UPDATE: ‘We did not send anybody home’ – ESHS Principal
The principal and her staff have come under heavy criticism on social media for allegedly sending home more than seventy (70) female students, after a sweep was done on girls not complying with the uniform policy.
Students going to school with two skirts!
Ms Garraway said the matter is not honestly being represented on social media, while not accusing those involved as being malicious. She said the issue of the school’s administration sticking firmly to the uniform code was discussed with parents at orientation.
“At each orientation session we did check our uniform at that point. Some persons are saying that at that point they were not told anything and now we are telling them that skirts for sure are in violation of the code.”
The school took the decision on September 16, 2019 to do a uniform spot check of students of the senior level housed at the old CTL building in Pasea as it was observed that skirts were suddenly getting much shorter than they should be.
“We did a uniform spot check on some of the skirts….and what we did, we did not send anybody home, we called parents and we had a conversation with parents about the skirts.”
The ESHS Principal also said they have discovered girls rolling the waist of the skirts to make it shorter after passing the security, while there are those who walk to school with very shorts ones in their bags and change in the school’s bathroom.
“We’ve even have students who have brought two skirts to school so they are ok when they enter the building but by the time they get inside, one was actually caught red handed in the bathroom changing the skirt.”
“So I am saying if we are going to have our students going to these lengths to wear a short skirt, it is something we need to address,” Ms Garraway stated.
‘We are preparing students for life beyond school’
Insisting that no one was sent home for uniform violation, Ms Garraway explained that there were instances where parents indicated that they would correct the skirts and some opted to have their child return home and remedy and return, “Some even agreed to have the helm dropped and some were done by their parents.
“While I understand everybody has their opinion and to some uniform has nothing to do with learning, I just want to added that as we are preparing students for everyday life, life beyond school, it gives them the chance to understand discipline. It also helps them to understand that rules are made to follow.”
According to Mrs Garraway, 90% of the parents have been very cooperative. She said that some requested time to fix and were advised to send a note if more time is needed in order for the security pass to be accommodated.
See previous article published September 17, 2019
Some 70 ESHS girls allegedly sent home for uniform violations
- relatives called situation 'discriminatory' & decried school's 'outdated policy'
Some 70 students of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS)—mostly girls—were allegedly sent home yesterday, September 16, 2019, for uniform violations, according to one irate relative of a student.
Heated Facebook Debate
The student, [name witheld] was allegedly sent home for a uniform violation where teachers said her skirt was 'too short', according to a relative, Esther N. Fraser who spoke to Virgin Islands News Online about the situation.
The issue was first brought to fore in the Facebook Group, the REAL BVI Community which has since garnered over 200 comments and well over 150 shares on the platform.
"What is really going on at ESHS?? This student was sent home today for her skirt. She was told it was too short... in the back. I was made to understand some 70+ students were sent home today. Now I'm not saying the rules shouldn't be enforced, but I can't see the violation," the irate relative posted as the caption to a photo of the students' uniform.
Speaking exclusively to VINO, Ms Fraser said, "The student is a senior who wore the same skirt last week and was not told at any point that it was inappropriate. Yesterday, a teacher told her she had to go home because the back was too short."
Verbal Attacks
As of today, September 17, 2019, the post has now sparked a major online debate with several residents and even politicians joining the conversation.
One commenter, Nalin Sugrim said, "Before school open, [the] Ministry or teachers should have sent out messages to all they seamstress or tailers to make them girls skirts lengthwise or inform all parents months before the school open to do so, not 2 weeks after school children get sent home. Teachers should be blamed for it," she said.
However, one teacher Hubert Wong noted, "Why are teachers being called out for this? Teachers don't make the rules. They just enforce them. I was at ESHS yesterday when the clampdown was in place and it concerned me that there were parents who chose to verbally abuse teachers and administrators in the presence of the students."
According to him, "I believe in dialogue in circumstances like this especially when the elements of the issue are borderline so I always encourage parents to ask the hard questions."
He called out parents for their attempt to publicly humiliate his colleagues, "When our parents do so in the presence of our children they are sending the very clear message that it is the correct thing to do," the teacher noted.
Hon Alvera Maduro-Canes, the Sixth District representative in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) said, "I received so many complaints and pictures over the past few weeks I tend to wonder what they looking at. Classrooms not properly furnished, schedules not ready... but you focusing on skirts... something is very wrong with our education system, The focus is on the wrong things."
Possible protest action
VINO has since reached out to one top school official for a comment on the issue as it is unclear what is the school's uniform policy; however, no response was received up to publication time.
With the debate sill ongoing over the issue, Ms Fraser in a comment said, "This stops or we will be staging a protest. Discrimination against women must stop. Discrimination against girls shouldn't even start and certainly not in our schools.
We must stand up for them."
63 Responses to “UPDATE: ‘We did not send anybody home’ – ESHS Principal”
But I do agreed the parents should of been told about the re enforcing of the dress code in july/collection of report cards or before.
Well if my child is required to adhere to the dress code. I will abide even thou it may seems senseless...everywhere have rules from daycares to work.
Sooo After high school and my child go looks a job and the HR says to wear purple uniform and she show up in green and red...
I have no reason to complain when they send her ass home for not abiding to the rules
Rules are Rules
1. Inspecting attire at assembly. Unbelievable, nonessential...
2. “Teacher told girl her skirt is too short.” This teacher need to leave that to administration. Focus on Pedagogy just for example, the list is good numerous.
3. Politicians KEEP out...hence the reason Education is so messy in the BVI. Whether you’re for or against allow those directly involved to do their jobs.
It is very sad to witness the standards of Education that is given to those students. The things that take high priority. And the way natives, and foreigners bash and tear down.
You sound like a jack-@$% that never been off this rock... Those rules are world over.....
f****n clown
On another note. Just some time after 2.00pm yesterday Tuesday, Observed a female student walking through the bushes below the staff parking lot adjacent to Tico. I asked myself why is she going through there at this time? It appeared that she
might have been alone but I noticed that she started to talk. So apparently she was not alone. Just a curious observation that needs to be followed up by the powers that be for ESHS at CTL
Lavera you make my heart sick to the bone and always one to break the law. imagine you on here talking sh** and when you had the chance to talk you said nothing . Please tell the people which schedule is not ready and tell them which classrooms are not furnished. You need to stop. I wonder what you're going to say should the rules for Physical Education be enforced.
I still don’t understand....That girl’s skirt obviously had a decent length. It’s impossible to meet a UNIFORM VIOLATION with that length. How long do you want the skirt to be? Covering the the sole of your shoes?
These “officials” have an issue concerning the skirt length of these girls, and they hot no r@$$. Why they don’t have a seat from drinking rum and taking the people dem man over the summer. You think I ain’t see y’all?? Especially that holy one. Talking about God and the gospel and you down the road clubbing. Wukin up. Doing 6:30 and all kinda craziness.
Get offended or not, I couldn’t care less. Not everyone liked Jesus, so who am I to care?
Anywhos, the rules ae the rules! Follow them and stop complaining.
One should oppose with some sense of sensibility and not just for the sake of opposing.