Two more students get boot over body jewelry

[chicot60]

Two more students get boot over body jewelry
By VICTORIA GRAY , Toronto Sun



More lip about facial piercings at Notre Dame Catholic High school.

Kortney Knight and Courtney Scott, both 16, were both sent home from school on Malvern Rd. in the Upper Beaches before lunch Thursday for refusing to take out their facial jewelry.

“I told (my teacher) ‘I’m here to learn and I’m not taking it out’,” Knight said.

Some students are standing up for what they call discrimination.

“They try to make us into a picture perfect society which is unrealistic,” Scott said.

“They should focus more on education than a simple piece of metal in someone’s face.”

On Monday Mikaela Gunning-Pereira, 14, was sent home for refusing to take out her lip-piercing.

The administration has asked at least two other girls to leave for the day for refusing to remove eyebrow rings.

“I think it is ridiculous that we have to hide behind our uniform and not be able to express ourselves in any way,” Knight said.

Principal Oksana Kawun said the dress code is set by an advisory council which includes members of the administration, parents and student council representatives.

“The students, who I find deviate from the dress code, we work with them (to give them) a better understanding of the dress code,” she said. “We get compliance from most of them.”

Knight’s mother Alisha Warner-Knight, 37, has joined forces with Paula Gunning, Mikaela Gunning-Pereira’s mom, to fight the strict dress code. On Tuesday both women will attend the advisory council meeting to discuss the situation.

“We’re going to fight this tooth and nail, I am tired of this,” Warner-Knight said.

Gunning has also contacted a lawyer and if the school doesn’t change its position plans to take the matter to a higher authority.

Warner-Knight said she is on board.

“I sent her here for the education, not the uniform,” she said.

“Notre Dame is making (the kids) become one certain type and that’s discriminating.”


http://www.torontosun.com/news/toron.../17146051.html

[jrose]

Sigh...Yes kids do things for attention, thats not new...its stupid yes. But what is more stupid is the parents contacting a lawyer???? We can see who has the pull in that household, it all started when we couldn't tan there asses in public.


Can someone cue Pink Floyd "The wall" to play with this thread?

[wildman25]

It's all about attention. And going to a school with a strict dress code wearing facial piercings certainly gains attention doesn't it. What disturbs me is the parent contacting a lawyer because a private catholic school is enforcing the rules for everyone.

Truth is the same child being trained to believe it's alright to strive for alternative lifestyles will soon be suing their employer for the same exception. I personally rebelled against society in my young years- as did we all- but who knows where it would've ended if my parents hadn't had the good sense to dis-approve?

Rights of passage have evolved to mutilations that could never be hid with clothing- which will brand them for the rest of their life. Expectations of the future can't be held as high for them as someone with a tattoo on their forearm. I personally don't want to go to my bank for a loan from someone with elongated earlobes or a nose-ring.

Granted that these are nose and eyebrow rings- but where do you draw the line? My children will probably rebel in some way (and have) but that doesn't mean I'm going to sue for it. Doesn't telling mommy that it should be accepted, and to sue for them defeat the purpose, or did I miss the purpose?

[jrose]

Exactly Wild, growing up it was the rule - if your under their roof you listen to them. Testing the waters of what I could get away with and something that would reflect badly on them and have consequences on my future where two different things. I really question the parents of these "children"... seems they know best maybe they should take the children out of school altogether, it could be stifling their individuality.