School Gets Sued for Its 'No Pants for Girls' Policy

Charter Day School in Leland, North Carolina is being sued for not allowing girls to wear pants. Parents of female students became furious because the girls can only wear skirts, skorts or jumpers but not pants.

According to She Knows, the prohibition imposed on girls not to wear pants is in accordance with the school's uniform policy. The only instance where girls can be seen donning other types of clothing is during gym class and other special circumstances. Boys, on the other hand, are free to choose between wearing shorts or pants.

Parents' distress concerning the uniform policy stemmed from the fact that during the cold season, girls are at a greater disadvantage when they are wearing skirts or skorts. These clothing do not give the same protection from the cold compared to pants. They are highly critical of the fact that many private schools also allow female students to wear pants, hence, bringing them to question the no pants for girls policy of the said school.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the suit against the school on the parents behalf. According to the ACLU, this no pants for girls policy "treats girls differently than boys and causes them to suffer a burden that boys do not suffer."

According to Think Progress, the operator of the Leland charter school, the Roger Bacon Academy, wrote an e-mail to one parent complainant saying that the no pants for girls dress code important to "preserve chivalry and respect among young women and men in this school of choice."

In response to such a contention, the legal director of ACLU-North Carolina, Chris Brook said, "For them to argue further that this is necessary for there to be a respectful climate at the school indicates that women who wear pants are not deserving of as much respect as women who wear skirts."

The no pants for girls policy case is still pending in court. Parents of female students at Charter Day School are still waiting for the decision whether the court will uphold the policy or consider it as discriminatory towards girls.