Being the new kid at school is tough. Especially if you’re forced to wear a hideous, oversized outfit that basically brands you as a troublemaker.
Believe it or not, that’s what happened to 15-year-old Miranda Larkin, a sophomore at Oakleaf High School in Orange, Park Florida. ABC News reports that the teen, who had just moved to Florida from Seattle a week before, was forced to wear a school-mandated outfit after an infraction of the policy.
On her third day of school, a teacher told Miranda her skirt was too short, and she would have to change into the school’s “dress code violation outfit.” The getup is as terrible as it sounds: A neon yellow tee with the phrase “DRESS CODE VIOLATION” across the front, accompanied by red sweatpants with the same phrase down the right leg.
In other words, this outfit is practically begging people to point and stare, which doesn’t sound like the best way to welcome a new student who’s already scrambling to find friends.
She shared about the situation on her Facebook and Instagrammed it to spread the word further:
“The school has said this is to embarrass you,” Miranda said. “It’s supposed to embarrass you so you don’t do it again.” She also shared a picture of the outfit that she received punishment for:
Miranda was so upset at having to wear the mortifying outfit that she starting sobbing and breaking out in hives. Her mom, Dianna Larkin, was equally as outraged about the debacle, and now she’s fighting back against the school district and has dubbed the outfit a “shame suit.”
She’s threatening to file a complaint with the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which says that a student’s disciplinary record can’t be released without permission.
“This is a harmful practice and it doesn’t teach anything,” Dianna said. “My problem is not with the dress code itself. My problem is with the public shaming of kids. I really do believe in punishing my kids if they do something wrong, but this is not about punishing kids. This is about humiliation.”
According to a spokesperson for the Clay County school district, students are given three option when they violate dress code: they can either stay in their clothes and be sent to in school suspension, wear the ‘shame suit’ or call and request someone bring them a new outfit for the day.
But Miranda said these choices weren’t available to her.
“Those options aren’t presented to you,” the teen said. “You have to ask for ISS. People who have asked if they can call home for a change of clothes have been told no.”
What do you think? Is a dress-code-violation outfit effective or unfair? Sound off in the comments below!
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