Update: Mother and school decide to move on

LITTLE FALLS – After the reaction on social media and general media attention around Caitlin Morgan-Smith’s school civvies day incident, Trinityhouse High School Little Falls and the AdvTech holding group held a meeting with her mother, Gail.

Caitlin had been removed from the school hall and sent to the principal’s office because her top, which she was wearing as part of Valentine’s Day civvies, was deemed inappropriate.

Her mother was called in and Caitlin was sent back to class in an over-sized T-shirt provided by the school. Her mother, Gail had taken to social media after the incident, which created much conversation questioning social norms, patriarchy, body shaming and rape culture.

A meeting was called on 24 February and general manager of the school, Andries van Renssen, said now the priority of the staff was to create an environment in which Caitlin was able to concentrate on her academic work.

“This is her matric year, and she needs to give her all to her studies. School staff and her mother agreed in the meeting to put the matter to rest and in the best interest of Caitlin to move forward in partnership to ensure she is given every opportunity to reach her full academic potential this year,” said Renssen.

Gail confirmed the meeting took place and that she had to take into consideration Caitlin’s schooling and matric year in her decision to move forward, but she still stood behind her opinions and the discussions of inequality and social culture that stemmed from the incident.

“There is nothing that I did that I don’t stand behind,” said Gail.

She supposed that a change, if any, would only be seen during the next civvies day.

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