THUNDER BAY — The Lakehead District School Board is proposing a revised Dress Code Policy that leaves less room for interpretation of what's appropriate for students to wear.
The current policy was last revised in 2012, and referred to "guidelines" and expectations.
"The expectations for appropriate dress at the school level shall be attire that is considered modest and conservative," the policy stated.
The new version, drafted for consideration by trustees at their meeting this week, is considerably more precise.
It will require students, system-wide, to meet more specific standards.
The policy states "Clothes are worn in such a way as to cover genital areas, breasts and buttocks with opaque fabric:
- tops may expose shoulders, abdomen, midriff, neck lines and cleavage
- undergarments cannot be used as outerwear and, if worn, should be worn beneath a layer of outerwear. Undergarments cannot be visible (straps and waistbands may be exposed)
- swimsuits can be worn for the appropriate athletic activity
- any headwear that does not obscure the face may be worn (except as a religious observance)
Other provisions of the policy require that clothing "does not promote content that can reasonably be interpreted to be discriminatory (e.g., racist, anti-Indigenous, anti-Black, anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, sexist transphobic, homophobic, classist, ableist, sizeist, etc.) defamatory, threatening, lewd, vulgar, obscene, promoting hate, profanity, pornography or any other content that disrupts the learning environment."
The new policy also mandates that clothing does not include references to cannabis, alcohol, drugs or related paraphernalia, promotion or incitement of violence, any illegal conduct or criminal activities.
School staff will be required to enforce the policy consistently, the draft document states.
"Student dress code violations that threaten health and safety, and/or promote violence, illegal activity, bullying, harassment, and/or are motivated by the bias, prejudice, or hate against any individual or identifable groups" will be considered serious violations to be adddressed by the principal.
The policy also decrees that "no student should be negatively affected by the dress code and its enforcement because of their sex, race, colour, religion, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, household income, body size/type or any other Human Rights Code related ground."
Students found to be in volation of the code will initially have three options to achieve compliance during the school day.
They'll be asked to put on their own alternative clothing immediately, put on temporary clothing provided to them if available, or wait for their parents to bring clothing to the school.
Students who refuse to comply, or who repeatedly violate the dress code, will be subject to progressive discipline.
CORRECTION: Due to a typographical error, an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the new policy would not allow exposed shoulders, abdomens, midriffs, necklines or cleavages. In fact, they would be allowed.
