Karis Wilson posing for a picture of her outfit she wore to NorKam on Tuesday. She was told to change or go home. Wilson went home, leading to a protest at the school on Wednesday (Image Credit: Christopher Wilson)

By Chad Klassen

High School DRESS CODE

NorKam students protest school dress code in support of student sent home

Feb 24, 2021 | 5:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — Karis Wilson wore an outfit she felt was appropriate on Tuesday (Feb. 23) at Norkam Secondary. However, she didn’t stay long. Citing the outfit was making her and a student teacher uncomfortable, Wilson’s Grade 12 teacher sent her home.

“I at first laughed because I didn’t think she was being serious,” Wilson told CFJC Today. “My outfit was covered. You could not see any skin, unless it was my shins. Then when I realized she was being serious, my heart sank and I started crying.”

While she was given the option to stay if she changed, Wilson opted to go home. At the same time, she felt alone leaving school.

However, her classmates and other students at NorKam Secondary walked out of school on Wednesday to protest the dress code decision.

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“I can’t even put it into words. It’s insane. There’s so many people here that I don’t even know, that I’ve never talked to and that are supporting me, and supporting this and I think it’s not even just about me. It’s about all the women,” Wilson noted.

Her classmates who witnessed Wilson being kicked out of class were appalled.

“She was totally okay. She was covered,” said classmate Elle Fitzgerald. “Nothing was wrong with what she was wearing, but she was still told to get out of her classroom when there has been way worse things that students wore and they weren’t sent home.”

Classmate Hanna Satzke added, “The fact that they said it was distracting to her and her male student (teacher) is completely stupid because they’re professionals and they’re in a professional state in their classroom and they should know they shouldn’t be either looking or talking to students like that.”

The school district came out with a statement on Wednesday, saying “We are also concerned about these allegations and are treating them seriously. The incident is currently under review. We will not comment on the incident specifically. Whenever a parent is concerned about their child at school we want to work with them for the best outcome for the student.”

As for Wilson, she wants the dress code is changed.

“I hope they make it more modern and acceptable. I’m not getting at the teacher. I think that everyone makes mistakes and the best we can do is teach her that was a mistake and educate her. It all starts with small conversations. That’s how this started.”