Department investigating ‘no leggings’ row at school

THE Depart ment of Education is investigating if a Carlow secondary school asked its female students not to wear tight clothing due to them being a ‘distraction’ for male teachers.

Girls at Presentation College Carlow are adamant that the accusations are true, despite them being refuted by the principal, Ray Murray.

Female pupils in all years were reportedly called out of class last Friday by year heads, who allegedly told them not to wear revealing or tight clothing to school.

While male students received no advice on their attire, female students said they were directed not to wear tight leggings to school or to roll up their skirts too short.

An online anti- sexism petition set up amid the claims has been signed by over 10,000 people.

It comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there’s ‘no place for victim-shaming’, and a report on the incident will be presented to Education Minister Norma Foley.

A Department of Education spokesperson told the Irish Daily Mail that it will be getting in touch with the school in due course ‘to establish the facts’.

One pupil at the school described the current atmosphere as ‘terrible’. Speaking on Newstalk, she said that the girls feel singled out as the male students were not spoken to about uniforms.

‘We should get an apology and shouldn’t have to ask for one,’ the student said.

Mr Murray, principal of the school, said the petition was based on ‘unsubstantiated facts’.

He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that assemblies were held on Friday to remind female students of the uniform policy because staff had noted in the past couple of months that ‘ when the students were coming in, particularly the girls, the uniform regulations weren’t being followed’.

Mr Murray acknowledged only the girls were called to the assemblies, but said that was because ‘it was becoming a fashion show’ among female pupils.

‘Instead of tracksuit bottoms, it was a variety of garments being worn – more so leggings,’ he said.

On the fallout from the controversy, he added: ‘We’re bemused in one sense, we’re annoyed in another sense, in terms of some of the comments that have been up on social media which are scandalous and damaging to staff too.

‘What was a normal enough assembly in terms of reminding them of the regulations has escalated into this.’

Asked whether any remark was made about t eachers being uncomfortable with the sight of girls in tight clothes, he said the teachers had assured him nothing inappropriate had been said.

Following the principal’s interview, a number of parents told the Mail that their children are ‘standing firm’ about what they allege is true. Sandy Haughney, whose daughter attends the school, said they are not satisfied with Mr Murray’s response.

A number of male pupils at the school have reportedly worn leggings since the furore in solidarity of their female classmates.

As a form of protest, angered students started the petition and put up notices around their school that read: ‘Stop teaching women how to dress. Instead, teach men how to respect women.’

‘Becoming a fashion show’