Student fights dress code banning girls from wearing pants at graduation: ’It sends the wrong message’
It’s nearing the time of year when high school seniors have to find outfits for graduation. But one student at a school in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, halted her search for the perfect look when her school sent out a commencement dress code saying that girls were prohibited from wearing pants.
Hannah Kozak, 18, told Pennsylvania station KDKA that the initial letter sent out to parents by Norwin High School stated that girls who wear pants to the commencement ceremony should expect to instead receive their diploma by mail the following week — unless they ask school administrators for prior permission. Still, she expressed that the rule left her with a feeling of disappointment and a “little bit of disgust.”
“I don’t see that as very right. I don’t think that as just, and I think it’s kind of discriminatory,” Kozak told the outlet. “In modern times, women have been wearing pants as formal wear for nearly a century, and I don’t think that limitation should be put onto young girls. I think it sends the wrong message.”
But when the teen went to a school board meeting to help in correcting that message, she was only successful in getting permission to wear pants herself and was told exceptions couldn’t be extended to other students.
As of Wednesday, the school told KDKA that Kozak expressed the desire to have the opportunity extended to other graduating girls and the conversation would be continued on Friday. On Thursday, however, the Norwin School District provided a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle saying that the dress code had been updated entirely.
“After administrative review and due diligence, the attire for vespers and commencement has been modified as follows,” a statement from the district reads in part, before listing “white or light-colored dress clothing,” under expected attire for girls.
Yahoo Lifestyle wasn’t able to get in touch with Kozak. But according to the expectations she shared with KDKA, it seems as though her mission for her graduating class has been accomplished.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
High school implements dress code for parents: 'I'm almost insulted'
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