Teen boys wear skirts to protest discriminatory uniform policy amid heatwave
A group of teenage boys in the UK have donned skirts to protest a discriminatory uniform policy during some of the hottest temperatures in decades.
The boys at the Icsa academy in Devon wore the skirts as they are banned from wearing shorts even in hot weather.
Around 30 boys arrived at school this week wearing the skirts at the school in Exeter.
They had asked teachers if they would waive the uniform policy temporarily as temperatures passed 30 degrees celsius.
On boy described wearing the skirt as “quite refreshing” and told the Guardian that he even knew that Royal Ascot’s attendees were even allowed to remove their jackets during races lat week.
Another said he liked the “nice breeze” experienced through wearing the skirt.
One boy said he was told, due to his height, that the skirt he was wearing exposed too much leg.
Some boys went to buy razors so they would not show off their hairy legs to fellow students.
Many of the boys told the paper that they were considering continuing wearing the skirts.
Headteacher Aimee Mitchell said: “We recognise that the last few days have been exceptionally hot and we are doing our utmost to enable both students and staff to remain as comfortable as possible.
“Shorts are not currently part of our uniform for boys, and I would not want to make any changes without consulting both students and their families. However, with hotter weather becoming more normal, I would be happy to consider a change for the future.”
A spokesperson for Devon county council said: “About 30 boys arrived at school this morning wearing school skirts. None of the boys have been penalised – no one was put in isolation or detention for wearing a skirt.”
Parents of the students said they had also contacted the school to say the heat was “unbearable” but were told that the dress code would not budge.
The revolution came after one parent said she was told sarcastically that her son could wear a skirt if he wanted.
Back in May, a top London private school changed its uniform policy to allow boys to wear skirts.
Earlier this year a New Zealand school scrapped gendered uniforms after students challenged the fact that their woman principal could wear trousers.
Now the school will let students choose between shorts, long pants, culottes and a kilt.
By next year all New York City schools will be required to offer single-stalls bathrooms for transgender students.
