Matric pupil angry at cross-dressing ban

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Published Sep 1, 2014

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Cape Town - A matric pupil at one of the Western Cape’s top-performing high schools has accused the headmaster of discriminating against pupils who wished to cross-dress as part of the matric celebrations at a school event.

The pupil, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said the school’s principal, David Schenck, at Parel Vallei High School in Somerset West, had propagated gender stereotypes by not allowing pupils to cross-dress during their “40 days” celebration last month.

Forty Days is a popular tradition celebrated at many high schools where matrics count down the last few days until the start of their final exams. The tradition is celebrated differently at schools. The pupil said matriculants had often cross-dressed in previous years. Parel Vallei is in the top 20 of best-performing schools in the province.

Schenck has denied the allegations, saying that pupils were in fact allowed a “pyjamas day” instead – which he said, had been “well-received”.

The pupil said as time drew closer for the celebration, Schenck called a meeting with the matrics at which he told them that no cross-dressing would be allowed on the day, and whoever did so, would be stripped of the privilege of attending the matric ball. He claimed that Schenck said cross-dressing was “immoral” and “against Christianity”.

The pupil said this had promoted bullying and discrimination against gender non-conforming pupils.

“I can accept that he is not allowing cross-dressing. That is entirely his prerogative as headmaster. But as a pupil I refuse to accept that he is promoting ignorant hatred based on outdated gender stereotypes among our student body. By asserting that it is immoral for a man to wear clothing traditionally expected of a woman or vice versa, he does nothing but affirm the already worrying prevalence of sexism in South African schools,” the pupil said.

Schenck slammed the pupil’s allegations as “slanderous” and said: “Parel Vallei is a dual medium, co-education South African school with a strong Christian character where all cultures and religions are respected and protected in a non-sexist, non-racist environment. We provide a balanced education and promote good manners, respect and discipline.”

Said the pupil: “Those who are transgender... have enough issues with bullying and discrimination already.”

Sonke Gender Justice spokesman Mbuyiselo Botha said while transgender discrimination in schools was prevalent, it continued to be considered a taboo subject.

The Western Cape Department of Education had not received any complaints from pupils about the cross-dressing celebration, spokeswoman Jessica Shelver said.

Cape Times

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