Pakeha student quits school over necklace ruling

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX and NZPA

A Pakeha student whose necklace was forcibly removed by a teacher - even though Maori students are allowed to wear their taonga (treasures) - has quit school over the incident.

Megan Church complained to the Human Rights Commission about the Marlborough Girls College dress code.

This permits students to wear greenstone or bone carvings as part of its "Treaty of Waitangi obligations".

But it does not allow any other necklaces except the Christian cross and the Jewish star of David, and they must be kept out of sight on a long chain.

Megan, 16, wanted to be able to wear her necklace of crystal amethyst, a gemstone she believes has a calming effect on her. She has worn the stone since she was 10.

She knew the dress code and had been told several times last year not to wear the necklace. She tucked it under her clothes rather than remove it.

On the first day of school this year, Megan was called to a meeting with a teacher at which, she says, the necklace was grabbed and cut from around her neck.

Her mother, Marie Church, complained to the school about the teacher "going silly at her" and cutting the necklace off, but was told the dress code would not be breached.

She and Megan complained to the Human Rights Commission and are waiting for a response.

Mrs Church said her daughter felt so "humiliated and embarrassed by the whole performance" that she had not returned to school. Instead, she planned to do a correspondence course.

Yesterday, new Race Relations Minister Trevor Mallard said the school had made an "enormous mistake".

"I think schools should have consistent rules for school uniform, and if people are allowed to wear treasures of one sort, whether they are greenstone or bone carving, then people should be allowed to wear treasures of another sort, stars of David or crosses."

National Party leader Don Brash criticised the school policy in a speech at the Newmarket Rotary Club, calling it an example of racial preference.

School principal Greta Firth did not return Herald calls yesterday but has said allowing greenstone and bone carvings was an "educational priority" to improve the "outcome" of Maori students at the school.

The guidelines were introduced to help Maori students feel more comfortable at the school.

"One of our major problems is the retention of Maori students. We sat down with the board and talked about how we could make a nice place for Maori students," Ms Firth has said.

A board of trustees meeting since school began had discussed the code and a vote was taken on retaining it. The vote was passed by nine votes to one.

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