St Bede's College has put a stop to a "Wife Beater Wednesday" themed dressup day after learning of it from Stuff 24 hours before going ahead. Photo: STACY SQUIRES/STUFF
St Bede's College students have shown "bad judgment" after choosing a "Wife Beater Wednesday" dressup theme that was shut down 24 hours before going ahead, the school says.
Year 13 students from the boys' school in Christchurch were gearing up to wear white singlets, sometimes referred to as "wife beaters", during a week of themed dressup days to celebrate their final days of formal classes.
However, after staff learnt of the theme from Stuff, they spun into action.
A school spokesperson said the boys had "shown bad judgment, and it wasn't with our approval".
"It has been shut down.
"The students have been spoken to, and they know how serious it is."
Staff members were initially told the day was a "Wacky Wednesday" dressup theme. "The change was not authorised by the school," they said.
A "firm hand" was being taken, and the school was "surprised" and "disappointed" by the boys' choice of theme.
"This is a very teachable moment for us. We are making sure the boys are learning from that very big mistake. There's always room to teach and learn from these mistakes, and obviously that is our job to continue to do that.
"An apology will be going out on the same page it was posted on."
They said communications of the dressup theme had been shared on the students' internal closed digital group.
A father of a year 13 student at the school, who did not want to be named, said he was shocked when his son told him of the "Wife Beater Wednesday" theme.
He said his son was joking about it, saying it was "just a singlet".
"I don't think it's all that appropriate."
A parent at the school said his son thought it was funny, but the father said it sent "the wrong signal". Photo: STACY SQUIRES/STUFF
"I'm not a politically correct person, but I don't think it's a joke. We have such a huge problem with domestic violence in this country. It sends the wrong signal."
He said he was concerned for his two daughters' future "where they're up against a man who comes through this schooling system, and we've made light of [domestic abuse]".
"Let's get into the modern world, guys, and stop that behaviour."
- This story originally appeared on [Stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130269062/boys-school-cancels-wife-beater-wednesday-at-11th-hour]