Dress code issues on Monday morning prevented a smooth start to the school
year at the Norman
Manley High
school off Maxfield Avenue.
Several students were prevented from entering the school compound because they were wearing the wrong shoes.
When our news team arrived several students and parents were seen talking to the security guard at the school's main gate in a bid to be let onto the compound.
Three police officers were also on hand to keep order at the school gate.
The students told our news centre they were barred from the school grounds as they were wearing black sneakers which are prohibited except for Physical Education classes.
One parent told us although she was aware of the rule, she did not have money to buy a new pair of shoes and she sent her daughter out in a pair of black sneakers bought last year.
The mother argued that the sneakers are stronger and will last longer than the school shoes on the market.
"I can't buy a new pair of shoes right now, what am I going to do? A lot of the students have their sneakers from last term. A pair of sneakers is much stronger than a pair of shoes. You pay $1800 for a pair of shoes and the one week rain fall and the shoes mash up what are you going to do? Buy another one?"
"She has her sneakers from year before last and its still good so why is there a problem? It's not like she does not have on the correct uniform, she has on her uniform and she has on her shoes and the principal hasn't come out here to speak to anybody she sent for the police," said the parent.
Principal Adair Powell-Brown told RJR News the rule is not a new one and is included in the handbook that each student gets as part of the school package.
Quoting from the rule book Mrs. Powell-Brown said parents and students had fair warning that the school would not accept sneakers.
"The rules regarding uniform are clearly stated in the handbook. We have also placed it on the notice board for all students and parents to see, we have informed the PTA that we will not allow any sneakers this year. The guards have been telling the students, so it is nothing new that I am instituting,"
"I agree that no child should be turned away from school but they must obey the rules of the school. We are trying to instill discipline in the students and the uniform rules are a part of that discipline," Mrs. Powell-Brown said.
She insisted that the school will be standing by its decision not to admit students without the proper gear.
Several students were prevented from entering the school compound because they were wearing the wrong shoes.
When our news team arrived several students and parents were seen talking to the security guard at the school's main gate in a bid to be let onto the compound.
Three police officers were also on hand to keep order at the school gate.
The students told our news centre they were barred from the school grounds as they were wearing black sneakers which are prohibited except for Physical Education classes.
One parent told us although she was aware of the rule, she did not have money to buy a new pair of shoes and she sent her daughter out in a pair of black sneakers bought last year.
The mother argued that the sneakers are stronger and will last longer than the school shoes on the market.
"I can't buy a new pair of shoes right now, what am I going to do? A lot of the students have their sneakers from last term. A pair of sneakers is much stronger than a pair of shoes. You pay $1800 for a pair of shoes and the one week rain fall and the shoes mash up what are you going to do? Buy another one?"
"She has her sneakers from year before last and its still good so why is there a problem? It's not like she does not have on the correct uniform, she has on her uniform and she has on her shoes and the principal hasn't come out here to speak to anybody she sent for the police," said the parent.
Principal Adair Powell-Brown told RJR News the rule is not a new one and is included in the handbook that each student gets as part of the school package.
Quoting from the rule book Mrs. Powell-Brown said parents and students had fair warning that the school would not accept sneakers.
"The rules regarding uniform are clearly stated in the handbook. We have also placed it on the notice board for all students and parents to see, we have informed the PTA that we will not allow any sneakers this year. The guards have been telling the students, so it is nothing new that I am instituting,"
"I agree that no child should be turned away from school but they must obey the rules of the school. We are trying to instill discipline in the students and the uniform rules are a part of that discipline," Mrs. Powell-Brown said.
She insisted that the school will be standing by its decision not to admit students without the proper gear.
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