Say what? Two teenage boys warned their female peers to 'value the male education' and 'dress conservatively' instead of 'like a THOT'. Photo / Instagram
Say what? Two teenage boys warned their female peers to 'value the male education' and 'dress conservatively' instead of 'like a THOT'. Photo / Instagram
Two teenage boys have penned a controversial note telling their female peers to "value education" and stop distracting male students by dressing provocatively, sparking a heated debate over their high school's dress code, according to Daily Mail.
The memo was posted in the hallways at Breton High Schoolin rural Alberta, Canada, and told female students not to dress like a "THOT", an offensive acronym that stands for "That Ho Over There", according to Urban Dictionary.
"When you wear little to no clothing and dress provocatively because it's 'too hot out' or because you think it's 'attractive,' you are putting boys at risk of having a distracting working environment and saying, 'your clothing is more important than their education'," the note begins.
"Instead of dressing like a THOT, value the male education and dress conservatively."
Breton is a small village in Alberta that is made up of about 600 people, and, unsurprisingly, parents and students are very upset about the use of the acronym "THOT".
While some believe the strongly worded letter is sexist, others argue that the boys were just being brutally honest.
One parent told Global News that the message was written by two male students in response to another note that argued sending girls home to change their clothes negatively affects their education.
The first note, which was posted on a bathroom mirror and shared in a Snapchat post, reads: "When you interrupt a girl's school day to force her to change her clothes, or send her home because her shorts are too short or her bra straps are too visible, you are telling her that making sure boys have a "distraction free" environment is more important than her education.
"Instead of shaming girls for their bodies teach boys that girls are not sexual objects."
Per the school's dress code, which is described in the 2016-2017 student handbook, shorts and skirts must exceed the length of arms and fingers and the inseam to shorts must be the minimum of one hand length.
Cleavage and navels must be covered; straps for shirts must be three fingers wide, and bra straps and boxers cannot be exposed.
Anyone who does not follow dress code will be required to change his or her clothing or be sent home.
"The conversation that is happening is around the dress code," Breton High School Principal Lara Jollymore wrote in a letter sent home to parents concerning the boys' note.
Jollymore explained that that some female students feel they should wear whatever clothes they want because women should not be objectified by their male peers because it is wrong.
Hitting back? The note was allegedly in response to a memo hanging in a bathroom, which stated that female students should be allowed to wear what they want. Photo / Snapchat
The went on to say that the "gentlemen have responded by posting their opinions about how the school is a professional learning environment, and that ladies should respect that by wearing clothes that meet the dress code".
However, she added that the use of the "inappropriate acronym" in the boys' note would be addressed, and students were being reminded to remain respectful when sharing their opinions.
Jollymore shot down rumours that staff members had anything to do with the note, insisting that "the opinions expressed are solely those of students", and she also noted that the school will still be enforcing the dress code.
Virgin Radio Edmonton shared a photo of the boys' note on Facebook on Monday, asking people to weigh-in.
Unsurprisingly, the online debate was just as heated as the one going on in the school.
"Stop worrying so damn much about other people and mind your business, Leslie Dickson commented. "Get your education and stop stressing about someone wearing a tank top for f**k sake. If you can't concentrate because someone is in a short skirt, that's your problem, not hers. Reality is going to be difficult."
While Amanda Sharp argued: "The real world has dress codes. Doesn't matter if it's +30 or -30, you're expected to abide by it. Might as well learn now you little snowflakes...or do you plan to protest when your workplace tries to tell you what's appropriate and what's not?"
