Fri Aug. 28 2009 4:18:57 PM
More Catholic schools banning kilts
cp24.com
Kilts hang off the racks at R. J. McCarthy Uniforms on Friday August 28, 2009. (CP24/Aaron Adetuyi)
Several Catholic schools across the GTA will look different in just over a week as kilts become banned, published reports say.
The Globe and Mail is reporting that some schools have banned the item because girls are hiking their kilts.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic Board says just six of 25 high schools still allow kilts, meanwhile two schools in Halton will soon join two others who have already banned the uniform item.
A newspaper is reporting that one of Toronto-based uniform supplier R.J. McCarthy's worst sellers is the kilt since so many schools have banned the item.
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August 28, 2009 at 8:14:33 AM
d.costa
It's about time! Finaly someone saw the LIGHT!
August 28, 2009 at 8:33:49 AM
JB
what a joke - schools have no control over anything anymore. i wore a kilt to high school, and if we hiked the kilt up (and i am talking an inch or two at most), we had to drop it back down or get sent home. there is nothing wrong with uniforms - strict rules are not a bad thing! my daughter won't be walking out of the house with a skirt so short her underweat is showing. it's up to parents and teachers to take control of this.
August 28, 2009 at 8:44:33 AM
M
When I was in high school the girls were not allowed to wear pants. How are our little girls to learn about being pretty and how to handle yourself like a women when you spend everyday in pants sitting with your legs wide open. Come on I agree it's up to the parents and or send the kids home from school, but give them a chance to be a girl at least....next thing you know they won't be allowed to wear dresses to their own proms. Or they will all end up gay!
August 28, 2009 at 8:48:37 AM
Andrew
Yeah, she won't walk out of the house with her short skirt, she'll wait until she's out of your sight. This isn't the 1950's where a short kilt got you a beating with a meter stick. Being sent home isn't a punishment, it's a day off school.... It's laughable when you say school's have no control over anything where as a good amount of today's parents are the real problem. Teachers aren't there to raise your children, they're there to teach them.
August 28, 2009 at 8:50:13 AM
Dragan
The whole educational system is a joke now. Stricter enforcement of rules doesn't happen...way too lax. Further discipline is lacking...way too lax again. A total revamp of the rules and regulations should be looked into.
August 28, 2009 at 8:54:38 AM
mah
my daughter attends an all girls school they still have kilts albeit the rule is if you put your hands at your sides and can touch skin the skirt is too short. their kilts also have built in shorts . The problem stems from the co-ed schools when the skirts are hiked up there sometimes is
no undergarment.that's why they have moved mostly to pants only
August 28, 2009 at 9:01:18 AM
DB
Here we go again!! ban, ban, ban. That's all our society does these days. It seems to be the easy solution to everything because people for some reason can't be responsible for the own actions and there is no more descipline. Parents and teachers should be able to enforce the rules period! Who's running the show anyways??
August 28, 2009 at 9:02:43 AM
Dave
It's about time they realized to ban kilts but unfortunately it is the parents fault and some the school. How can parents allow their daughters go to school with their underwear showing. They themselves must also show theirs. As for the school, well they really cannot be blammed because it is not like it used to be. When I was in school, the school controlled the kids but now adays, the kids control and the "ignorant" parents always agree with the kids. Bottom line, the parents have ruined the system.
August 28, 2009 at 9:03:57 AM
lauril
It's a double-edged sword. With society's focus on sexuality and the images portrayed in all visual/audio mediums,telling women that they need to flaunt what they've got in order to achieve what they want, young women are the most susceptible. They see it, they believe it.
That being said, it starts at home with teaching self-respect. You teach your children to respect their bodies, their image and what the consequences could be if you act without shame.
I agree with a previous poster that this used to be addressed in the school but I would rather have all the kids dressed in pants and have the focus on EDUCATION, not policing the halls to manage fashion.
And to the parents who say, 'not my child', they may leave the house with the kilt at full length but you can bet, dollars to donuts, a majority will have them rolled up to the thong line by the time they are at school. They can't be different after all, "but all my friends do it..."
Bring on the pants for all. By the way, isn't the meaning of UNIFORM - all the same?
August 28, 2009 at 9:05:30 AM
SS
Yes, it is the responsibility of the parents and the teachers, however, some girls wear the kilts long from home and pull them high up at school. Just because your daughter cant leave home with a kilt that shows her underwear, doesnt mean that she might not go to school and pull it up high. My point is that parents are not with the child 8 hours a day to see what there child is upto.
August 28, 2009 at 9:09:42 AM
Colin M
Ohhh come on given the fact that MOST of the girls wear the kilts WAY to high (as in roll them up) maybe they should wear them at the proper length!
August 28, 2009 at 9:16:06 AM
Erin
I went to a catholic high school and the kilt was such a nice part of the uniform. Yes, girls due tend to hike them up, however take a stroll over to a public school to see the clothing worn there and I would think most would agree a catholic uniform, even with the kilt a bit higher, is much more "lady like" than some of the garbage worn from street clothes. Pretty sad that so much focus is spent on things like this... why not focus on more major issues.
August 28, 2009 at 9:24:20 AM
stephanie
i feel that the schools dont have enough control over those students thats believe they dont have to listen, i went to a public school and yes they got rules to about skirts. they cant be to short or u go home, now thats only if they caught you. Now the girls that hike up the kilt, it wasn't made that short so it shoulnt be hiked up at all... hearing from the boys that attend uniform school some girls underwear are being spotted. if the students cant listen to the dress code, then taking it away will teach them a lesson inside school.
