Ban on girls wearing pants in school is not fair, mum says

A SCHOOL has been accused of sexism and discrimination because of an “outdated” uniform policy which bans girls from wearing pants or shorts.

Rachael Mibus, 11, her sister Claire, 10, prefer to wear pants to school, which their mum Melissa wants to happen at all schools. Picture: Adam Yip

A SCHOOL has been accused of sexism and discrimination because of an “outdated” uniform policy which bans girls from wearing pants or shorts.

Concerned mother Melissa Mibus said she was forced to put in a “conscientious objection” at John Palmer Public School at The Ponds so daughters Rachael and Claire could wear trousers this winter.

In summer the school uniform requires girls to wear dresses while in winter the only choice is a tunic.

“Girls are not being afforded the same opportunities as boys are,” Ms Mibus said.

“Beyond being ridiculous, it is harming to young girls who do not wish to wear dresses because it does not afford the same level of comfort and practicality afforded to the boys.”

She said her eldest — who “absolutely hates wearing dresses” — was now being teased and bullied because she wore different clothes to the other girls.

“The whole idea behind a school uniform is to unify everyone, but (my daughter) is now being ostracised from her peers,” she said.

Ms Mibus said she had tried to have gender equality introduced into the school uniform but the P&C declined.

Rachael and Claire like wearing trousers to school. Picture: Adam Yip

An Education Department spokesman said the P&C had reviewed the uniform in 2013 and staff and parents were “overwhelmingly in favour of each of the uniforms being ­retained as is”.

The state’s school uniform policy says clothes must reflect “community standards and expectations” while being consistent with “anti-discrimination” and “equal opportunity” laws.

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has declined Ms Mibus’ requests to intervene and the department informed her there was “no foundation” to her claims of discrimination because her daughters had been given an exemption.

“Even though the education department has clear policies relating to sexual discrimination and equal opportunity it would appear that they will not make local schools enforce them,” Ms Mibus said.

A department director sent Ms Mibus an email which said there was “no foundation” to her claims of discrimination because her daughters had been given an exemption from the uniform.

The Daily Telegraph has seen a number of other NSW school uniform lists which do not provide a pants option for girls — something Ms Mibus said needed to change.

She said the Anti-Discrimination Board NSW had now referred her concerns to The Public Interest Advocacy Centre, a non-profit law and policy organisation.

Earlier this year, a Melbourne Catholic primary school back-pedalled on its ‘no-pants’ policy for girls after a mother started an online petition which gained almost 20,000 signatures.