Teen Wasn’t Permitted to Enroll in School Because Her Mom ‘Broke the Dress Code’

KPRC

We've all heard our fair share of outrageous school dress code stories. Usually, it's some school expelling a teen over fringed jean shorts that were too short or wearing a prom dress that violated the rules. But have you ever heard of a child not getting admitted to a school based on what a parent was wearing? Yep — that's a new one for me, too. And yet, that's exactly what Joselyn Lewis says happened when she tried to enroll her daughter at Madison High School, in Houston, Texas.

At first, Lewis thought administrators had mistaken her for a student, but when she clarified, they maintained she was not allowed on school property.

WHAT?!

In case you're wondering what Lewis was wearing, she had on a T-shirt dress with a graphic of Marilyn Monroe, flip-flops, and a head scarf. Honestly, she looked cute. And while it may not be what students are permitted to wear to school, she's not really sure why that matters at all.

“She went on to say that she still couldn’t let me on the premises because I was not in dress code and I still didn’t understand what that meant,” Lewis told  CPRC Houston. “She said that my headscarf was out of dress code and my dress was too short."

But that didn't make sense to Lewis either, since her dress had full coverage and even passed the "finger length test," if that's what they were basing it on.

“I mean, I didn’t understand why my headscarf and my dress would conflict with me enrolling someone in school," she told the outlet.

Lewis demanded to see the school's "parent dress code," if Monroe High was going to turn her away on those grounds. But of course, there wasn't one.

“I wanted to see proof of where it says parents can come dressed a certain way, but [administrators] wouldn’t show me that," she said. 

Matters escalated when Lewis refused to leave the premises and school officials called the police department. 

"They called them on me and I guess he was coming to tell me to leave, but I was already on the phone with the school board," she shared.

Yep — this mama bear was PISSED. And really, can you blame her?

Lewis says she was trying to enroll her daughter at Monroe to get her away from bullying at her current high school.

And instead, Lewis wound up feeling like she was the victim of bullying — before she even walked in the door.

The mom told KPRC News that she was actually in the process of getting her hair done at the time, which is why she had it wrapped in a headscarf. (Not that she should really even have to give an explanation for wearing one, but ya know.)

“I’m not saying that it’s a part of my religion, but it could have been," she said, "[And] I just wanted to have it up. Who are you to say that I can’t wear my hair up? In a scarf? Who are you to tell me how to dress?” 

YOU TELL 'EM, JOSELYN!

Now that this story has been making headlines, social media users have been voicing their own opinions on the matter -- which certainly run the gamut.

Many couldn't see what the big deal was.

"Looks like a dress to me," wrote one Facebook user. "Pretty sure Old Navy sells them similar to that."

Others agreed with the school.

"Dress appropriate when in public," wrote another user. "Or stay home."

And others left some not-so-thinly-veiled criticisms (wrapped in a riddle).

"I would have made a different choice," wrote one user. "But your free to choose but never free from the consequences of your choice."

It's unclear where Lewis will be enrolling her 15-year-old now, but what is clear is that she is not a mom to be messed with.

“I can wear what I want to wear," she told KPRC. "I don’t have to get all dolled up to enroll her to school. My child’s education, anyone’s child’s education should be more important than what someone has on, that shouldn’t matter.”

Amen to that!