August 28, 2009 at 9:32:29 AM
T.Peters
If a school has a kilt as part of the uniform, then it should stipulate a minimum length, otherwise "Home you go, girl."
Maybe Mummy and Daddy should take control, instead of leaving it all to the schools.
August 28, 2009 at 9:34:52 AM
Joe
What a load of hypocrisy the uniform is. Catholisism teaches that everyone is equal in the eyes of god, however teachers aren't required to wear uniforms but students are. Apparently by wearing lipstick or dying your hair you have no place in a catholic highschool. It's a shame that instead of teaching teens that experimenting at a young age is normal, but to do so in a respectable & responsible way - they simply send you home for a day.
The uniform is nothing but a money grab. Regardless if there are kilts or no kilts, shorts or no shorts; there will ALWAYS be students finding new ways to bend the uniform rules. Cutting out uniform items is not a permanent solution. They also can educate teens on why dressing appropriately is so important in today's pre-judging society - especially in the workforce.
My experience in highschool has shown me to never put my children (when I have them, one day) in the catholic school system.
August 28, 2009 at 9:38:04 AM
GR
Give me a break! Back in my day we all hiked up our kilts the second we were out of our parent’s sight. I got straight As in high school, was offered two scholarships to top Canadian Universities, graduated with Honours and now have a successful, high paying career. I have yet to see definitive proof that short kilts are liked to delinquency, substance abuse, violent/aggressive behaviour, teenage pregnancy, or lack of academic achievement.
Schools and parents should be more concerned with youth being involved in their community, associating with a positive peer group, having appropriate empathy for others, and developing strong social skills. These are the characteristic of a successful, well adjusted adult. This is just another example of blaming female expressions of sexuality for the ills of society.
August 28, 2009 at 9:42:57 AM
glory
That sucks... no more niners with smiling kilts this year :(
Sooo the Pop in vending machines stays..and the kilts go????... anyone see a problem with this? p.s. SHORTS usually are worn under those kilts ...i think its a matter of jealousy...
August 28, 2009 at 9:59:58 AM
Toronto Mum
Thank goodness. Everytime I pass a group of girls in those wee skirts I shudder to think of all the perverted men who fantasize and sexualize young girls in those tiny skirts.
Let's recognize an important reality here. It's a small step towards de-sexualizing young girls in the eyes of the general public. Don't tell me you've never heard of the "sexy school girl look". It's about time. Wear some bloody pants. It's too cold for those skirts anyway.
August 28, 2009 at 10:01:45 AM
A.Adster
It is a shame.
One of the things that made me go to highshool was that kilt.
I think 16 and up should be aloud to wear the kilt..
I feel sorry for the young boys of today.
The schools will now be grey and white.
August 28, 2009 at 10:02:14 AM
L
You have to realize that it is not just Catholic schools that have uniforms. There are many public schools that have uniforms. To those of you who are worried that your daughters will not be able to learn how to be lady-like if they are not able to wear a kilt...trust me that wearing s kirt has nothing to do with learning to be so called lady like. You need to step away from the stereotypes of what it means to be a lady. I guess you would rather your daughters rear end hanging out of her kilt. And trust me, that Kilt will be hiked right up! It is because of ignorant parents that they have to enforce the rule of banning kilts because schools cannot punish anymore! It's simply ridiculous how much disrespect parents have for educators and the administrators. It's no wonder our youth are out of control. Like they say, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"!
August 28, 2009 at 10:23:42 AM
Anna
So...society accepts SHORT shorts, and schools can't accept short skirts? I don't think that even makes ANY sense. Personally, I feel that as long as shorts are worn UNDER the skirts (I mean shorts that actually cover your entire "behind") it should be perfectly fine to wear the skirts. Its like wearing SHORT shorts but your covering it with another piece of fabric (which is even better [in terms of "covering up"] than just shorts on their own). BANNING the kilts will NOT allows students to learn to follow the rules, it won't give them a chance to learn to be self-respecting, responsible and mature. But only make them upset about the fact they are not allowed to even wear them. This does not solve ANYTHING, because they can simply wear short skirts in public which ...is NOT a problem? whats the difference? society doesnt seem to have a problem with that, unless they do and their planning to BAN the public from wear exposing clothing PERIOD. Like it doesn't make sense, you don't LEARN anything by what the schools are doing....and I thought schools were a place to LEARN...yeah...makes no common sense!
August 28, 2009 at 10:57:25 AM
EUK
Finally! These high school girls do no know how to carry themselves in these skirts. I have never seen a student wearing those kilts at an appropriate length. Especially at malls. Nobody wants to see your ass and thighs on a TTC Bus either! If some people ruin it for others, then that is too bad. You need to realize that these girl are going to school - not a club. There is no reason for short skirts in schools. I always saw those girl, especially around Dufferin Mall, with those mini skirts and old Italian men staring at their legs. Who needs that? Disgusting. Just wear some pants. Or make the school system come out with skirts that are just below the knee. Lets go back to the 60's!!! At least the girls back then had some self-respect.
August 28, 2009 at 11:09:39 AM
Ladylike
If our biggest concern is teaching our girls how to be 'ladylike' and not sit around in pants with their legs spread...Then we have a bigger problem than short skirts. Education is not about teaching girls to act ladylike. We are trying desperately to move away from those stereotypes.
August 28, 2009 at 11:21:11 AM
keshia.a
In Jamaica i used to have to wear a kilt to school that was knee length no shorter, an if it was short by an inch or 2 i would get sent home.Once i get sent home i would have to wait for the school gate to unlock at recess to get in side.
School now can take control if they wanted too. Its just the females that take advantage of the opportunity to wear a kilt, it was not meant to be rolled up an to parade around school with but cheeks showing school is not a club there is a time an place for everything
August 28, 2009 at 11:27:22 AM
Raina
Too bad this article's headline wasn't "More Catholic Schools Getting Banned."
Time to end religious schooling funded by our government, not kilts.
August 28, 2009 at 11:27:32 AM
Mike
I'm a guy who went to a Catholic high school. Reading all these comments defending kilts is quite amusing. Keep your head in the clouds! I thought the short skirts where great. Still do! Half my time was spent trying to get...I think you know what I'm going to say. Do teenage boys really need girls walking around looking like street-walkers, showing their underwear when they can? I definitely didn't. They have enough problems dealing with their raging hormones. Temptation like that shouldn't come into play at school. Believe me, if parents only knew what their 'innocent' daughters were up to, they'd die. Kilts are just the tip of the iceberg.
August 28, 2009 at 11:37:22 AM
AD
Y.C.D.S.B. and Y.D.S.B. won't allow kilts either for it's 20+ high schools. Haven't had them for years.
August 28, 2009 at 11:40:02 AM
Marc
It's about time. Girls wonder why they get raped. I live down the street from a catholic high school. I may as well live in Amsterdam in the red light district. Their skirts are so short you can see their underwear. I drove by one day and a girl was sitting down and she had no underwear at all. You could see everything. It's gotten way out of control and it's about time the rules were stricter. It's no wonder so many girls are sexually assaulted.
August 28, 2009 at 11:47:06 AM
SavvyAbbeyGirl
This is unfair to students who DO respect the tradition and meaning of the kilt. Never have I ever disrespected my school, let alone my body. The whole student body should not suffer because of students that lack morals and common sense. These students should be delt with seperatly, not with the entire school. Especially since most f the TCDSB's school are older and not as well funded as private schools, tempratures throught the school are un bareable, so the kilt allows us to has some comfort in the heat. Deal with the trouble makers seperatly and let us girls who are there to learn and have a pleasent highschool experience alone.
August 28, 2009 at 11:51:30 AM
LC
When I was in high school the girls were allowed to wear kilts. I'm not going to lie and say I didn't hike up my kilt but I had enough sense to know not to hike it up where everyone would see my shorts underneath. We had a vp that would check the length of your kilt by asking you to go on your knees and if your kilt didn't touch the floor then you'd be asked to unroll your kilt or get it unhemmed. Some of these kids today have no class therefore, they consider showing off as much leg as possible "sexy". That isn't "sexy" that makes you look "easy".
August 28, 2009 at 11:55:32 AM
Dan
It is a good idea. Some of the girls are wearing them very immodestly.
August 28, 2009 at 11:59:04 AM
SS - Oshawa
OMG - "M", give your head a shake! Did you really say that those girls would end up gay if they couldn't wear those skirts? That's laughably ignorant! How 'ladylike' are these girls who go around in public, with skirts hiked so high you can see their underwear?
In general, I have to agree with others that say society is not a big help here. Media and fashion are always hyping the short shorts and skirts, showing off your body - and you expect hormone-driven teenagers to have an easy choice? I'm all for a positive body image, but this is getting nuts. I agree with those who say that everyone - parents, teachers, and society as a whole - need to help with this. You can't pin in all on one party.
I'm not usually one for uniforms, so much as 'dress code standards'. I went to public schools, and while there were no uniforms, there were standards in effect about how much skin you could show. (no midrifs, etc.) I remember when I was in high school, I could look around and see most people dressed generally well. A big contrast from the local catholic high school girls, who I'd see on the transit, along with their underwear, their skirts were so high. I think this is generally a good move. Don't even try to tell me that girls don't know what they're doing when they hike those skirts up!
August 28, 2009 at 12:01:20 PM
Tricia
I agree with the previous comment, these young girls nowadays have no shame no respect for themselves. I think that this will hopefully encourage them to be more respectable and they will learn that there is an appropriate time and place to dress however they please. A kilt being worn at school is a little too sexy for my taste. I am a 25 year old female and I attended public schools growing up and during my time in school, there were never any inappropriate clothes being worn at my school, there is a certain dresscode(which the publc students abide by). These catholic girls just degrade the female race and I don't think that these girls are even old enough to no right from wrong,therefore they aren't mature enough to make a logical decision when it comes too hiking up there kilts a bit too high.
August 28, 2009 at 12:12:02 PM
Kim
Anyone remember what it was like in the 60's with the mini skirt?
Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
I liked having to wear a uniform in school. You didn't have to worry about what you were going to wear everyday. It also put everyone on the same level so if you didn't have as much money as the next girl it didn't show in your clothes.
If the girls are hiking up the skirts because they are bulky and hot then they should restyle them in a lighter fabric. I think the kilts are cute and I'd hate to see them leave.
August 28, 2009 at 12:18:46 PM
Mauro
Well i agree with this a bit, they should ban them because schools have been placing strict rules on this for ages now and girls just wont listen(some do listen) im not saying all girls abuse the kilt uniform piece. Alot of them just stroll on in to class with it so high and everyone gets a show you know. Im going into gr 12 and i know. I see how they wear them and its just gone over board now. Its a time waste to always have to go on the announcements and lecture the students about their kilts and hall moniters always having to stop students. They got fed up and it got to the point were they have to ban them. Well for most males this is disappointment
but i wouldnt want to see a girl that im in love with be stared at by guys who are getting excited. So its a good thing they banned it.
