Every once in a while someone with extreme or antiquated views tells you what they are actually thinking.
Most folks who hold such views usually hold their tongues, for the most part, knowing that releasing the contents of their mind might not go over so well with the public.
It’s with that preface that we point out Chilliwack school board trustee Darrell Furgason either said something he didn’t mean to say, or he has some urges racing around in his head that might warrant counselling.
“I do believe modesty is important,” the new trustee said at Tuesday’s school board meeting during a discussion about a proposed district-wide dress code policy.
So far, OK.
But he also suggested that the clothing legally underage school girls wear distracts boys, and it’s the responsibility of legally underage school girls to dress modestly.
Why is this the girls’ problem? So as not to be sexualized by teenage boys?
But then Furgason went farther, suggesting that when he was a teacher he found it distracting to sit across from a girl – remember, a legally underage school girl – if she dressed “immodestly.”
Let’s just unpack that statement a little bit: Furgason seems to suggest by implication that his discomfort being around legally underage girls got in the way of his teaching.
On the one hand, these are inside thoughts that a school trustee who might be allowed to visit schools – hopefully not – shouldn’t be expressing at a public meeting.
On the other hand, maybe it’s better to know the content of a mind like this.
Maybe it’s not the boys these underage girls who might dress immodestly need to be worried about.
So please, continue, don’t hold your tongue. Tell us what you really think.
- Black Press Media