Following backlash in opposition to Oakville trainer, faculty board now considers costume code
Printed January 9, 2023 at 5:31 pm
The Halton District Faculty Board has modified course and is now contemplating a costume code for lecturers.
Reversing an earlier choice, the Halton District Faculty Board (HDSB) will now take into account implementing a costume code for lecturers.
Following a short assembly by the board final week that was largely spent discussing objects behind closed doorways, trustees accepted a plan to develop a “professionalism” coverage for lecturers that can embody what sort of garments must be worn within the classroom.
The transfer comes after months of controversy swirling across the board over the apparel worn by a trainer at Oakville-Trafalgar Excessive Faculty.
The outfit worn by teacher Kayla Lemieux for the reason that starting of this faculty yr has garnered world-wide consideration over her use of outsized prosthetic breasts, tight tops, and a protracted blonde wig. The matter escalated in November when the board determined in opposition to adopting a system-wide costume code for lecturers over fears of authorized implications and human rights violations in opposition to the transgender trainer.
The continued use of the outfit by Lemieux and the board’s earlier choice to not impose any type of self-discipline have been blamed for protests on the faculty together with a number of bomb and loss of life threats.
Nonetheless, simply earlier than Christmas, Ontario Schooling Minister Stephen Lecce, backed by a report from the Ontario School of Academics (OCT), mentioned the HDSB had not carried out sufficient to make sure the protection of scholars on the Oakville faculty the place threats are frequently made due to the state of affairs.
The OCT, responding to a request by Lecce to intervene, mentioned present office requirements and governing laws already in place tackle trainer professionalism within the classroom and the way they’re anticipated to conduct themselves.
Lecce’s response and the place taken by the OCT could have led to the board’s choice to vary course.
Particularly, the board has now requested the director of training to: “develop a professionalism coverage which outlines
the HDSB’s expectations of all workers members, together with the requirement to take care of acceptable {and professional} requirements of costume and decorum within the classroom consistent with the provisions outlined within the physique of this report.”
The director’s report will come earlier than trustees on the March 1 assembly of the board with an interim report anticipated subsequent month.
insauga’s Editorial Requirements and Insurance policies
promoting
