Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

North Carolina charter school's skirt requirement for girls unconstitutional, court rules

Published 06/14/2022, 05:21 PM
Updated 06/14/2022, 10:45 PM
© Reuters. REUTERS/Hannah Beier

© Reuters. REUTERS/Hannah Beier

By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) - A North Carolina charter school's requirement that girls wear skirts based on the view that they are "fragile vessels" deserving of "gentle" treatment by boys is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 10-6 that Charter Day School violated three female students' equal protection rights by adopting the skirts policy based on gender stereotypes about the "proper place" for girls in society.

The school implemented a dress code that its founder, businessman Baker Mitchell, in an email and testimony said would "preserve chivalry" and ensure girls are treated "courteously and more gently than boys."

The state-funded school in Brunswick (NYSE:BC) County argued the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment did not apply to it because it was a private entity, not a "state actor."

But U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Milano Keenan said it was one since North Carolina delegated to it its duty to provide free, universal education to students. A contrary ruling would mean North Carolina could ignore "blatant" discrimination, she said.

The Richmond, Virginia-based court also allowed the students to pursue a claim under Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally-funded education.

The ruling "is a victory for North Carolina’s students attending public charter schools, and should put charter schools across the country on notice that they must follow the same rules as traditional public schools when it comes to guaranteeing students’ equal educational opportunities," said Galen Sherwin, the students' lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union.

© Reuters. REUTERS/Hannah Beier

Aaron Streett, the school's attorney, called the ruling "mistaken and harmful," saying it contradicted U.S. Supreme Court precedent and "limits the ability of parents to choose the best education for their children."

The six dissenting votes were all from Republican-appointed judges.

Latest comments

Yep. Females are equal. Put em on the front line.
you do realize of course there are plenty of women in US military, including some in combat duties?  so you may want to try a different sarcastic statement?
'Some in combat duties'. Hmmm. First; please be more specific as to your use of 'some' and your use of 'combat duties'. Your communication seems to be trying to imply something not quite true. Of course that was probably your intention. But allow me to present a scenario to you. A war ensues. Both sides are taking devastating casualties and are forced to agree to a cease fire for many years. Side A loses 75% of their females. Side B) loses 75% of their males. Based on projections of numerical superiority. Who will will eventually conquer who?
So does it mean that girls can wear skirts or not? Or does it mean that for perfect equality between boys and girls ( the two sexes -- or is it three?) boys must wear skirts too ?
 "some schools actually force teachers to treat kids like animals if they identify as animals"  -- did you make that up all on your own or did you see that on FoxNews?
And this has what to do with investing?
OMG you can't do that!
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.