Pupils at West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey, have been missing school because they're being bullied for their dirty clothes. A school has made the heartbreaking decision to install washing machines for children who can't afford to have their clothes cleaned at home. Pupils at West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey, will now be able to wash their dirty clothes in a laundry room free of charge.
The decision was made after a teenage girl fought with school security staff who were trying to check her bag. They later discovered it was because she was homeless and had dirty clothes in her bag, but she didn't want her classmates to know. Principle Akbar Cook said it wasn't a one-off, any many students don't have clean clothes to wear. So when they return for the start of term next year, there will be a free laundry room in the school building.
He admits the situation causes bullying at the school, with some pupils picking on their classmates because they are wearing dirty and smelly clothes. Mr Cook told CNN: "These are kids, good kids who want to learn, that are missing three to five days a month because they were being bullied because they were dirty.
"I even changed the school uniform to darker colours so they could go more days without cleaning them, but even with that, students were struggling to have them look clean enough to attend."The room, which will open for three hours every day, has five washing machines, five dryers and a stock of washing powders donated by people across the country. Mr Cook said: "We are trying to teach them to navigate their pride."My kids are fighters - they just need good ways to fight for themselves, and then take pride in what they can do."
