Current Draft Student Dress Guidelines

The current guidelines seem reasonable and inclusive. Only suggestion would be to be aware of current styles of clothing that could be ambiguous and provide an opportunity for students to be unfairly targeted (eg. tops that can be worn without brassiers). Overall, the guidelines seem easy to follow and allow for students to focus on more important things than being targeted for what theyre wearing. The guideline is non-controlling or suggestive and seems appropriate for students in school.

Agree

If you are not an athlete, then bra or sports bra better be used as an undercover.

It says that they may expose their 'chest' yet cover their 'nipples'??? Quite vague and confusing guidelines. If we think of being gender neutral- males/females can expose their chest yet must cover their nipples...hmmm. Not sure exactly which clothing item will allow such a guideline to be followed? A little discriminatory really as I think males could get away with exposing their chest fully yet I am not sure this would go down well for females. And are males expected to cover their nipples or does that only apply to females, how exactly are you to cover your nipples whilst exposing your chest? This really needs to be reframed!

Is there something preventing HWDSB from requiring students wear tops that cover their midriff and chest area? Adults have certain expectations in their attire for work; I cannot come into my office in a tube top, nor can most adults. Why should we not hold students to the same standard? If a student needs to express themselves by showing odd their skin, there are at least 5 hours after school when they can do si. Let's not pretend that this kind of dress (or lack thereof) isn't distracting to some students. Certainly self-awerness needs to happen and we are all responsible for our reactions, but can you not foster a sense of compassion let alone comportment? Nobody is distracted by a shirt that covers us bathing suit areas.

What, specifically, will HWDSB consider as "hate speach". Will orthodox Christian students be allowed to wear shirts with Genesis 1:27?

Interesting during a time of covid, when we were all required to cover our faces. I have always found this rule a grey area, as niqab wearers cover their faces as well as absolutely everyone else during the pandemic. Not sure why it needs to be here, now, considering the pandemic proved face coverings don't affect learning.

I am glad that the current Guidelines eliminate sexist language, however we all know that female identified kids are targeted, even though it may not be stated outright in the guidelines. For example, this guideline, "May not wear undergarments as outerwear " disproportionately affects girls and women, as there are many many more types of undergarments for women as for men. Theoretically, someone could wear boxer shorts as actual shorts or a male undershirt/singlet, and no one would ever reprimand the student (of any gender) for violating the dress guidelines. Yet camisoles or undershirts designed for women with lace or ruching (for example) would likely fall under that category. That line needs to be revisited, with the realization that women's undergarments have always been targeted with guidelines such as these.

Exposing hips... cracks? Seriously. That can expose the students more prone to sexual assault or abuse. Private parts should be covered.

How many students do you see wearing clothing that promotes marijuana....or wearing clothing with the logo of the business enterprise and magazine founded by Hugh Hefner (note: the comment editor will not allow the name to be used)?

What is to stop a student from showing up in a bathing suit....this does nothing to prepare students for life outside the school and the expectations that will eventually come after graduation. One wonders why academic performance seems to be higher in the Separate Schools and why there is so much bleeding of students from the public system to the separate system where they have enforced dress codes and standards of behaviour and conduct.

My daughter tells me that it's not uncommon to see young women at Westdale SS wearing bras. Sports bras are common, and a few individuals wear regular bras on occasion. These standards are ridiculously lax to begin with, but if you don't intend to enforce anything, then why pretend?

Discrimination, racism , hatred messages ..etc are all different types of bullying which is a matter that should be taken into consideration very seriously as lately these issues had turned from just words to assaults and fierce attacks resulting in killing and death incidents. Should firmly be stopped and discouraged and schools are the first sites to begin with.

This is not a violation to anyone’s freedom or safety. It is an identity of religion and beliefs that are protected by Canada Law of Freedom. An appearance that do not harm any others.

A respectable comfortable way of dress codes can be followed without uncovering body parts. Recently sexual harassments especially against girls has increased immensely and one main reason behind it is the revealing dresses and the uncovered body parts. Students should follow a more reserved dressing code to protect themselves.

I'm glad to see that dress codes have evolved beyond telling young women what they can and can't wear as to not provoke the young boys. Thank you!

The guideline of as long as the nipples are covered… is this really appropriate dress for school? Would this be acceptable in a professional work place? Also if students are allowed to dress this way, then would staff be under the same dress code? If this is considered appropriate dress for students then would this also be considered appropriate dress for teachers? I would think the same guidelines would hold for staff? If not, then what would the reasoning behind it be?

Our family is all for freedom to express oneself, however the wearing of bras to school and wearing shorts so short that buttocks are exposed, is not appropriate for a school environment. We see this every day at my child’s school.