Keep the kilts at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts

I am an alumni of CCAA. Wore the kilt with pride to and from school. In a sea of blue and white that already diminishes many identities from Catholic students, the kilt allowed for some form of freedom of expression. I also am a woman, and in light of many the political issues that are occurring globally surrounding women's rights and sexuality, I am shocked that the school that I valued so highly for equality and inclusion is choosing to solve this problem by adding to a greater, macro problem. What a woman wears, does not make her any less of a target for her sexuality! Never mind the fact that the kilt itself historically is a "male" garment that should also be able to be worn by anybody at this point! I guess we are still too far backward to accept that... Focus on educating your students about consent. Educate your students about sexuality so that they can be well informed both in and out of the classroom. And if the protocol around wearing the kilt is abused, address it and rectify it in a respectful manner! And as for proper wear, length and proper tights/ undergarments/ etc. whoever wears the kilt, please be mindful of what it represents and wear it with respect. Let's move on to solving bigger, global issues.

#savethekilts2017

The ban on the kilt is indicative of a problem Carter has had since I started going there in 2009- the sexualization of children (because, just to remind you, teenagers are still children). Students who wore the kilt were often berated by the adults for "showing too much". It's a special kind of mental mind leap to consider a young girl sexual, then shame her for the label you've placed. I can confidently say that at my time at Carter, I was never taught that sexual assault and abuse is never the fault of a victim. But the opposite has been implied time and time again. If Carter wants to change some policies, I would start with shaming of young girls and the way adults sexualize young girls. And if you don't think the adults at Carter have problems sexualizing their students, I would like to remind everyone that an adult man on staff was dismissed because he was charged with sexually assaulting a student. While I was there. Carter has bigger issues to address than its kilts.

It's important to realize that there are BOYS in the school who come to school not wearing the proper pants with the CCAA logo on it. At least with the kilts the girls are wearing their PROPER school uniform with the school's logo on it and not some cheap pants from H&M or WALMART. Don't ban the kilt.

The proper procedure have not been followed.

Banning the kilt means more than prohibiting a certain article from being worn at school, it sends a larger message to all women/students that even school is unsafe and a place where sexual violence is enabled merely by the length of your hem. This message harms female students self esteem as well as male students dignity as they are painted with a generalized brush of "zero self control". In a school that celebrates individuality, creativity, inclusion and self-discovery it makes no sense to limit the uniform. If anything the kilt should be a unisex garment which students can chose to wear if they please. If pants and shorts become the only option for ALL students, the school will lose its tartan and recognition to the community and in turn this will dim the spirits of those attending Carter,

First I'd like to commend the person that started this petition. Not only does this online petition bring light to everyone on social media, including parents and family relatives, etc., but it also let's current students and alumni share their stories about the kilt and their opinions. I just graduated from Carter last June and at least 3 out of 5 days a week I would wear my kilt to school. The kilt made me feel good about myself, not only at school, but outside school. The navy pants can belong to any school in the TCDSB, but the kilt showed people where I came from; a Catholic arts school that I found pride in being able to attend. The kilt gives girls and the school a sense of individuality. It shouldn't be taken away because the principal is tired of being the "uniform police". I get that it can be worn inappropriately sometimes, and of course there should be consequences and they need to be addressed. But not like this. There are so many problems that can happen with any piece of uniform, I mean, the tights for example? Okay, I can admit that I’m guilty of wearing tights a little too see through for the uniform policy, but is it appropriate, or even ethical for the principal to come up to a bunch of girls who are about to go on stage and perform for a concert, and tug at their tights to see if they’re too see through? But despite all the uniform problems, does that mean you'll just ban the uniform entirely? No. Why should the kilt be targeted specifically? It costs families $80, $160 if they decide to buy two. That much money out of a family’s income, just to have it wasted because of this kilt ban. My sister just started going to Carter and had to buy a kilt (she’s in the music program and the kilt is a part of concert uniform). At first, she said she’d almost never wear the kilt and would only wear pants to school, but now I see her coming home wearing the kilt. It makes her happy, it makes her feel strong. If administration wants to take action, the

We like kilts

not only is this process going againson the school code, banning the school kilt is sexist, demeaning, and a thinly veiled attempt to make girls feel like their body's are a distraction

Our kilt is a sense of school pride!

Banning the kilt prevents nothing.

keep the kilts

It's 2017, move forward not backward

The kilt ban is inappropriate and the Board has not followed its own policies re a change in dress code.

I think it's wrong to ban the kilt. Don't make girls more tomboys than they already are... it's sad...

I am a carter alumni and I would be very sad to see the kilts go.

I graduated Carter nearly a decade ago and it is embarrassing to see this on facebook. Wow.

I've been at Carter since the seventh grade and I've only worn the pants once. I wear the kilt everyday because it makes me feel comfortable with myself while at school and because the pants don't fit me. So I best be wearing my kilt for my last year here.

Freedom of expression is important at school.

During my time studying at Cardinal Carter the kilt was what I wore for the majority of the time. It is the only expression of femininity and is the only thing I felt comfortable in while at school. The uniform pants never fit me properly and made me feel extremely self contentious in class. The kilt has such a huge role in identifying Carter with it's beautiful colours in an otherwise mostly androgynous uniform. The kilt is flattering and comfortable and taking that option away from female students would be unjust.