http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21867671-2862,00.html Jane Metlikovec June 08, 2007 12:00am
SCHOOLGIRL has been suspended indefinitely because her parents bought her pants that do not carry the school logo.
Mornington Secondary College year 9 student Karla Palmer's navy slacks are otherwise identical to the school-issued uniform.
The only difference is parents Leon and Tracey Palmer paid $15 for the pants in downtown Mornington while the school uniform shop charges $55.
She has already been suspended for four days in the past two weeks.
Principal Sarah Burns said Karla would not be welcome back at the school until she complied with the uniform code.
In her three years at the school, Karla has never worn the school insignia on her pants.
Ms Burns said the school was just "upholding the high standards of the school," in enforcing its uniform policy.
The Palmer family, of Mt Martha, have no idea why they have been the target of the school after an apparent crackdown on uniforms -- something they say they were told nothing about.
Karla has turned up at school for the past three days, only to be ordered to go home.
Mr Palmer said he could not understand the school's hard line.
"Why should we have to pay $55 for exactly the same pair at the school?" he said.
"We didn't even know we had to buy the uniform there.
"She wears the shirt and blazer with the emblem and she wears her slacks without the emblem -- as do four other kids in her class and they haven't got in trouble.
"It is ridiculous. You can't even see the logo when her shirt is down."
Karla said she was upset about not being able to attend classes.
"I like school. I'm in a special youth police corps where we get to go out and do all sorts of things in the community, but if I keep getting suspended I can't go and I will get kicked out," Karla said.
"It's a great opportunity for me and I don't know why the school is doing this. I have never worn the logo on my pants before and it has never been a problem.
"I just want to go back to school."
The suspension notice reads in part: " Karla has ignored school policy in regard to school pants. Despite repeated written warnings, parent contact and an interview with the principal, Karla has not as yet complied with the uniform policy."
Ms Burns said school policy has dictated all uniforms must be purchased at the school's uniform shop since 2002.
She said she had been offering the Palmers free school-issue pants for the past month, but the family had "rejected them on principle".
A parliamentary inquiry into dress codes and school uniforms is considering whether uniforms should be compulsory for all Victorian students and appropriate enforcement.
The all-party education and training committee will deliver its recommendations to the State Government next March.
