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Catholic board wants input on elementary uniform code By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Should students at Halton's Catholic elementary schools be required to wear a uniform? As the Catholic school board reviews its school uniform policy, the board recently held a public consultation meeting at St. Peter Catholic Elementary School in Milton that drew about 80 people. Parents were asked whether a board-wide uniform policy would be an improvement over the current process, which allows individual elementary schools to vote on whether or not to require uniforms. All Catholic high school students have long been required to wear uniforms. The meeting featured a highly divided crowd. While opponents suggested elementary school uniforms are expensive, unnecessary and inconvenient in a board that has undergone many boundary changes, a number of supporters tied the uniform to the board's sense of Catholicity. "If you're at a Catholic school, it makes you look like a Catholic student," said one woman. Another parent suggested uniforms make students more identifiable and raises expectations they will be better behaved, even off school property. "If you're putting your child in a faith-based school, you're looking for structure and discipline, in addition to faith," he added. Arguments like these have been underway across the region since 2010, when the board established a policy allowing elementary schools to adopt a uniform if at least 67 per cent of parents voted for one. Since then, 29 of the board's 41 elementary schools have held a vote, with only four schools adopting the uniform. However, at 14 of the voting schools, more than half the parents voted in favour of the uniform. "You made it a really high benchmark to get the uniform," noted one woman, who questioned whether the 67 per cent acceptance requirement could be reconsidered. Prior to the current policy, 75 per cent of parents had to be in agreement, noted board chair Alice Anne LeMay, who said the board wanted to ensure a "substantial majority" of parents backed any change. Across the system, parents appear to be highly divided on elementary school uniforms. When voting results from all schools are combined, just over half of parents voted in favour of a uniform, while just under half voted against. At the recent meeting, some parents suggested a board-wide uniform policy would be less divisive for school communities than voting, which one woman called "very emotional." A board-wide policy was also described as being more consistent for students as they move between schools in the system. While opinion in the room was clearly divided on the value of uniforms, most parents appeared to agree they don't like being forced to purchase uniforms from a single supplier. Board policy currently requires families to purchase embroidered uniforms from supplier R.J. McCarthy. Many parents suggested it would be cheaper to outfit students if they could purchase clothing from a range of suppliers, including department stores, and then affix appropriate crests. "It's not that I don't like McCarthy or don't want to buy from McCarthy," said one woman. "It's just the cost." While neighbouring Hamilton and Toronto Catholic boards both have elementary school uniforms, they both allow parents to purchase items from multiple suppliers, including department stores. Trustee Anthony Danko, who is heading the ad hoc board committee reviewing the uniform policy, told the Milton meeting that trustees are looking to hear from parents about the issue. "As part of this review, we want to gather more information and come to a place where we might put this question to rest one way or another." Families have an opportunity to comment on the issue until June 5. 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