disturbed by shoulders, legs, midriffs, etc on literal children MAYBE DON'T BE IN A JOB AROUND CHILDREN.

S.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

EXACTLY - Really a shame how these sorts of ridiculous dress codes systems makes it easier to not only perpetuate sexism, but also for pedophilia to exist. Who in their right minds would be that concerned with the shoulders of a KID? Not even a teenager, but literal kiddos. Makes me shudder.

Load More Replies...
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm probably too European to understand what's going on. How can a teacher get offended and decide to deny a girl her education just based on a shirt that she's wearing? What perversity in their mind got triggered that they are sexually aroused by a 12 year old girls belly button? As I said, I'm probably too European to understand this insanity.

Random Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here. Here no one cares what kids wear in school, unless someone shows up in their underwear or something. Kids are there to learn, how they dress is irrelevant. And if an adult makes a fuss about a girl's clothing being "distracting" they are the one who will get in trouble for creeping on a child. US dress codes are bonkers.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda