‘Standards of Dress’ Policy May Come to Ontario School Where Teacher Wears Oversized Prosthetic Breasts

A local mother and her child protest outside Oakville Trafalgar High School on Sept. 23. against a teacher wearing large prosthetic breasts to class. Peter Wilson/The Epoch Times

A group of parents has long called for a dress code to be created and enforced for teachers at an Oakville school where one teacher has attracted international attention for wearing oversized prosthetic breasts with protruding nipples.

The Halton District School Board (HDSB) has, until recently, rejected the request for a teacher dress code on the grounds that it may be found discriminatory and in violation of human rights protections.

On Jan. 3, however, the board unanimously carried a motion to “develop a professionalism policy which outlines the HDSB’s expectations of all staff members, including the requirement to maintain appropriate and professional standards of dress and decorum in the classroom.” The policy is to be presented in a report to the Board of Trustees by March 1, 2023.

The school has received multiple bomb threats over the issue and school board officials have received death threats in recent weeks. Students First Ontario, a group of parents with children at Oakville Trafalgar High School, threatened legal action in December if the board didn’t take action to stop the teacher from wearing the breasts.

The group said in an email after the decision “We are encouraged by this development.” But the group’s lawyer, Rishi Bandhu, told The Epoch Times on Jan. 9 that the parents aren’t entirely satisfied.

‘Not Entirely Sure It Is a Dress Code’

“[We’re] not entirely sure it is a dress code specifically, but it appears to be some kind of staff policy regarding professionalism and decorum in the classroom,” he said. Though the board is “developing” a policy, the extent to which it will be implemented remains uncertain.

The board’s Director of Education Curtis Ennis said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times: “The HDSB’s commitment to human rights remains rooted in our core values and commitment to each and every student and staff who identifies as a member of an underserved and underrepresented group, and our approach is informed by opinions from leading employment law firms with human rights and equity advisors. This commitment and approach will continue to be applied as the HDSB looks to fulfill this motion.”

Bandhu shared what HDSB Chair Margo Shuttleworth told one of his clients on Jan. 9: “We are confident that our staff will work collaboratively with all parties involved to create a professionalism policy which continues to stay true to our values and commitment to human rights. ... As always, our approach is informed by opinions from leading employment law firms with human rights and equity advisers.”

Students First had told the board in December that the student dress code, which prevents “obscenity” and “clothing that makes visible genitals and nipples,” should apply to teachers as well. Bandhu told The Epoch Times his clients never received a response from the board on that point.

Parent Input

The parents formed Students First Ontario when they felt their concerns were not addressed by the school board. They have said recently that the board inappropriately bypassed parent input, via school council, on the matter of a dress code.

This remains a point of contention, Bandhu said. A letter sent to the parents on Jan. 8 by HDSB Superintendent Sari Taha said, “While the Board appreciates your clients’ perspective regarding the role that School Councils play in the operation of a school, the Board does not agree that the Education Act and its Regulations vest School Councils with a right to consultation in what, in this case, are confidential staff and personnel matters.”

The teacher in question began teaching shop class at the school in Sept. 2022. The teacher wears a wig of blonde hair, along with the large prosthetic breasts and tight blouses. Shortly after the school year began, a video of the teacher was posted to Tik Tok and went viral.

The first bomb threat came in by the end of September. HDSB said in an email to The Epoch Times in December, “HDSB continues to work with Halton Regional Police Service to investigate recent threats. We are taking any intimidation or threat of violence seriously. While all threats are treated seriously, we believe these threats lack credibility.”

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce has criticized HDSB for its handling of the matter. He said during media availability on Dec. 19, “Teachers need to uphold, as I’ve noted, the highest professional standards when they are in front of children. And so, I do not believe the board administration has done so to date.”