“The majority of the staff supported me,” the principal of lyceum #109 on the shorts incident
5 October 11:55
EXCLUSIVE
Vitaliia Polyakova, the principal of Kyiv Lyceum #109, told us how her colleagues, relatives, former students, and their parents reacted to her ban on children wearing shorts to school.
According to Polyakova, the staff overwhelmingly supported her. She said this in an interview with the YouTube channel "Komersant Ukrainian".
“The majority of them supported me,” she said, answering the journalist’s question.
Polyakova also said that in the midst of the scandal that erupted on social media, she received numerous calls of support from former students of the school and their parents.
“Relatives, friends, acquaintances (supported me – ed.). I was even quite pleased. I even got calls from people I hadn’t seen in decades (- ed.) …. and I thought they had forgotten me.
Someone called, and someone… both students and parents of students sent text messages..You cannot dwell on those who hate you. We forgive them, let them live their lives. We must give our love to those who love us,” the principal ordered.
Vitalia Polyakova is the principal of Taras Shevchenko Lyceum #109 in Kyiv, located in the Pechersk district of the capital. She is also a PhD in Psychology (2018), a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Psychodiagnostics and Scientific and Psychological Information at the H.S. Kostiuk Institute of Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine.
on September 2, 2025, Polyakova found herself at the center of a public outcry when a video was posted online showing her refusing to allow students wearing shorts to enter the school.
Vitaliia Polyakova is currently on vacation and is expected to return to work after providing appropriate explanations in accordance with the law.
