ZeroIntelligence.net

Pupils ‘riot’ over shorts

Rhyl High School has school uniforms. Make that “uniform”. Students attending summer school in winter uniforms had enough of the record heat and staged a spontaneous protest. The school may have overreacted a bit.

Police were called in to disperse the pupils because it was claimed they were blocking a nearby road.

Head teacher Mike Williams yesterday criticized the protesters for failing to take up the matter through the school’s council.
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Mr Williams said the protest was pre-planned, and some of those taking part were wearing shorts.
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The council said four teenagers have been excluded on a short-term basis and four more have long-term suspensions until September.
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The mother of a 13-year-old pupil who took part in the demonstration accused the head teacher of over-reacting.

She said, … “From my point of view it wasn’t necessary to call the police and I don’t think it was necessary to call the parents of each child either. … “I think the school has over-reacted.”

According to the students it was a quiet and peaceful assembly. They were grouped off of the road on a grassy area and chanting slogans like “boys for shorts” and we shall not move”. Police were called in but no arrests were made. The definitive response of the school seems to be the typical bureaucratic withdrawal from reality.

A spokeswoman said, “Shorts are not part of the approved school uniform and to change the school policy requires a governors’ decision.”

In other words, protest all you want. Until the board of governors tells us to change our policy we are going to make sure you are wearing long pants and button down shirts regardless of whether such clothing is actually appropriate.