A Houston-area high school student said he was forced to change his clothes after he dressed as a slave for a homecoming spirit week theme day.
Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reports Brian Ibe, a senior at Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, showed up to school wearing a ball and chain Tuesday. He also wore a shredded T-shirt splattered with fake blood, and he carried a pitchfork with a bag of cotton, the report said.
Students were invited to dress in costume for "Decades Day," the theme of the day for spirit week.
"I decided to dress in the time when there were slaves, from about the 1600s to 1800s," Ibe said.
"They told me to take it off. They said I should take it off before it starts problems and makes people feel uncomfortable," Ibe told KPRC.
The report said Ibe admitted some may find the outfit offensive, and he ended up changing his clothes to avoid an in-school suspension.
The Fort Bend Independent School District issued the following statement:
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“While I am unable to share specific information about any student, it is important to note that the RPHS administration has been reminding students that they will be enforcing the dress code despite the daily spirit week activities.
"If a student is dressed inappropriately, and/or if their dress is considered a distraction to the learning environment, they will and have been asked to change clothes. In the last couple of days, less than a dozen students have been asked to change or modify their clothing.
"Ridge Point High School is encouraging students to express their school spirit this week, while adhering to the dress code. It is important that the campus maintain a distraction-free learning environment.”
