TRANSCRIPT (Image Source: Babble)
BY TARA GRIMES
ANCHOR JIM FLINK
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Who knew wearing high heels to school could get you kicked out of class?
Not one Florida
HEILMANN: "As a principal of a high school, I have to take the
paternal side and make sure he's going to be okay"
KTVT, KRISTIN WRIGHT REPORTER: “Heilmann says he was afraid the boy
would be bullied.
HEILMANN: “Anytime anyone goes out from, quote, 'the norm' or anytime
anyone wants to make a statement, you have to be willing to take what comes
with it."
But does forcing a student to follow social norms prevent bullying or
make it worse? Some of those in the blogosphere believe the latter, especially
since the boy wasn’t trying to be offensive. A friend told Tampa’s WTVT the boy just like’s the way
the heels make him feel. The Stir says kids don’t normally look at being different
as a bad thing, at least not until an adult puts it in their head.
“Heilmann's response isn't terribly surprising. But that doesn't mean
it's any less disturbing. Educators are supposed to be trained on dealing with
kids. In particular, a high school administrator should be able to separate his
own bias from that of his students.”
The blog Babble also says shame on the principle and
presents another solution to the problem.
“Why not call out the kids causing the disruption and let them know in
no uncertain terms that their behavior was unacceptable and inappropriate
instead of further singling out the one kid whose behavior and wardrobe were
perfectly acceptable and appropriate?
It’s not a clear cut line though, one psychologist tells the Huffington Post. It depends.
“If the intent was that the principal was really concerned, I think
that's fine. If the principal had a negative view of the student's attire, that
can be problematic... The difficulty with bullying is that it's the intent of
the person making the suggestion about what to do."
Finally, the Miami New Times just wants to know, what’s all the
fuss about?
“We don't know why people get so hung up on gender stereotypes …to quote
noted modern Western philosopher Madonna: "Girls can wear jeans and cut
their hair short, wear shirts and boots, 'cause it's OK to be a boy. But for a
boy to look like a girl is degrading, 'cause you think that being a girl is
degrading."
According to WTVT, after the incident, some of the boy’s peers staged a
protest; one even wore a dress to school.
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