Graduation day sparked an altercation between parents and school administrators in metro Atlanta over the weekend.
It was all because of the dress code.
Martinique Smith spoke out about the graduation ceremony because her daughter was one of several Drew Charter School students who apparently violated the dress code. Because of the shoes Smith’s daughter wore — open-toe heels, rather than closed-toe shoes — she did not receive her diploma on her commencement day, WSB-TV reports.
“What I was expecting (was) for him to be the bigger person. Hold on, they worked their butt off. It was COVID, you know? This is the end of it, you guys. Just give it to them,” Smith said, according to WSB-TV. She continued: “You don’t know what that child or parent is going through financially as far as shoes – period…Everybody can’t wear a Walmart shoe. You don’t know the size or the width of the shoe. My daughter is a big girl, so what shoe works for one doesn’t work for another.”
Drew Charter School officials told the station they made the consequences of breaking the dress code clear to students. Catherine Woodling of the Drew Charter School also confirmed that students will receive their diplomas by Friday (May 28).
Peter McKnight, Drew Charter School’s Head of School, released a statement:
“All 97 members of the Drew Charter School Class of 2021 graduated and participated in the commencement ceremony on Saturday, May [22]. We are upset, however, that we had to temporarily withhold diplomas from several students following the commencement ceremony. Drew Charter School has clear graduation regalia and dress code requirements that were communicated clearly and often to parents and students in the weeks leading up to graduation, including a final reminder during graduation practice. These rules, established in 2017 when Drew Charter School graduated its first senior class, were put in place to ensure the safety of our students and to uphold the decorum of the commencement ceremony. Our students and parents were aware that not following the rules would result in a delay in receiving their diplomas. Drew staff members worked closely with any students who expressed a need to provide them with approved apparel, including purchasing a dozen pairs of shoes for students. We are incredibly saddened that the enforcement of our graduation regalia and dress code requirements led to an incident between a parent and a Drew Charter School administrator. We continue to work with our parents and students, and the students affected will receive their diplomas no later than this Friday.”
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