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School Suspends Teen for Cancer Fundraiser
I cannot possibly begin to imagine what it must be like to be a teenager whose father is dying from cancer. I don’t know how a teenager could possibly deal with that — most teens have enough trouble just dealing with puberty and school and learning to drive and so on. Fifteen-year-old Emily Pridham decided to shave her head to raise money for cancer research and to show support for other cancer patients. “Basically my way of coping is to try and help other people going through the same thing,” she said. So what could possibly be wrong with that?
Apparently, it means she is in violation of the dress code of her school, Mount Alvernia College in Brisbane, Australia. She has been suspended and will not be allowed to return until her hair grows back. The school released a statement noting that Emily had been suspended due to the dress code violation and because of “ongoing issues”. Truth be told, I’d be more worried about a fifteen-year-old whose father had just months to live if she didn’t have ongoing issues.
Her mother, Barbara Pridham, isn’t too happy about the situation either. “I am just appalled that she could be suspended by a Catholic school that promotes joy, respect and community spirit,” she said. I have to say that appalled is exactly the right word for how I feel about a school that would suspend a student in this situation. I wonder if they would also suspend a student whose hair loss came from having cancer herself?
There is a facebook group set up to support Emily and her family.
Photo: Alvimann
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6 Comments
snarky mama commented on Nov 10 09 at 2:18 pmMY GOD BABBLE! OTHER THINGS HAPPEN BESIDES KIDS BREAKING DRESS CODES!
Bec commented on Nov 10 09 at 3:51 pmThere have been a lot of dress code stories lately, and it’s got me thinking about the whole system.
What’s the point? What does it matter to the school if some kid has hair or not? I have a really hard time believing that it is so very distracting to other students to have someone dressed a little differently, or sporting a bald head. So why the fuss?
WaitWut? commented on Nov 10 09 at 6:24 pmThank you for posting this and doing your part. Now, it’s my turn. I’ll be posting a link to this blog as well as to Emily’s FB page. The school should be ashamed. A Catholic School? Wow. I bet their Christ is proud.
Howard Young commented on Feb 24 11 at 6:50 pmHead shaving to raise fund is not sutiable for teenagers!!!! Also, people invloved are not voulunteers. They are paid staff. Thus after deducting the so-called administration cost, I doubt how much money raised will actually be to the hands of the really needed.
Michael Daves commented on Feb 24 11 at 8:43 pmUnless your donation hair. How is this helping cancer research? Donate money, volunteer or find something else positive. To do with cancer research. Just shaving your head just doesn’t mean much this late in the game.
Lynn commented on Jan 15 12 at 7:31 amI think it is noble that this teen shaved her head to show support for her cancer stricken father. Cancer is often is associated with hair loss and shaving her head raises society’s awareness that more needs to be done to find a cure. Punishing this child does not make any sense to me. Suspending her seems discriminatory. What if this child had a medical condition or had to undergo chemotherapy and hair loss was a consequence? Would her school suspend her until her hair regrew? Would the school treat the child the same if the child was a boy?
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