August 28, 2009 at 12:22:39 PM
VB
Why are people so quick to blame the parents? I've seen girls changing their clothes at the bus stop or on their way to school. they looked like lil angels when they left the house and enter the school looking totally different. I like the built in shorts idea.
August 28, 2009 at 12:28:27 PM
Maria Faria
My daugther is going to gr.10 at Philip Pocock and I had bought the kilt last year and now she can't wear it.... what am I going to do with it??? It's not fair, it's like $100 dollars thrown in the garbage... who's paying for that??? They should let it phase out and not banned it now!
The girls that roll them up should be punished by not following the school's rules and not having everybody pay for it by banning it! I'm very upset about it!
thanks
August 28, 2009 at 12:28:37 PM
Paula
Schools should worry about teaching the kids, educate them, help and guide them in the right direction to become sucessful and happy adults. Schools should worry about hiring teachers who want to teach and actually enjoy it. They should worry about having teachers that are there only there for their pay cheques and their 20 (twenty) sick days per academic year that can be accumulated year after year and their job security never heard of a teacher being let go ( I guess they are all good professionals!). Let teenager be teenagers I guess that whoever came up with this idea is just a bunch jealous old bags!
August 28, 2009 at 12:28:43 PM
sam
It's not up to the parents or teacher. The fact is, students leave their house with kilts on at the normal length so their parents don't think otherwise, but when they arrive at school they adjust them to a shorter length. I've seen it happen myself when I was in highschool. I think it's a good idea to ban the kilts because students just find a way to make it appealing to male students which is not what their purpose is for. Kilts aren't necessary attire for school.
August 28, 2009 at 12:32:51 PM
T Reed
As someone who attended a Catholic High School and wore a kilt, I think that the school board is right to ban the kilts if girls won't follow the code.
One of the points of wearing the uniform in the first place is modesty, not to show off the result of an over-sexualized culture. In the past 10 years, the media-fueled Britney culture has left us with a generation of girls who feel like they need to show skin to be accepted.
Kids are at school to learn, not show off their legs. And when they are off campus, they should respectfully represent their school. Teachers are there to teach, not to do the job of parents, and if this helps them do that, I'm all for it.
How ironic it is that in the 60's, most schools forbid girls to wear pants, but now skirts are the problem.
August 28, 2009 at 12:36:38 PM
BD
TO M,
So that's why I'm queer... it was the pants!!! I better get back to wearing skirts so I at least have the opportunity to "learn what it's like to feel pretty" *I just barfed up in my mouth a little*
Oddly enough Global News called me this morning to ask if the organization I work for would like to quote on the potential banning. She went as far as to rough in the arguments for and against and, to be kind, her feminist analysis was on the weak side. "Is it justice because now, everyone will be wearing the same thing? Or is it not just because girls lose their choice?" My response... We deal with a different scale of human rights violation and it is doubtful that myself or any other staff would equate enforcing girls to wear pants with the monumental achievement of gender equality. Oh pants! They're the answer to all of the world's major problems... the gays, androgynous females and *gasp* women not crossing their legs!?!?! No rights violation is too small, but obviously we declined. Contact me when you want to talk about Shadi Sadr false imprisonment or the care crisis.
You people make me crazy. And for the record I wish dresses were banned at my prom. It would've made highschool nostalgia a lot less embarrassing.
August 28, 2009 at 12:46:24 PM
M
First of, i currently go to a catholic school, which a kilt is part of our uniform. I dont understand why people who dont actually go to a uniform required school, in current time, are saying how it is at school. First off at an all girl school, who do we have to impress with a short skirt? no one. As years go on there is always an amount of girls who hike their skirt. Its up to the school to keep those in check when they are in the school. But once out of school its no ones control, i see girls wearing super short shorts and skirts at there schools anyways.
Just think, without a skirt, we would be wearing pants all year long! its not comfortable, think about us too.
August 28, 2009 at 12:52:09 PM
MB
Modesty is the reason the Taliban require women to wear burkhas. Why don't they just ban the kilts and make the girls wear those instead? Come on, people, this is Canada!
August 28, 2009 at 1:00:22 PM
Chie
It's up to the parents and schools in particular to implement a strict rule in wearing the proper uniform. My daughter is wearing a knee length kilt and it's really good to look at, prim and proper. It's not necessary to ban the wearing of kilt it is not a solution.
August 28, 2009 at 1:01:00 PM
JJ
OK - I just read through some the the comments and you are all pretty much saying the same thing and are correct.
Reason why Teachers/Schools can not enforce rules - is because there was a parent who fought the school on discipline so now Teachers don't have the rights like they used to.
Parents today - either live in denial or are too busy working to pay any attention.
Those skirts are and were disgustingly too short.It is about time there is a ban - it is unfortunate they have to wear pants now - but they did it to themselves. And I believe ALL schools should have uniforms. Because even the girls in public schools are way too under dressed - WE NEED the RULES enforced within the Schools and for this to happen - PARENTS need to back off. Kids today have way, way too many rights.
August 28, 2009 at 1:06:53 PM
KR
I agree with Dragon, Whole education system (upto high school )is a joke. Students should have formal and well covered uniform ( Not a sexy looking dress). It helps students to focus on their studies. School environmant should be disciplined to reduce drop outs and to produce a genaration which will be successful in their life.
State should also be responsible to introduce laws which facilitate to produce quality and well mannered generation.
