Despite the fact that schools have their own dress codes, this does not mean that any student should be discriminated against!
As a result of her hair extensions, a young girl had to leave class when she returned from vacation. Nobody on the faculty had any idea how this story would be received. Continue reading for the complete story.
Return to School
Do you recall how excited everyone was on the first day of school after the summer break? We’re crossing our fingers that Faith Fennidy will be able to say the same thing. Despite this, after two years of attending Christ the King Parish School in Gretna, Louisiana, the small student had an absolutely terrible day.
After getting hauled out of class for wearing braided hair extensions to school, her brother posted a video of her sobbing on Facebook.
Auntie Vanity
People will go to any sacrifice for their family, and Faith’s father is no exception. His sister, Vanity Tokyo, a music artist and cast member of “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” was the one who shared the video with her millions of Instagram followers.
Vanity Tokyo claims that her niece was ‘humiliated’ by the event. The video received a large number of views, and the tale became global.
It’s my brother’s daughter
She remarked in her post, “Hey there, this is my niece.” She was humiliated today in Gretna, Louisiana, at Christ The King School. A group of black female students took her out of the classroom and dismissed her for wearing hair extensions.”
Who would dismiss a child from school because she wore hair extensions? Her followers were shocked by the news.
What was the issue?
After two years of wearing hair extensions to school without a problem, Steven Fennidy Jr., her brother, said there was nothing unusual or frightening about his sister’s appearance.
However, the private school announced a policy change during the summer holiday and did not inform students or parents of the possible consequences.
The Pool
Faith’s brother noted that Faith’s protective hairstyle is crucial since she often swims in chlorinated water, which may damage natural hair, and the braids may help prevent this.
That these institutions, which we pay for, would make rules without discussing or considering how this would affect your life or your child’s life is absurd,’ Faith said on Facebook, adding that ‘Extensions make hair easier to maintain.'” There’s no need to constantly re-do her hair while she’s in the swimming pool. How can you create a policy without even discussing it?’
What If It’s Not a Hair Issue?
“Throughout my middle and high school years at a private school, I was forced to sit behind a million white girls who would play with their hair,” wrote her younger brother in a Facebook post. A million times a day, they restyle their ponytails. Nothing was ever discussed.
He said that the principal of the school informed him that the issue was with the hairstyle: ‘It’s because you’re indifferent, and it creates another barrier to admission for black people. He closed by urging viewers to share the video, saying, “This decision will unfairly damage black children.”
T.I comes to support
T.I., a rapper with 8 million Twitter followers, saw the video and asked whether the school had an issue with black people’s hair.
He also used Twitter to encourage women in similar circumstances to appreciate their beauty and “Do not allow them to win!!!”
The school reacted
The Archdiocese of New Orleans said in a statement:
“The policy was explained in detail to all parents during the summer and again just before the first day of school. In addition, the school’s administration worked with parents to ensure that the rules were being followed. As a school, we are committed to providing an open environment that recognizes our differences and works together.’
Nonetheless, Faith’s parents claim that they had previously attended a parent-teacher meeting and heard no complaints regarding Faith’s haircut.
You’ve now irritated Daddy. Big blunder
Faith’s father, Steaven Steven Fennidy Sr, and Faith’s mother had chosen to take legal action against the school for discrimination.
Meanwhile, Dove, the cosmetic company, decided to invite Faith to take part in The Dove Self-Esteem Project, which is part of the body self-confidence movement.
Our second story is even stranger since it is about a white kid who was expelled from school, but when the instructors discovered who her father was, they instantly returned her.
What Happened To Demetra Will Shock You!
On one particular day, Demetra Alarcon’s father received a phone call from the school. As soon as he realized he was speaking to the school principal, he shook his head in surprise and despair. It’s unclear as to why the school’s principal would call.
Was his daughter all right? When the principal described the reason for the call, the father was astonished. However, very quickly, he realized that he had to act. What exactly happened?
This day wasn’t different from other days
In contrast to the other days, this one was uneventful. It was, after all, just another day. Tony Alarcon went about his morning routine like he always had. He got out of bed, dressed, prepared breakfast for himself and his daughter, took her to school, and went to work. It was a typical morning for him.
Early on in the day, there was no clue that things would be different. The only thing that seemed to have changed was the onset of warm weather. Despite everything, summer was only getting started.
Dressing following the weather conditions
Since summer was approaching, Tony’s daughter, Demetra, picked summer-appropriate clothing. The last thing anybody wants to do on a hot day is to put on their old pants. There was no clothing restriction at Demetra’s middle school, Raymond J. Fisher.
They were allowed to come to school in jeans and t-shirts. It turns out that, despite the school’s claim that students may wear anything they choose, there are particular rules regarding the clothing that students can and cannot be allowed to wear.
Tony is a loving and good father
During the day, Tony Alarcon is a successful real estate broker and agent. He was able to set up a stable financial condition for his family as a result of his efforts. Tony takes the opportunity and devotes his leisure time to his daughter, ensuring she has a good effect as a protective parent.
