After being told to cover up, a 15-year-old student from Landmark, Manitoba says her school’s dress code unfairly targets girls.

On Monday, Kayla Touchette wore a shirt with cutouts on her shoulders to Landmark Collegiate.

She said the shirt was okayed by her mother, who checks over her outfit before each school day.

Touchette said when she got to school, she was told to cover up by a teacher.

“I asked her why and she said, 'well your (shirt) is inappropriate',” said Touchette.

The teen then put on a sweater to wear for the rest of the school day.

Landmark Collegiate is the namesake school of the Manitoba hamlet located about 40 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg.

The school's student handbook lays out its dress code policy,  stating “shirt sleeves must cover the shoulders."

However, within the handbook there are several pictures of girls with bare shoulders.

Touchette said she was told when she first started at Landmark Collegiate that girls’ shoulders are distracting.

She said she was told, “no shoulders showing because they give boys visions."

Her grandmother said Touchette never leaves the house inappropriately dressed, and shouldn’t be responsible for the way boys think.

“Since when is any person responsible for another person’s thoughts or actions?” said Touchette's grandmother, Eleanor.

Touchette said boys in her school wear basketball jerseys without problem and thinks the shoulder rule is being applied unfairly.

“The guys, it’s funny. They get the freedom to dress how they want, but I don’t,” said Touchette.

Landmark Collegiate is part of the Hanover School Division.

The division's superintendent, Randy Dueck, said each school sets its own dress code.

He said those policies reflect the local environment and are designed to create a safe space for students.

“The dress code policies are set to encourage a respectful public environment, positive school image; much like a lot of work environments,” said Dueck.

He said Landmark Collegiate applies their rules equally to boys and girls.

Touchette and her family disagree.

“I believe that my daughter’s rights were violated and that she should be able to wear which she feels comfortable in,” said Travis Robinson, Touchette's father.

The family has contacted the Manitoba Human Rights Commission to make a complaint.