When School Claims 11-Year-Old’s Dress Is Too ‘Distracting,’ Pissed Off Grandma Posts This Photo Online

A grandmother took to Facebook after her granddaughter was penalized by her school for wearing a dress that administrators deemed “distracting.”

Sandra Lynn Beeler Darling expressed her outrage on Facebook over her granddaughter’s treatment by the school:

My beautiful granddaughter Vegas got dress coded today, her sister bought her this dress and they told her to change it because it was distracting, Lockwood school in Billings Mt. it was picture day and she wanted to look cute, she is 11, if you or your kids think it is distracting, don’t look at her. I have seen kids wear shorts up to there who hos.

After the post went viral, many joined in the grandmother’s anger toward the school for disciplining her over an outfit that they felt was not at all “distracting” for other students.

“What exactly is wrong with her outfit??” one MommyPage reader commented on the site’s Facebook page. “Showing shoulders is ‘distracting’? Is showing ankles also deemed distracting? Should we just put our daughters in floor length, long sleeved turtle neck dresses and bonnets as to not be ‘distracting’?? Give me a break.”

“I don’t have an issue with the rule or that she was asked to change,” another wrote. “But I have a huge problem with the reason. Telling an 11 year old it’s distracting. She’s a child, let her be a child. Similar dress codes here but it’s more about sun safety. So glad we have uniforms.”

Others shared stories of schools punishing students for their outfits.

“My youngest got dress coded when she was in 7the grade,” one reader commented. “Her shirt was up to code but a guidance counselor thought it wasn’t and when I picked her up from she she was upset. She had to sit with her jacket zipped all the way in a warm building. I went in and requested, on the spot a meeting with the principle and councilor. I asked her if she was jealous of what my daughter has and is lacking and if the principle found it wrong. He was on my side. Parents, stand up for your kids against dress code violations that are clearly wrong. It happens with uniforms too.” 

“I’m getting really sick and tired of all this nonsense,” another wrote. “My granddaughter told me her teacher said she looked disgusting in an outfit she wore to school one day. Where do these people think they get the right to destroy our children? Don’t they realize what an impact they have on them?? That little girl’s dress is fine. It’s very pretty.”

Sources: Sandra Lynn Beeler Darling/Facebook, MommyPage/Facebook / Featured Image: Oyvind Holmstad/Wikimedia Commons / Embedded Images: Sandra Lynn Beeler Darling/Facebook, OUCHcharley/Flickr