For the first time, all students enrolled in Catholic elementary schools across Toronto will be heading back to class in matching navy blue and white outfits this September.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) announced a new mandatory dress code for all its elementary schools on Monday, about a week before the start of the new school year.
Under the new system-wide policy, schools that already have a uniform or dress code in place have the option to keep their current attire, while the rest will have to adopt the board's "Appropriate Dress Code" policy.
The policy requires students to combine white or navy tops with navy bottoms. For instance, students can wear a plain white top with navy pants and throw a navy sweater over the outfit if the mood arises.
Denim, however, isn't allowed under the new policy.
Individual schools will have the option to adorn the basic ensemble with additional crests, vests or school logos.
TCDSB Chair Ann Andrachuk said in a statement that the parent response to the dress code has been "positive and supportive."
The idea of a system-wide dress code has been volleyed around the TCDSB since 2007, when Andrachuk tabled a motion to explore the policy.
"School communities were given the option to implement the dress code over the past three years," TCDSB Director of Education Ann Perron said in a release.
The Catholic school board has argued that there are several advantages to enforcing a dress code, including:
- Promoting inclusiveness and equality among all students
- Encouraging students to focus on academics, not wardrobe
- Simplifying the morning routine for students and parents
- Creating a safer school environment
By last April, approximately 110 of TCDSB's 169 elementary schools had already adopted the then-optional dress code.
The city's public school board said it has no plans to implement a similar dress code.