August 28, 2009 at 1:12:50 PM
ta
okay. i am going into grade 9 in september. this is what i feel the catholic schools should do, if they see a student with their kilt pulled up and refuse to pull it back down, i feel they should send the person home. the decisions these students make, affect the other students that respect the rules of the uniforms. so it is not fair to ban kilts from people that have not done anything wrong.
August 28, 2009 at 1:32:17 PM
Sasha
I agree....Kilts should be banned. Pants for everyone! I went to school during kilt time, and all you saw was leg. Kilts should have been banned a long time ago.
August 28, 2009 at 1:35:07 PM
CK
It's a long time coming... It's obscene to see these young girls with skirts shorter than the outfits worn by some strippers. It's no wonder we have so many sex offenders out there and these girls seem oblivious to the attention they are attracting.
August 28, 2009 at 1:51:07 PM
J
Seriously how can you blame the parents. Saying "I won't let my daughter leave the house with her kilt raised up".. What do you think happens when she out of the house. You can't tell me you've never wore one thing to school but once you were out of your parents view you took that off to a much different outfit underneath. You can't prevent your kids from doing what they do. all you hope for is that they are honest and smart. I live by two catholic high schools and I can't wait to see NO more Kilts.. Sorry if you don't agree but this is the 21st century and well get use to it. If the parents can't control it and the school can't control it then there will be a BAN because nothing else worked.
August 28, 2009 at 1:52:44 PM
Sarah
My school had the kilts banned back in 2003. Now every student in the school has to wear black pants.
August 28, 2009 at 1:53:42 PM
Emilie
Yes, make everyone pay for the few not obeying the rule.
Parents that already bought the skirt should ask the board for a refund.
August 28, 2009 at 2:01:44 PM
Cheryl P
"If you wear a kilt, don't tilt!"
August 28, 2009 at 2:17:39 PM
liz
I think the ban on kilt's is ridiculous. My god really as long as the student is there to get a education does it really matter???
August 28, 2009 at 2:24:00 PM
A Mom
Hopefully parents will teach their daughters how to act like ladies. Wearing pants is not going to make someone less of a female, what an ignorant comment, and if your daughter ends up gay, it had nothing to do with not being able to wear a skirt!
August 28, 2009 at 2:28:30 PM
Al
I've gotta tell you, I am disturbed by all the parents worried about this ban hurting their girl's learning to be "Pretty" and "Lady-like". I'm sorry, but because of an attitude like that, a good deal of young women these days are not at all "lady-like" and no length of kilt is going to change that. What moral values are instilled in a young woman by parents who consider not learning to be pretty by wearing a kilt a problem?! The Catholic schoolgirl uniform has been turned into a sexy halloween costume for adult parties. Although banning it somewhat solves the problem, the cardinal issue is with kids' upbringings. There is no concept of "decency" anymore. You don't need to have physical punishment to instill a sense of decency in your children, just enough concern and education on your own part to teach them wrong from right.
August 28, 2009 at 2:31:50 PM
BG
I can't believe some of these comments! So ridiculous. I agree with eveyrone who sees the reasoning behind banning the kilts. Andrew hits it spot on! I can't believe how much of an idot this 'M' is thinking that people end up gay from wearing pants. I'm guess you're one of the sick perverts that enjoys seeing how high the kilts get hiked. Get a life loser.
I completely agree that this could be averted with more parental control. If your daughter feels that the only way to get attention is to hike up their kilts, then it's the parenting that needs to be addressed.
But in the end, who cares if kilts are banned?
August 28, 2009 at 2:49:48 PM
givemeabreak
Good Lord. Girl's have been hiking up their kilts foreveor, co-ed school or not. Mainly they did/do it out of sight of the parents. Next the poor girls will be forced to wear a tartan burka. Just who is being offended here, do I hear special interest group???
August 28, 2009 at 3:08:32 PM
Generation Y
Looking over these comments I see a lot of this:
Young boys/men saying and thinking "It's a shame we won't be seeing more girls' in short skirts at school."
Young girls/women saying "What are supposed to do now? Look the same? It's too hot. How can I "express" myself now? But the kilts are cute."
Parents this is your next generation! If these kids' personalities, self respect, independence CAN'T fight through a school uniform, THERE'S A PROBLEM!
August 28, 2009 at 3:18:16 PM
Liz
sorry but if you r child get to school and hikes it up do what my school use to do, ANKLE LENGTH KILT as punishment. If our teachers even seen us off school property with a kilt that was too short we got punished with the ankle length kilt...very few girls broke the rule, a beating would have been better then looking like a fool for a day.
The board steps in far too often and so do some parents, kids need to learn to follow the rules not have things ban so they can't break them. It's time to stop babying our children and let them pay the price for breaking rules instead of banning everything we don't agree with to "save" the few who have no sense. Why are we punishing those who want to wear the kilt and wear it properly because of a few parents can't control their kids?
I can tell you from experience those who hike the skirt up later have no respect for their parents. Those who don't actually care about what others think of them. Your kids "do it anyway" or "hike it after they leave" guess what? they see you as a push over and don't fear the punishment if they are caught breaking the rules. How about putting your foot down instead of allowing your kids to walk all over people and the rules!
August 28, 2009 at 3:19:09 PM
Greg
Now my drive home from work will be boring.
August 28, 2009 at 3:24:45 PM
amanda
i went to caolick high schoo for 5 years in the 5 years i was in it girls hicked there kilts hight every year it was to the point guys ther ejust standing at the bottewm if the stare too look at there buts i thinck banning the kilt is wrong but i thinck the school should look out more and see what there studest are doing and i do have to addmit the kilts are a bit to long...