Tony takes pleasure in the fact that he will go to anything to ensure his daughter’s safety and protection – even if it means fighting injustice.
Even the best intentions may have negative effects
While all parents want to protect their children and ensure they grow up in a secure and loving environment, a parent’s protective tendency may sometimes become excessive. When Demetra woke up that morning, she felt as if the world had fallen apart around her.
After being singled out in class, she was filled with feelings of shame and guilt about her identity. As a result, this was not the first time a girl in her class had been publicly humiliated. Worse, she had no understanding of why she was being treated in this manner.
It all started with the wrong choice of clothing
It was extremely hot outside that day, so Demetra wore a blue romper to school because she wanted to be ready. When she put on her clothes in the morning, she had no idea that they would cause such a sensation at school.
Her father saw her in the clothing she had picked when he dropped her off at school. If her father gave her the thumbs up, she knew her attire was OK.
Dress regulations in schools
Many schools still enforce strict restrictions that are out of date in today’s world. Girls often get into trouble for not wearing anything or for wearing too much of something. Many girls are either dismissed from school or have their parents provide them attire that conforms to the school’s dress code.
Rather than focusing on their studies, these young girls are having their skirts measured. This seems like a nightmare to many of us. Is this what Demetra went through?
There will always be a fire where there is smoke
What happened on Demetra’s first day of school in her blue romper was an unusual occurrence. Even though a romper looked like a decent choice to avoid the California heat, the school evidently intended to use her as an example.
According to the Alarcon family, Demetra’s outfit was not the cause of the conflict between Tony and her school. Was Tony prepared to fight the educational system on behalf of his daughter?
The cursed romper
Demetra’s blue romper was the gossip of the school as soon as she wore it. The media quickly caught on to Demetra’s actions and moved the subject from classroom gossip to the big news. Demetra’s teacher was the first to criticize her clothing as unsuitable.
After that, she was led into the principal’s office by her teacher. Following his meeting with Demetra, the school principal called her father, Tony. The Alarcon family and the school were forever changed when he picked up the phone.
Tony had no choice but to make a decision
If Tony didn’t bring his daughter adequate clothing, he could pick her up and take her home, but the director gave him two alternatives. As soon as he heard the ultimatum, Tony couldn’t believe it.
For fear of risking his daughter’s educational progress, the school was notified that her father would bring her some new clothing. However, it was the clothing he chose for his daughter that stunned the school the most.
Tony came to school dressed differently from the rest of the students
Tony went through his daughter’s wardrobe and picked out an outfit that he thought was appropriate. To keep things simple, he wore jean shorts and a blue t-shirt. After school, he put his daughter in the same clothing he had worn to school.
After changing, Demetra went straight back to the principal’s office. But the school’s principal declared that her dress was nonetheless inappropriate. Tony quickly realized that he had to do something about his daughter’s injustice.
The conflict is only getting started
Tony was unable to ignore the situation after the occurrence. The reasons why his daughter was being abused were beyond his comprehension. Consequently, he went to the administration to see why her clothing was considered inappropriate.
Tony even made his daughter bend down to demonstrate that he had covered everything that needed to be covered. For the peace of both himself and his daughter, he wanted to find what was wrong.
Was he able to identify the problem’s essence?
Tony was well aware that this issue included more than the immediate scenario. The school was keeping a secret from him, and he was fully aware of it. However, he hoped that his daughter, Demetra, would not be punished and humiliated as a result of his fears.
Unfortunately, it turned out that his greatest suspicions were correct. His daughter failed every critical test they used in Demetra’s case. Are you familiar with the “FingerTips Test?”
The rule of modesty
According to the school administration, the shorts on Demetra’s romper were too short. However, he was aware that there was more to this story and asked for further information. According to the administration, they used the “fingertips test.”
Female students must place their arms at their sides and use the fingertip test to determine whether their pants are above or below their fingertips. It is regarded as too short if they reach beyond her fingertips. When Demetra tried on the short, she discovered that it was barely long enough to cover her fingers. It was too much for Tony to bear.
Finally Tony figured out what was causing the problem
Though it took some time, the administration finally explained why Demetra was singled out in class after Tony learned about the fingers test. Not the fingers test, but her classmate’s boys are to blame. The school’s decision to punish Demetra was made because she was regarded as a distraction to the class’s male classmates.
Tony had discovered the truth but was astounded by what he was hearing. They humiliated his daughter because another student was unable to concentrate in class?
Tony was outraged
When Tony heard the news, he was shocked and furious by the school’s response. To protect his daughter and fight for her rights as a woman, he knew he had to act. He understood he’d never be able to let this go as Demetra sobbed alongside him.
Tony had no intention of giving up the fight now when the situation became tough. However, the school decided to issue one more ultimatum to Tony and Demetra, which sent Tony over the edge of wrath.
The very last condition
The school issued a last warning to Demetra and Tony. This ultimatum looked to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. After being informed she had to either wear pants to cover her legs or leave school for the day, Demetra chose the latter option.
