Skinny jeans have been a fashion trend for years, which teens are now reviving - so much so that many have taken to altering grey school pants to fit in with the current trends. Few pupils - boys and girls - are still wearing the standard “baggy” pants, as they call them.
Twelve boys were allegedly kicked out of Eldomaine High School in Eldorado Park, south of Joburg, for wearing skinny pants.
According to a report in the Sowetan, the boys had altered their normal straight-cut grey pants into tight-fitting pants, which got them expelled from school.
Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona couldn’t be drawn on the skinny jeans issue, but he said the department was concerned about the “allegations of expulsion”. He said the department would institute a probe into the matter.
“We will send a team of officials to investigate whether the learners contravened the school’s dress code,” he said. “It’s the responsibility of all schools to create their own code of conduct. But we emphasise that schools are not allowed to expel learners for non-compliance with uniforms or hair transgressions.”
This past week, The Sunday Independent conducted a random survey at various schools in Gauteng to see if skinny grey pants were a trend. We found about 70% of pupils wore skinny pants. This included boys and girls from Grades 9 to matric. The pupils we spoke to said they didn’t understand what the fuss was about because skinny jeans were not new; they had been seen in the fashion industry since the 1970s.
“Why can’t teachers accept it because, in the end, education is not about trousers but performance in class,” said a group of Grade 11 girls from Orlando High School in Soweto.
The five girls were sitting on the rocks opposite their schoolyard. “Fortunately, here teachers are not fighting us for wearing skinnies. But I feel for other pupils who are chased away from their schools over pants.”
Another Grade 11 pupil echoed these sentiments, saying they were reviving fashion trends. “Why should other schools punish us for wearing skinnies? Are they teaching these pants or us? I find it very unreasonable,” he said.
For Sibusiso Nhlapo, 13, from Kwa-Ntsikana Junior Secondary School, in Orlando West, the skinnies are a blessing in disguise for his thin body. He said the skinny trousers are a perfect fit.
Another pupil quipped that the straight-cut pants made him look like a thug. He said his teachers were fighting with him to get him to wear normal pants, but he isn’t budging.
“This is too much. My teachers have been complaining about my outfit and I often hide because of this. But they need to understand this trend. They need to know everyone has choice of style.”
Asked for comment, a Palm Ridge Secondary School teacher said they were not happy with the fashion trend, but could not explain why. “But there is nothing we can do because the law favours pupils rather than teachers,” he said.
A parent who asked for anonymity said the fashion was disgusting and should not be tolerated. But a mother of a Grade 12 at Mondeor High said there was nothing wrong with the pants if the children were respectful, did their school work and put education first.