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
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.
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
The student handbook provides a detailed dress code:
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:
Another follow-up video shows police on the scene but there is not much context
Some people think the mom overreacted
But she said she even brought her daughter another shirt
And has many supporters, too
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