Demetra then brought up the school’s “no headwear” policy and said that it is rarely enforced since guys at school often wear hats. Tony considered the prejudice against his daughter to be unjust; what was he supposed to do?
The regulations that belong to males and females are somewhat different
When it came to his daughter’s school, Tony was well-aware that the boys and girls had their own set of rules. While Tony was at the school parking lot, he noted that a large number of pupils were not adhering to the dress code. What’s the point of making girls suffer in the heat when men can get away with anything they want?
The school reported that Demetra and the other female students had to bear the consequences of the males’ misbehavior. He thus sought out Demetra’s friends for their thoughts on the dress code.
Tony contacted the news media
This was too much for Tony to bear. Because they were the only ones forced to hide their identities during the summer, Demetra’s friends said the rules were unfair and discriminatory. After talking to them, Tony concluded that he needed to bring this issue to the attention of Demetra.
This led him to call the media and alert them to what was going on. He wanted the public to be aware of the treatment of female students in the school system. The story was promptly picked up by the media and became viral.
The true cause
For the most part, people agreed with Tony and felt that the dress code was unfair to women. His attempts to protect young girls and establish a more fair dress code were met with overwhelming support. However, several individuals highlighted an excellent point that needed to be considered.
They were worried that allowing children to dress whichever they wanted may lead to some of them crossing the boundary of appropriateness. Thus, how were they going to establish a clothing code that was just and balanced for all?
Demetra wasn’t the only one who felt humiliated
Many more pupils have felt expelled as a result of the school’s uniform rule. When Claire went to her prom, she found herself in the same situation as the other girls.
On her way home from the prom with her boyfriend, she almost got expelled for breaking the school’s fingers rule by wearing her skirt with her fingers uncovered. She was permitted to go to prom although her skirt was too short, according to the officials. Her night of shame and humiliation didn’t finish; on the contrary, it just got worse.
Claire was once again picked out
As Claire entered her prom, she saw an unusually high number of chaperones. It didn’t help that the male chaperones were standing on the balcony, watching the young girls dance, making her feel even more uncomfortable.
As Claire resumed dancing, she was once again picked out by the other girls. She quickly understood that she had been removed off the dance floor. But why is that? What is the purpose of her removal? What did she do to deserve to be kicked out of the office?
Complaints were made about Claire
Because she wasn’t paying attention, Claire had no idea that some of the male chaperones were making fun of her for dancing too sexily with her partner. Some of the other prom boys were afraid that her dancing might cause an attack on them.
Aside from that, the chaperones stated her outfit was “begging for it.” Clair was stunned by what she was learning. For what reason was she held responsible for the actions and views of other male students or persons.
The women created a group
There was a growing dissatisfaction among female students with being held responsible for the words and behavior of others. Because of this, Claire and her friends joined together and decided to speak out against this kind of abuse. If Claire is excluded from the prom, they said they would leave and demand a refund.
The school’s money was heavily invested in Prom night, and the girls were fully aware that their decision would harm it.
The prom dance was over
Claire was astounded at the togetherness of the group. Even though she had waited a long time for this night to arrive, she was treated like a criminal. This is the first time Claire has gotten a prom refund.
Frustrated, humiliated, and duped, she reacted with anger. Consequently, she concluded that she wanted to tell others about her experience to help bring attention to this issue. It was about time she spoke what was on her heart.
The response was ferocious
After the prom, some people chose to discuss what happened to Claire. They went to the Facebook page for the Richmond Homeschool Prom and expressed their disappointment at the result.
Although Claire’s clothes were OK and passed the fingertip test, the school’s right to self-defense was used. A majority of the chaperones were male and were keeping a close watch on her that night.
Students express their viewpoints
Students stated that Claire was flirting on the dance floor, and one of them remarked that removing her from the dance floor was the wrong way to handle the situation. The school could have done a better job of handling this situation.
Pupils were mostly dissatisfied with the school’s treatment of clothing requirements and appropriate behavior. The school had no idea that this was only the beginning of a greater dispute.
Clothing rules are the main point of disagreement
Evanston Township High School student Emma Stein got a citation for not following the dress code. She was forced to wear sweatpants for the rest of the day since her dress was too short. After this experience, she understood that the rules needed to be changed.
Schools around the county staged protests in 2016 against their restrictive dress codes. The protests prompted one school to revise its dress code policy.
The school has implemented a new policy
According to the school administration, Evanston Township High School needs to look into creating a new dress code. To avoid excluding youngsters, we needed to make sure it was body-positive. Because of this, they felt it was necessary to take a stand and implement a more current dress code.
Having their voices heard and respected was essential to the students who saw it as a step forward in their personal development. They understood that if one is persistent, one may bring about change.
End of an era, and the beginning of a new one
The majority of American schools still follow clothing rules that are decades old, although this trend seems to be changing. It’s taking time, but it’s happening. Increasing numbers of schools are putting resources into finding alternative solutions and policies that accord with their ideals and the current social environment.
When it comes to getting an education, young people should be able to concentrate only on that and not worry about their looks. It’s finally time for policy revisions and updates!
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