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Texas School District Apologizes After Administrator Says Girls’ Clothes Cause Boys’ Bad Grades

2 minute read
Clothes Rack In Fashion Boutique
Sabina Diethelm / EyeEm—Getty Images/EyeEm
By Samantha Cooney

A Texas school district apologized after a high school administrator said girls’ clothes caused boys’ bad grades.

Phil Morgante, an assistant principal at Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, reportedly made the comments while discussing the school’s dress code at an assembly on Aug. 24. A recording of Morgante’s comments were uploaded to theodysseyonline.com, a student-focused media startup, last week.

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“Ladies, I know you’ve been working on your abs since the Olympics. But your shirts can’t be up here. It’s gotta cover the whole gut, OK? So, cover up…Ladies, I still blame you all for boys’ low grades because of tight clothing.” Morgante said, according to the recording published online.

After Clements students and parents criticized the comments as “sexist,” the Fort Bend Independent School District, which houses Clements, told ABC 13 on Thursday in a statement that the school was working to address Morgante’s comments, which the school district characterized as “a failed attempt at humor and inappropriate.”

During assemblies last week, when speaking about the dress code, a Clements High School administrator made comments that were inappropriate and offensive to students. These comments should not have been made, and do not represent the beliefs of Fort Bend ISD or the Clements administrative team or faculty. The comments were a failed attempt at humor and inappropriate.

Following concerns expressed by students, the Clements principal took prompt action to address the comments and apologized to the student body.

We have high expectations for both students and staff at Clements High School and throughout Fort Bend ISD. Our goal is to provide a safe, positive learning environment where all students feel supported and valued.

Please know this situation is being addressed, and appropriate actions will be taken.

Morgante did not immediately respond to Motto’s request for comment.

[ABC 13]

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Write to Samantha Cooney at samantha.cooney@time.com