Kamloops students walk out of school in support of peer over controversial dress code

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the student was sent home because of her attire. It has since been updated to reflect the fact that while a teacher did tell her that her clothing was inappropriate, she was not ordered to leave.

KAMLOOPS (NEWS 1130) – The furor over word a Kamloops high school student was called out by a teacher for wearing a dress and a turtleneck continues to rage.

About 50 students got up and walked out of NorKam Secondary around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. They didn’t waste any time responding to hearing that Karis Wilso, a Grade 12 student, was taken out of her classroom and allegedly told by a teacher that her knee-length slip-like dress over a turtleneck was too distracting.

The students held placards that read “My education is more important than what I wear” and “Am I distracting you with my midriff?”

“I never thought in my high school experience that I’d have to explain to my teacher lace does not make my outfit sexual and that she’s picturing it sexually. That’s not on me, that’s not my fault,” Karis told Radio NL at the walk-out, Wednesday.

“Obviously teachers aren’t going to be too happy about all of their students walking out. But it means more to me than anyone would ever know and it’s insane seeing this many people support me,” she added. “And I’m nervous to go back into class but I know that when I do go back into class I’ll have so much support behind me that I don’t have anything to worry about.”

Students are not allowed to wear so-called distracting clothing, as per the dress code of the Kamloops Thompson school district.

Related articles: 

• B.C. student says black dress, white turtleneck deemed inappropriate at school

• Kamloops student not responsible for reactions to dress, advocate says

Karis wants there to be more sensitivity training for teachers across School District 73, and she’s also calling for “a lot of changes” to the school’s dress code.

Meanwhile, advocates say the policy is archaic and harmful, especially in how it is applied to young women.

“The responsibility there falls on the adults, who are tasked with keeping her safe and creating a learning environment where everyone can be safe and respected. If a student can’t go to school wearing a turtleneck, I’m not sure what else they’re expecting of their female-identifying students,” said Alix Dolson with the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counseling Centre, adding staff at her organization were “disappointed, but not surprised” by the school’s move.

Karis’ father, Chris Wilson, posted a video to Facebook this week, saying his daughter was sent home because of her outfit.

“She was sent home for wearing this beautiful dress and a turtleneck because we know how inappropriate turtlenecks can be,” he says during the almost seven-minute rant.

He has since clarified that after a teacher commented that her clothing was considered inappropriate, Karis made the decision to go home.

Chris and Karis spoke with CityNews about how the incident at NorKam Secondary School left them hurt and confused.

The school district has since responded, saying it is concerned about the allegations and is treating them seriously.

The president of the BC Teachers’ Federation has also since weighed in on conversation, saying on Twitter that “dress codes typically disproportionately affect girls.”

“Any policy that tells students they cannot wear clothing that ‘distracts’ others is victim-shaming. If we envision a world where women are safe regardless of the clothing they wear we need to do so much better,” Terri Mooring writes.

The president of @bctf has something to say about dress codes after a Kamloops student says she was kicked out of class for wearing a slip like dress over a turtleneck https://t.co/uHI4l3JjJT

— Ash Kelly she/her (settler) (@AshDKelly) February 25, 2021

-With files from David Zura and Mike Lloyd