Speech by Minister for Education (Queensland) dated: 3 March 1999

MR SPEAKER

THE RECENT REPORT OF THE OMBUDSMAN RELATING TO SCHOOL UNIFORMS HAS CREATED A SITUATION IN OUR SCHOOLS WHICH REQUIRES CLARIFICATION. 1 HAVE THEREFORE ISSUED A DETERMINATION UNDER S. 8 4 OF THE EDUCATION (GENERAL PR0VISIONS) A CT. THAT WILL EMPOWER PARENTS AND CITIZENS ASSOCIATIONS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEIR SCHOOL WILL HAVE A SCHOOL DRESS CODE POLICY, AND IF SO WHAT THAT DRESS CODE WILL BE.

IF P & CS WISH TO DECIDE IN FAVOUR OF A SCHOOL DRESS CODE THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS A VIEW THAT A SCHOOL DRESS CODE FURTHERS THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PARTICULAR LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR OWN SCHOOL, THUS GIVING PRINCIPALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCORPORATE THE SCHOOL DRESS CODE INTO THE SCHOOL’S BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT POLICY. THIS SHOULD OBVIATE THE DIFFICULTIES WITH IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL DRESS STANDARDS IDENTIFIED BY THE OMBUDSMAN.

AT THE SAME TIME, PRINCIPALS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE DRACONIAN MEASURES TO DISCIPLINE STUDENTS WHOSE ONLY OFFENCE IS FAILURE TO WEAR CORRECT SCHOOL UNIFORM.

SUSPENSION, EXCLUSION, OR NEGATIVE COMMENTS IN SCHOOL REPORTS, AND ANY OTHER SANCTION WHICH HAS THE CONSEQUENCE OF DETRIMENTALLY AFFECTING THE SCHOOL CAREER OR EMPLOYABILITY OF THE STUDENT SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

DEPARTMENTAL PROTOCOLS WILL BE ISSUED TO GUIDE PRINCIPALS IN THE DIRECTION OF APPROPRIATE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION.

INDEED, IT IS OFTEN THE CASE THAT STUDENTS HAVE GOOD REASONS FOR NOT OBSERVING SCHOOL DRESS CODES: REASONS SUCH AS POVERTY, TRANSIENCE OR (MORE RARELY) CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION. SCHOOL COMMUNITIES ARE LIKELY TO HAVE MORE SENSITIVITY TO THESE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE GENERATED BY THE HEAVY BLUNT INSTRUMENT OF LEGISLATION.

THAT SENSITIVITY MIGHT BE EXPRESSED, IF A SCHOOL COMMUNITY WISHED TO MAINTAIN A STRICT SCHOOL DRESS CODE POLICY, BY KEEPING A BANK OF CLEAN SCHOOL UNIFORM ITEMS AND OFFERING THEM TO ANY STUDENT WHO PRESENTED THEMSELVES INCORRECTLY DRESSED. ALTERNATIVELY A SCHOOL COULD HAVE A SYSTEM OF SCHOOL PASSES FOR STUDENTS IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES.

MR SPEAKER, THIS IS A SOLUTION WHICH REQUIRES P & CS TO WORK TOGETHER WITH PRINCIPALS IN FORGING A POLICY FOR THEIR OWN SCHOOL COMMUNITY. IT BUILDS SOCIAL CAPITAL IN OUR SCHOOLS, BY REQUIRING PARENTS, STUDENTS, STAFF AND PRINCIPALS TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE BASIS OF TRUST. MOST IMPORTANTLY IT GIVES THE DECISION AS TO WHAT CHILDREN WILL WEAR TO THE PEOPLE WHO OUGHT TO BE MAKING IT - THEIR MUMS AND DADS.

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