Heather Taylor, principal of Stratford High School in Goose Creek, South Carolina, said that her ‘intention was not to hurt or offend’ her students
A high school principal in South Carolina is sorry after she was caught on camera saying female students ‘looked fat’ in leggings if they weren’t a size zero or two.
Heather Taylor, principal of Stratford High School in Goose Creek, South Carolina, released a statement to People stating that her ‘intention was not to hurt or offend’ her students.
‘Yesterday and this morning, I met with each class of the Stratford High School student body,’ she said in the statement.
‘I addressed a comment made during a 10th grade assembly and shared from my heart that my intention was not to hurt or offend any of my students in any way.
‘I assured them all that I am one of their biggest fans and invested in their success.’
On Wednesday, Taylor was accused of fat shaming students during a talk she had with the sophomores.
‘(Leggings are) meant to wear underneath a long shirt that covers your heinie, or a long sweater of some type, or a dress,’ she said.
‘It is not meant to be your actual pants, and if you have a shirt that comes to here, then you are showing everything. Yes, everything.
‘I’ve told you this before, I’m going to tell you this now, unless you are a size zero or two and you wear something like that, even though you’re not fat, you look fat.’
On Wednesday, Taylor was accused of fat shaming students during a talk she had with the sophomores She said: ‘I’ve told you this before, I’m going to tell you this now, unless you are a size zero or two and you wear something like that, even though you’re not fat, you look fat’
Student Allison Veazy shared with WCBD that she felt Taylor’s words were offensive.
‘It was really hurtful, cause I felt like my size made me look disgusting towards someone in the clothes that I wear,’ Veazy said.
‘I wear leggings outside of school and I wear leggings when I go and hang out with my friends, and to think that someone would think that I look like a stuffed sausage — that was kind of hurtful.’
Stratford’s senior class wrote a letter of support which they shared on Facebook on Friday.
Stratford’s senior class wrote a letter of support which they shared on Facebook on Friday
‘On behalf of some students at Stratford High, we would like to extend our support and appreciation to your administration and Berkeley County for the past 24 years. We understand that you, like us, are human and make mistakes,’ a student said.
‘We completely realize that your intentions were not to harm us or the students at the assembly.’
Taylor commented that she’s grown from the experience while holding back tears as her students read their letter.
‘I’m so remorseful, and I have learned a lesson,’ Taylor said.
‘You learn, no matter what, every single day you learn.’
She’s hopeful of the work her and the students can do moving forward.
Taylor said: ‘Stratford High is a very caring community, and I want to thank all of our parents and students who have offered their support to me and provided me with an opportunity to directly address their concern. I am very proud to be a Stratford Knight.’