August 28, 2009 at 3:25:40 PM
SH
For years it's been " Just let it go this year then next year we'll revisit the "kilt problem next year?" Well people next year has come! This is how it's being dealt with so deal with it!
What is it that these young (and YES they ARE still young) girls will lose by now wearing pants! You live in Canada where it may be "hot" in MAY and JUNE. There's 2 whole months of your above temperature discomfort!
As for the parents who have recently purchased a kilt for your daughters, they probably got a year of wear already which is more than I can say for most of their other clothes in their closets! If you're so upset about spending $100 on it: Turn those kilts into a cute short vest and call it a day! Stop giving in!
August 28, 2009 at 3:27:58 PM
dma
Why is R.J. McCarthy still selling these kilts. That's just wrong. If the majority of Schools are banning the kilts then they should not be allowed to sell these...effective immediately. They are very expensive and this is not fair for the parent's who have purchased these already. Will they get reinbursed????...I think not.
August 28, 2009 at 3:28:58 PM
P3
O.M.G. All these comments are just ridiculous. J.B, Do u really think that yout daughter is not gonna pull her kilt up the miniut she walks out that door? Its obvious that girls pull there skirts up when they get to school. Most girls only do it to attract guys attention. I dont think the school or parents has anything to do with it. You, as a parent should teach and discipline your child to go into the right direction. The school is just paid to teach subjects, not to teach the children on what and what not to wear!!!
August 28, 2009 at 3:31:27 PM
Jordan, Brampton
Come on parents! Can we all please remember that school is all about education and not about what the uniform looks like. Your daughters today are exposing way too much skin. If this is what they show at school behind your back, what do you think they show when out on a Friday night? Is this not a religious school board? With high moral standards? If Jesus were to join your parent teacher interview one evening without any notice, would you as a parent be comfortable with your daughters kilt cranked up to the rim of her cheaks? I highly doubt that. She is an extension of you as her parent. Any parent who has an issue with this decision should really be self evaluating themselves. What is so wrong with a trendy well tailored skirt to the kneees, a shirt/tie/sweater? Absolutly nothing. It only portrays an classy individual with high morals, self respect and good parents. How terrible is that for society today?
August 28, 2009 at 3:33:16 PM
Gilles
Hey... I like the hiked kilts! =)
August 28, 2009 at 3:35:32 PM
Rob
LAWSUIT !!!
August 28, 2009 at 3:55:09 PM
John
If I had kids - i'd send them to a uniform school - let them integrate based on their personality not their labels.
It's hard for kids - especially kids that don't have. Keep the uniforms.
J
August 28, 2009 at 4:17:45 PM
alex
This is ridiculous. Students wearing their kilts to short is not something new, why are people talking about it now. This is just something for people to complain about,those people being much older than the students them selfs. If this banning was going on then, they wouldnt exactly be going along with it. Not only do uniforms force us to wear the same things as other girls, now were going to look like the males aswell.
August 28, 2009 at 4:20:01 PM
leigh
GOOD!!!!! Should have banned them a long time ago!!
August 28, 2009 at 4:21:05 PM
michele
My daughter attends a public school that has adopted the school uniform and I have seen how short some of the kilts are they might as well be in a music video ex:Britany Spears oops i did it again. I think if they are going to ban them they should come up with some sort of bermuda type short for the girls to wear in the warmer weather.
August 28, 2009 at 4:30:31 PM
Vera
About time...I watch the girls walk by with their kilts barely covering their booty. I noticed in my son's school that even though there were very specific rules regarding the uniforms for males & females, the females were never disciplined for "short" skirts. Perhaps if we offered a course in school called "Manners 101" it would teach both sexes how to be "ladies" and "gentlemen". Wearing a skirt does not make a lady!
August 28, 2009 at 4:34:15 PM
Debbie
I agree. I was baptized Catholic and I always thought that the girls were showing too much skin!! And with these girls wearing thongs. Certainly not what I want my girl looking like.
August 28, 2009 at 4:35:00 PM
Josh Andrews
Well most of the uniforms are worn at a Catholic District Schools or private schools. Well I can't speak of the private schools, but I know for a fact that the Catholic District School Board is running a system with too many holes in it already. Once again, I can only speak of the Catholic School Board in my area. That's York District. I noticed the following the past few years. Many teachers are un-qualified. Many family members being hired (Teachers and secretaries. Teachers children bypassing rules. Trustees taking advantage of the system. So on, and so on. Why is HR allowing this? I wish someone cleans up the system. Basically, merge them in to the Public system. I've heard someone call them the modern day Mafia. Getting away with it legally. So people, there's a bigger problem then the girls skirt. You just have to lift the skirt a little higher to see all the dirt underneath.
August 28, 2009 at 5:02:38 PM
lb
Great decision. Finally. The way the school kids dress is shocking to say the least. We are glad that measures are being taken.
August 28, 2009 at 5:11:03 PM
JNC
I say good.
You are in school to LEARN. You are not there to flash your panties, attract boys, show of your "assets" or show everyone how "sexy" you are in your little skirt.
I can't believe the uproar over this. It's not a big deal - the only thing I DON'T agree with, is the fact that many people have spent LOTS of money purchasing the kilt which will no longer be allowed for use. Will they be refunding? Because they should.
Don't worry little girls, you'll still have after-school time to dress in your skimpy clothing and show the boys all your goods.
