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Chris Whitehead, Schoolboy Who Wore Skirt To School, Up For Human Rights Award

Chris Whitehead

Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 21/11/11 09:54 GMT Updated: 21/11/11 17:02 GMT

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Chris Whitehead, the schoolboy who wore a skirt to school in the summer to protest a ban on shorts, is in with a chance of winning Liberty's human rights award.

The 13-year-old wore his sister's skirt to his school in Cambridgeshire in May because he felt forcing boys to wear long trousers during the summer affected their concentration levels and ability to learn. Following his two-day demonstration, Whitehead will find out on Tuesday whether he has won the young person of the year award.

The pupil at Impington Village College near Cambridge took a stand to highlight the school's rule, which he felt was discriminatory.

"In the summer months, girl students are allowed to wear skirts but boys are not allowed to wear shorts", Whitehead explained.

"I was really surprised because I didn't realise what a positive effect it would have", he told Cambridge News. "I am sure there will be other people there who are also very worthy of awards and I am looking forward to meeting them."

The schoolboy's demonstration prompted the college to review its uniform policy.

His father Brian added they were "absolutely delighted" about the nomination.

Whitehead, of Histon, Cambridgeshire, is up against activist and journalist Zin Derfoufi and Abigail Stepnitz of the Poppy Project for women, and is the youngest nominee on the shortlist.

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Chris Whitehead, the schoolboy who wore a skirt to school in the summer to protest a ban on shorts, is in with a chance of winning Liberty's human rights award. The 13-year-old wore his sister's sk...
Chris Whitehead, the schoolboy who wore a skirt to school in the summer to protest a ban on shorts, is in with a chance of winning Liberty's human rights award. The 13-year-old wore his sister's sk...
 
 
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CynthiaLim5115
0 Fans
08:52 AM on 11/29/2011
Nice one...
Anyway, he looks like a girl himself, so it does not look strange to see him in a skirt though...
Lol...
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
12:30 AM on 11/22/2011
Good trade union material.
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alangriggs07
8 Fans
10:31 PM on 11/21/2011
Nothing that happens in this country surprises me any more. It's despairing!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gumpo
63 Fans
10:15 PM on 11/21/2011
This lad, far from being a crusader who should be idolised, should be taught a thing or two about rules. No wonder discipline has been lost at School, the kids are too informed these days, and too big for their boots ! I know my rights etc etc, and worse than the kids themselves are the parents who actively encourage "little Johnny" to dare to be different, and challenge authority.
This kid should be expelled and his parents fined, and thats what would hve happened 30 years ago.
This is the result of the Human rights, mamby pamby attitude, and when you have these stupid acts is it really surprising that people challenge rules with them with their "You can't tell me to do that, wear that, look like that etc etc.
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HPspacecraft
0 Fans
04:13 AM on 11/22/2011
It's people like you that slow our evolution down. If we all did just what we're told, the human race would have stagnated and died out long ago. |Jog on, Dinosaur....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gumpo
63 Fans
09:23 PM on 11/22/2011
Spacecraft, as your tag suggests, you need to go to your own planet !
Obviously you don't understand the concept of needing to follow rules, luckily for you rules have been followed for centuries, and people have done what theyve been told in the main, otherwise as you rightly suggest, the human race would have died out centuries ago !!
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Bison Strangler
0 Fans
09:41 PM on 11/23/2011
He knows about rules. The rules say he can wear a skirt, so he wore one. Good for him!
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Up the wall
0 Fans
08:41 PM on 11/21/2011
Yes I think if you protest about some rule and your protest is rejected, then conform or leave the school and find another one. You knew the rules bfore you went there.
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Oscar cat
6 Fans
08:20 PM on 11/21/2011
This is just another case of 'human rights' madness. To me human rights are the basic rights, like a right to an education, not the right to seek publicity about a minor (sensible) rule. His parents should be ashamed of themselves for encouraging him to defy authority about such a trivial thing.
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clazzer
9 Fans
12:40 AM on 11/22/2011
What's sensible about being made to wear long pants in summer when shorts could be worn??
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rosasturtles1
73 Fans
08:05 PM on 11/21/2011
not
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Jodie2755
0 Fans
07:57 PM on 11/21/2011
20 years ago my daughter caused mayhem in her primary school for wearing trousers in the winter. Girls were expected to wear skirts. She never got nominated for a human rights award! She just calmly told her teacher that it was discrimination if she was not allowed to wear trousers but the boys were. Common sense prevailed and nothing more was said. Now many, many girls wear trousers to school in winter.
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blujag
25 Fans
07:22 PM on 11/21/2011
Probably be an mp soon, has the right attitude, sod the rules I do what I want. " probably prancing about at home with his skirt on and just forgot to take it off before going to school " real mp material.
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correctadvisor
1 Fans
06:25 PM on 11/21/2011
why he didn't fight for strict in PE WINTER term.IN SECONDARY, THERE ARE STRICIT RULES. only one shirt in freezing cold for PE if you forget your pe round neck jumper. 10 minutes for lunch if you goto swimmming club. lots of stress and responsibilities. i couldn't take ONE SIP OF WATER in year seven.
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catsathome
0 Fans
06:55 PM on 11/21/2011
Good grief,
It doesn't appear as though your schooling did you much good did it !!
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Up the wall
0 Fans
08:39 PM on 11/21/2011
Do you study English by any chance?
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correctadvisor
1 Fans
06:03 PM on 11/21/2011
i think this school rule is important. in school we go for education not to think something unimportant. it doesn't matter. that boy is little he is not serious he really does need help to understand.
there is limit for everything in england it is not that hot like 40 degrees. rules and teachers are really kind in europe countries than in different countries and schools in middle ages.
you are lucky i have to wear skirts in winter term for Pe.

what about dhoti the indian old fashioned clothes for boys it is long skirts up to your feet like a towel wrapped around. LOL
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Murray Mount
3 Fans
11:32 PM on 11/21/2011
Ah! I've found you at long last!! You're the author of that English phrase book with such well-known colloquial expressions as:

"My hovercraft is full of eels", and

"To graunch a marmoset."
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vickysdragonnest
10 Fans
06:00 PM on 11/21/2011
Well done to this lad for standing up for what he thinks is right, but this skirt wearing uniform protest has been made by many, many boys in many other schools over the years (I remember it happening back in the '80s when I was a student). Really don't think it worthy of a human rights award, there are so many young people out there doing fantastic work to help make important changes in their area/country/world. This was just a bit of fun reporting on a slow news week and making him a nomination for this award does, in my opinion, belittle it's importance.
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Peterjwal
1 Fans
07:08 PM on 11/21/2011
I well remember those awful hot sweaty summers at school in the 60s and having to suffer in full uniform the whole day long. I remember getting caned on one occasion for being seen going home after school minus my school tie. Such was the world back then.

Full marks to this kid for his protest, in my day he would not have made it into the playground before being surrounded by 500 mocking kids.
But you are right, this was never a major human rights issue and presenting such an award would belittle it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Saint wright
Dyslexic old chippy
284 Fans
 
05:22 PM on 11/21/2011
funny little fellow wears his sisters cloths
dont what call him
but we think he is one of --------?

Actual well done, true grit Chris.
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iammoschops
9 Fans
05:09 PM on 11/21/2011
Well he certainly showed them who wears the trousers at his school ! !
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Everymonde
171 Fans
05:08 PM on 11/21/2011
So when he grows up and discovers that the world is not fair and that he will be required to do things at work which he would rather not do - what will he do then?
This is not about human rights and devalues the concept of human rights which has more to do with survival than whether one can or cannot wear shorts...
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