School Board Defends Teacher Seen Wearing Large Prosthetic Breasts in Class in Viral Video

Halton District School Board is defending one of its teachers who was videotaped and photographed wearing large prosthetic breasts to class at Oakville Trafalgar High School.(BlurryMe/Shutterstock)

An Ontario school board is defending a Toronto-area teacher who has been videotaped and photographed wearing large prosthetic breasts to class.

“We are standing behind this member of staff, as prescribed by the Ontario Charter of Human Rights,” Margo Shuttleworth, chair of the Halton District School Board (HDSB), told The Epoch Times on Sept. 19.

The Oakville Trafalgar High School (OTHS) shop teacher was recently recorded wearing large prosthetic breasts with protruding nipples while demonstrating to students how to use a circular saw. The video and several accompanying photos were uploaded to Twitter and quickly began circulating last week.

An article published in the Toronto Sun on Sept. 17 said that the teacher is transgender, and pre-transitioning was known to students and faculty as a male and went by a man’s name. The teacher now identifies as a woman and is referenced with a female name.

When asked if she could provide further commentary on the matter, Shuttleworth said it’s a “staffing issue” that the OTHS could better answer.

The Epoch Times reached out to the OTHS several times but didn’t hear back.

The online publication Reduxx says the OTHS sent a statement to all parents whose children attend the high school saying that it “recognizes the rights of students, staff, parents/guardians and community members to equitable treatment without discrimination based upon gender identity and gender expression” and also that it strives to promote “positive learning.”

Not receiving a response from OTHS to confirm if it had issued the statement, The Epoch Times asked the HDSB communications about it, which said in response, “as this is a personnel matter, we cannot provide further information.”

“The Halton District School Board is committed to establishing and maintaining a safe, caring, inclusive, equitable and welcoming learning and working environment for all students and staff,” said HDSB in the email.

“The HDSB recognizes the rights of students, staff, parents/guardians and community members to equitable treatment without discrimination based upon gender identity and gender expression. Gender identity and gender expression are protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.”

The OTHS 2021-2022 dress code states that “dress codes must prevent students from wearing clothing that exposes or makes visible genitals and nipples.”

The OTHS’s dress code is based on the HDSB’s standard “School Dress Code,“ which states that ”schools are encouraged to create a dress code that is reflective of the age and stage of their students.”

The dress code does not designate rules for staff and faculty, but does state that “students have a right to learn in a safe and caring space that is free of bias and discrimination.”

The Epoch Times also reached out to all three HDSB Oakville trustees but didn’t hear back.