August 28, 2009 at 5:17:47 PM
Catholic School Girl
Instead of banning kilts why don't they make leotards mandatory? That way they can see that the girls are wearing them and they can hike their kilt as high as they like and still stay covered. It will only take a nice hot summer day and those girls will be begging to lengthen their kilts instead of wearing leotards all the time. Kilts are a tradition that slutty prosti-tots are wrecking for the majority of girls who wear their clothing properly. Open your eyes parents, don't blame the schools for this one...take a look in the mirror before deflecting blame anywhere else but yourself and your children.
August 28, 2009 at 5:21:43 PM
maria
teachers are too leanent!
August 28, 2009 at 5:26:56 PM
Liah
Seriously, it about time. Now they have to work on making uniforms mandortory for public schools.It would make life easier for the middle and lower class parents.
August 28, 2009 at 5:46:29 PM
Stephanie
Why aren't the boys supposed to wear kilts? That's the tradition!
August 28, 2009 at 5:47:09 PM
a
i go to a catholic high school in toronto, and believe me some of the girls in my school wear their kilts WAY TOO SHORT. Personally, the kilt is a fine piece of clothing as long as it is worn appropriately. Someone finally had the guts to say something!!!
August 28, 2009 at 6:16:42 PM
JB
I didn't go to school in the 1950's. My daughter is only 8 right now & her school banned sleeveless tops this year and managed to enforce it. Parents are responsible for raising their own children, but when my kids are at school I expect that they will be taught to follow the rules. If a girl has her kilt rolled up, make her fix it or send her home. And trust me, the one time I got sent home from school for having the wrong colour knee socks for my uniform, it was a punishment. Parents can teach their kids how to behave, and teachers can remind them when their judgment seems to be lacking. What's laughable is your attitude - just give up, because no one is going to fix it anyway.
August 28, 2009 at 6:19:22 PM
Steven
Where do we leave? Everything is restricted or prohibited. Except tax hiking of course.
August 28, 2009 at 6:19:22 PM
Steven
Where do we leave? Everything is restricted or prohibited. Except tax hiking of course.
August 28, 2009 at 6:22:29 PM
gino
so what, the girls will just wear skin tight pants now.
August 28, 2009 at 7:14:54 PM
Roxanne
Teachers are not expected to raise our children, that's true. But if my daughter's rear end is visible under her kilt & the teacher/principal calls to let me know, you can bet she won't be going to school looking like that again. I can't be with her every minute, but I can certainly be informed when there is an issue. Don't ban the uniform, fix the problem!
August 28, 2009 at 7:52:04 PM
cathy
THANK YOU for this ban and taking it off the plate of educators. Teachers cannot enforce the kilt 'rules' mainly because of 'super parents' who defend their children's actions no matter what, and a very real fear that a comment about the length of a girls kilt will be spun into a sexual innuendo and a teacher's suspension or firing. Male teachers won't touch the issue anymore because of real fears. Female teachers have to pick up the slack while facing those same fears of being attacked. PARENTS need to teach their daughters to have self-respect - a lesson learned long before those girls reach the halls of high school. Yes, girls roll up their kilts when they're out of their parent's sight, but the same number of them get dropped off at school with kilts hemmed at the butt-line.
August 28, 2009 at 8:02:04 PM
Allison
The way girls are being sexualized these days is shameful - what with the "school girl fetish" that is all the rage; the kilt SHOULD be banned. Seriously, the fetish is not about how short the skirt is - according to any therapist worth their salt.
Girls should be allowed to wear pants (hey, what a concept, just like the boys!). No disrespect is shown to anyone if girls wear pants; what an ancient and sexist ruling that a skirt must be worn. GET RID OF THEM NOW.
August 28, 2009 at 10:34:11 PM
KKAA
I just graduated high school. Those shorts underneath the skirts are the WORST creation ever and really do stop the rolling because they ride up so much! But wearing TIGHT YOGA PANTS IS OKAY? The girls have their entire rear out there for everyone to see. Women teachers send you out of class to change your pants but men teachers don't say a word.
I really feel that no matter what you ban or take away from a teenager we will always find a way to make it the way we want. Mc Carthy pants can be fixed, the shirts can be unbuttoned and a bright tanktop can be worn underneath, the pants can be switched to regular tight pants , the BLACK DRESS SHOES don't even exsist, we all wore regular running shoes or the latest boots. There really is no hope.
August 28, 2009 at 10:38:32 PM
Helga
I am thrilled! So tired of watching these young senseless girls hiking up their skirts! I'm just surprised that something wasn't done sooner. Isn't the whole point of going to a religious school to have some modesty?
August 29, 2009 at 5:40:19 AM
SARAH
Finally...this was a long time coming. The girls took advantage of this and it should have been nipped in the butt a while back. Pants should be for everyone or capris or longer shorts for the hotter season!
August 29, 2009 at 12:29:59 AM
jorgieporgie
what the hell is going on nowadays banning kilts is one more way to show the youth if they mess with u soon u will crumble don't ban them enforce them and if ur scared hire me i'll personally go to every school and anyone with an inproper uniform will be sent home u people nowadays give the youth to much power and thats why they have no respect for elders and keep up the nonsense
August 28, 2009 at 11:45:43 PM
Me
Bottom line.... Parents must focus on teaching our kids self respect. Teachers are responsible for teaching subject matter. If girls abuse the privilege of wearing a kilt, then they loose that privilege.... BAN THE KILT.
August 28, 2009 at 10:49:52 PM
Mistay
I have a few things to say...
1) Ignorant Parents: who have no clue on how to raise Children, who ignore what their own children are doing at all times, because of ridiculous reason of being busy or too busy keeping a social life.
2)Government: for Rules and Laws which give's more freedom to Children who are not responsible adults yet.So parents and teachers can not enforce proper punishment.
