The incident allegedly took place at the Zespół Szkół Ekonomiczno-Technicznych im. Kombatantów Ziemi Lwóweckiej in Rakowice Wielkie. As the lwowek24.pl website reported, an anonymous manifesto written by female students appeared at the school. The text reads:
Since both the rights of a student and those of a citizen of the Republic of Poland guarantee me an unrestricted right to express my opinions, I wish to exercise this privilege. Of course, I will not do so openly, because when the teachers themselves give you signs that you would be better off keeping your opinion to yourself, you realize what a shitty situation you are in when it comes to being able to say what you think.
According to the manifesto’s authors, the principal, “using his position, intimidates students and forces them to comply with his stupid whims, invoking that magical school statute.”
The authors call the principal a “pseudo-Catholic” and a “fanatical PiS supporter.” The lwowek24.pl editorial team asked one of the ZSET students for comment. Here is his response:
The truth is, this is nothing yet, the principal barred a female student from entering the school because she had a nose piercing, and during lessons, if you are unprepared or have not done your assignment, he starts saying that you are a disgrace to your parents, that you do not love them, and that you are a source of disappointment to them (…).
People are afraid to express their opinions because he will label it an insult and a lack of respect for him (…). I have the impression that, with the new statute, he is gradually trying to make us all walk around in striped pajamas and bald; there is no one at school who has not had enough of him. Ask anyone—you will hear the same thing, with more or fewer details.
We checked. The school statute states:
ZSET students are prohibited from displaying in any form (e.g. emblems, clothing, presentations, etc.) affiliation with subcultures, informal groups or organizations that, in the public perception, are associated with violating generally accepted legal, social or moral norms.
The female students wrote in the manifesto:
The whole problem with the principal is that he believes in a kind of mission that he must fulfill for the country. This man is absolutely convinced that if he does not make our lives difficult with his at least idiotic rules, we will end up as drunks, whores or, worst of all, voters for a party other than PiS.
What does the principal say?
We tried several times to contact principal Marek Łukasik by telephone. We also sent an email asking whether the incident involving the student being barred from entering the school had taken place. We additionally offered the principal an opportunity to comment on the manifesto and the claims it contained. Unfortunately, the ZSET principal did not respond to our attempts to contact him.
The Commissioner for Human Rights on students’ appearance and clothing
The Commissioner for Human Rights receives submissions concerning how students’ duties are regulated in school statutes. Objections concern, among other things, requirements regarding elements of a student’s appearance, which some people view as an excessive restriction of their freedom. The Commissioner wrote to education superintendents.
Below is information on the subject:
- The school’s right to determine students’ appearance. The Commissioner for Human Rights writes to education superintendents
- Can a school decide what students wear? The Commissioner for Human Rights asks education superintendents
- A tattoo at school is a problem. Commissioner for Human Rights: authorities interfere too heavily in students’ appearance
- Schools continue to break the law; the Commissioner for Human Rights has stepped in. Do not agree to these provisions!