A recent example at Bilton School, Rugby has caused great outrage and stirred up a national debate. Twelve-year-old Stuart Field’s daughter was reportedly prevented from giving a speech on British culture because her choice of Union Jack dress was inappropriately deemed “offensive”. The event honored Culture Celebration Day, observed by the City of Philadelphia on Friday, July 11. Students enthusiastically donned clothing that displayed pride in their country or their family’s country of origin.
Stuart Field’s daughter wore her Union Jack dress and Union Jack bowler hat to the event. She began to feel self-conscious about her outfit. A nagging feeling made her wonder if there was something wrong with what she was wearing. Her father, a close friend, and confidant of his daughter, claims she was feeling guilty and ashamed because it was something she “should not have done.”
Field, alarmed for his daughter’s safety, felt he had no choice but to pick her up from school early after the incident. He later shared his experience on Facebook, which resonated with many, leading to an outpouring of support from individuals across the globe.
The school’s flyer promoting Culture Celebration Day stated that students should wear clothing that “must reflect your nationality or family heritage.” Furthermore, it emphasized the importance of “recognising and celebrating the rich cultural diversity within our school community.” Field’s daughter faced limitations imposed by school officials. Therefore, she wasn’t able to deliver her TEDx speech on what it means to be British.
Bilton School subsequently issued “unreserved apologies” to the pupil for the anguish caused by the incident. In response to the outrage, the school released a statement expressing sympathy to the student, her family, and the community at large. They have invited Stuart Field’s daughter back on her first day of school in her Union Jack getup. She’ll be performing her TEDx speech, explaining why British culture is important to her.
“On 11 July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family and members of the wider community.” – Bilton School’s statement
The school stood by its position of wanting to create an inclusive community where each student feels honored and valued. They emphasized their dedication to learning from this experience to ensure that all students feel supported when expressing pride in their heritage.