School Boards needs to work on improving how they teach and get kids involved in "out-of-class" activity's.Then kids can have fun, and not in the wrong way, by going to night clubs, and areas where trouble can happen.
I say Good for Ban on Kilts, but at the same time, Shame on the kids and parents and teachers, government.
August 29, 2009 at 1:16:01 AM
KeVan
I find it strange that some parents suggest kilts being banned when most of them have no idea to what they "usually" wear. Have these parents never heard of mini skirts or anything in that matter? If some parents are planning to restrict their daughters on what they should or should not wear, then why stop here? Take the initiative and go further, and maybe once you're done, the world will be a happy "pants-full" place.
However, I suggest you first to go straight to the source and change their thoughts, instead of their clothes.
August 29, 2009 at 2:32:00 AM
Deathmetal
I am truly appalled by what I have read in the comments section here. First of all, for those of you who wonder why these girls wonder why they get raped, shame on you. These are children trying to satisfy the media's image of what a girl should be. Look at what they watch day in and day out. The male teachers don't object to the yoga pants because they are scared for their jobs. The students would raise questions about why the male teacher is looking so closly at a female students clothing. With all the lawsuits and the like, can you really blame them for ignoring it? These are CHILDREN. Adults who find children sexy have something seriously wrong with them and should be treated immediatly.
I love how society now blames the victims and not the abusers. 'He is sick, he cant help himself, it was her fault for wearing the kilt so short and tempting him by walking by'
You have got to be kidding me. Society has gone to hell and the ignorance is abudant.
August 29, 2009 at 9:28:51 AM
maxyne baker
One of the things I enjoy as a woman is that I can wear both pants and skirts.. Unfortunately with our culture's obsession with youth, the kilt has become more closely associated with pornography than higher education. Pehaps this is the underlying issue. I not in opposition to the new rule. I believe it levels the playing field. Many people seem to think that skirt lengths are up to the parents. How do you control kids from changing once they are out of the house...or simply rolling that little kilts waist band over a few times to hike up the length...Hmmm...I'm sure Nicole's skirt was longer yesterday.
August 29, 2009 at 10:04:58 AM
Smith
This is getting ridiculous now. I'm actually a high school student, in the Dufferin Peel Board, and every year they try to enforce these rule's to us. When they don't seem to realize, If they controlled the temperature inside the school properly, girls wouldn't have to resort to hiking up their kilts, and it's also the teacher's responsibility to enforce the rule. I still find it very unfair, because there are teachers in my school where you can clearly see they are wearing thongs through their pants or their shirts too low and even their skirts are way too high, and yet WE are the one's who suffer? At my school they added shorts under the kilt so you can't pull it up too high, it's an easier solution than fully banning them. It's more military school, than a catholic school.
August 29, 2009 at 10:33:42 AM
Emily
I, myself am in a high school that allows kilts and I'm glad we can. Personally, I think that kilts are much more comfortable than the pants, but I couldn't agree more in the sense that a majority of the girls in my school ruin it for those that actually follow the rules (like myself). I believe that instead of banning the kilts from school, teachers in the school should better enforce the rules with their students. If there are certain students that simply cannot follow rules, then it should be just them that suffer the consequences, not everyone else.
August 29, 2009 at 1:06:28 PM
moondoggie
Lets face it people....mtv/sextv/fashiontv...call it what you will.Society is heading into a "freefalling" spiral rollercoaster for our kids;with no emergency braking device.Little Judy,s fingers are going to get really tired come this fall;rolling her skirt hems up and down all day long...wasted energy.
August 29, 2009 at 1:48:05 PM
RW
I went to a catholic school and I don't think the kilts were that big of a problem. Only certain groups of girls would have them EXTREMELY high with a thong underneath, but other than that most of us respected ourselves and kept it at a decent length. Before I graduated, the school changed the uniform to have the shorts for the kilt permanently attached to it rather than having to buy it separately. That definitely stopped the niners from wearing it as high as some of the older girls.
I don't think it needs to be banned...the girls just need to have some self-respect, and thats a societal problem and other influences in their lives...NOT because they get to wear a kilt to school. If they went to public schools, then they'd be allowed to wear short skirts, short shorts and whatever else they want to wear (I do understand that public schools also enforce a dress code).
My teachers were all extremely strict with the uniform and that kept our student body looking pretty decent for the most part...you can't get 'em all.
August 29, 2009 at 3:42:06 PM
May M
I graduated from high school 5 years ago and I can empathize with many of the commentators who feel that the school system is not what it used to be.
However, I do not think banning the kilt is an effective solution. If it's not the kilt it's going to be tight pants, if it's not tight pants it's going to be low cut tops. It's also not fair that only females are targeted. If this is about adhering to a respectable uniform policy then why isn't there an official ban against boys wearing their pants down at their knees?
Solutions start at home with parents but beyond that, because we cannot seem to control our sex-crazed society, schools need to penalize those who choose not to wear their uniform appropriately. Banning the kilt does not take care of the root problem, which is teenagers who are going through a difficult stage in life. Avoiding the problem does nothing to help them in their lives outside of school and in the future.
August 29, 2009 at 4:09:35 PM
Proud Catholic
Wow, some of you people must be 80 or older. Nothing wrong with kilts. It's part of a tradition. Sure, girls hiked them up, what did you expect them to do? They were so long. Fashions evolved. How come you don't comment on how the boys treat their uniforms too?
How about girls in Public schools? Should they ban short skirts, shorts, tank tops etc.... Should the boys start pulling up their pants because you can see their underwears too? Get over it...