Last week, SAHM brought you the story of a 9 year old American school girl who was suspended from her private school for not conforming to school uniform code by shaving her head in a show of support for her cancer-stricken friend. The general consensus amongst our readers was that schools need to be a little more lenient when it comes to the school uniform. But what happens when its not just about looks, but behaviour and personal choices that segregate children and cause adults (who should know better) to alienate them?

A US woman claims her great-grand daughter was asked not to re-enrol at her school because her appearance was too ‘boyish.’ Doris Thompson, who is also the legal guardian of 8-year-old Sunnie Kahle, says she received a letter from the Timberlake Christian School in West Virginia, saying her great-grand daughter was acting too much like a boy and would be refused enrolment if she didn’t change her look to fit the school’s “biblical standards.”

Reading the letter on a US television news station, Ms Thompson quoted, “you’re probably aware that Timberlake Christian School is a religious, Bible-believing institution providing education in a distinctly Christian environment. We believe that unless Sunnie as well as her family clearly understand that God made her female and her dress and behaviour need to follow suit with her God-ordained identity, that TCS is not the best place for her education.”

Sunnie has short hair. She also likes baseball and hunting. Sunnie told the news station that sometimes other students asked her if she was a boy or a girl.

The school has since released a detailed statement defending its actions, saying Sunnie’s great-grandmother has misrepresented the facts. The school denies telling Sunnie that she couldn’t return to school. It claims Sunnie’s schoolmates were ‘confused’ by her appearance, which raised several issues, particularly when using the toilets. “When elementary children and their parents or guardians express concerns regarding use of the restroom and other matters arising from the sensitive issues here, the School has a duty to address those concerns and to ensure that all interests are heard and protected in accordance with the Christian mission of the school.”

Sunnie’s great-grandparents have made the decision to remove Sunnie from the school.

What do you think? Is this another case of society trying to squash individualism? Or should Sunnie have dressed according to the school’s expectations?

Source:

The Age http://www.theage.com.au/world/us-christian-school-says-eightyearold-student-not-feminine-enough-20140327-zqndx.html