F.A.C.E students drive movement to revamp dress code, how teachers approach them
A group of young students at F.A.C.E. School in downtown Montreal have taken it on themselves to turn their school's dress code upside down.
The goal, they say, is not to have carte-blanche over what they can wear, but to encourage teachers and staff members to treat them with respect.
"At our school, [on the English side], if you're dress coded, they can do it however they want," explains Ivory Fleming, who is in Grade 7. "For example, a male teacher at our school pointed me out in the hallway and told me to stand in the middle of the hall until I buttoned my jacket."
The 13-year-old states such incidents make her, as a young woman, feel sexualized and uncomfortable.
"I've had a teacher say, 'nice belly' and point out my stomach as I walked in," Fleming told CTV News. "Friends of mine have been pulled out from the cafeteria... [We wanted] to change the way it was enforced, which we haven't done yet, but we're working on it."
Fleming, along with six of her friends, worked together to rewrite the school's dress code.
"We realized that there were a few things. The biggest one was that the dress code itself was too vague," said Ivory Fleming, who is in Grade 7. "People were getting dress coded constantly for things that other people were wearing."
She notes students were told not to wear anything too "form-fitting" or "low-cut," but what that actually meant was up to individual interpretation.
"Our main thing was that it was only being applied to people who were more female presenting," she points out. "So, we wanted to change it, which we have now done, to something that had more specific rules."
Fleming says the group searched for different dress codes online and pulled together bits and pieces they thought would make sense in their educational setting.
"Your front and sides have to be covered; you can't have vulgar, aggressive messages on the clothes; the clothes have to fit the activities you're doing," she lists. "The fabric has to be opaque when it's covering certain areas... We made it specific, a list of rules."
The new dress code will appear in the agenda for the school's English starting the next academic year.
"We do have a lot of people in our grade on the French side who have been helping us the whole time," Fleming notes. "We're hoping to get it changed for them next year too."
The teen, who has aspirations to run for student council, says the school was very receptive to the project.
Principal Marilyn Ramlakhan confirmed the English side of F.A.C.E is collaborating with the French sector to finalize details and bring the project to the school as a whole.
"The process is going extremely well," she added. "The process has been a great collaboration between students, parents and the administration."
The other students that spearheaded the project with Fleming are Gisele Brown, Delilah Sparling, Anneke Barr, Sihoo Byun, Daisy-Jo McKay and Mantra Amiri.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.