A Florida boy was reportedly removed from his high school class for wearing high-heel shoes that were deemed a distraction.
A teacher at Riverview High School in Riverview, Fla., reportedly removed the boy, saying his choice of shoes was disruptive to the class, MyFoxTampaBay.com reports.
School Principal Bob Heilmann later asked the boy to take the heels off, according to the station. He said he did so because there was some name calling in the classroom and he feared the boy might be bullied.
"As a principal of a high school, I have to take the paternal side and make sure he's going to be OK," Heilmann told the station. "Anytime anyone goes out from, quote, 'the norm' or anytime anyone wants to make a statement, you have to be willing to take what comes with it."
But some of the boy's classmates say students should be able to express themselves freely – even if it’s men in stilettos.
"He likes the way they make him feel. They make him feel more confident, and he just likes to wear them," senior Hayley Stepp said of the student, whose name hasn't been made public.
Heilmann told MyFoxTampaBay.com that attire deemed a distraction is a problem, though he acknowledged the student handbook doesn't specify what types of shoes male and female students can wear.
"One boy wore a dress on Monday and after we chatted about it, he decided not to," Heilmann told the station. "I was concerned about his safety."
The student who wore the heels was reportedly not subject to any disciplinary action.
Heilmann was not immediately available for comment when contacted by FoxNews.com Tuesday.
