There is currently a small and misguided movement aiming to change the way uniforms work in St Dominic's College, Cabra. The movement claims that the current uniform of St Dominic's College is not inclusive of transgender and genderqueer youth in the school, and that the "female only" uniform is unsuitable for a female only school.

The petition can be seen here: https://www.change.org/p/principal-ann-donnelly-gender-equality-in-st-dominic-s-college-cabra-uniforms

This petition takes an irresponsible and naive approach on the gender identity debate, prioritising feelings and comfort, over factual engagement with the issue. Indeed, by their own standards of what makes a trans-issue, the original petition itself could be considered transphobic, as it makes the assumption that trousers are "male clothes" and skirts are "female clothes", enforcing the vague "gender barriers" that the petition wants to break down. This shows a worrying lack of clarity or understanding in this movement.

The whole concept of gender identity as being removed from biological sex to such a degree that acceptance of the opposite sex's iconography, dress and behaviour is necessary is founded upon incredibly flawed research: https://samanthakatepsychology.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/david-reimer-possibly-the-most-unethical-study-in-psychological-history/

See more here: http://www.simplypsychology.org/gender-biology.html

In fact, giving in to the petition's demands could be potentially dangerous, with the dangers of transgender ideology demonstrated by the American College of Pediatricians: https://www.acpeds.org/the-college-speaks/position-statements/gender-ideology-harms-children

Children and teenagers are particularly susceptible to clashes of identity, and arguments against school uniforms are nothing new. In light of previous fads and phases, much of the argument remains the same. Students apparently "feel as if they are not permitted to be themselves", "have the right to be themselves", and should "feel free to express themselves". However, a uniform should be just that: uniform. The uniform survived the same arguments from "emo kids", from scene after scene, fad after fad, and it should continue to survive.

The research posted above is clear: "as many as 98% of gender confused boys and 88% of gender confused girls eventually accept their biological sex after naturally passing through puberty" (DSM-5). In a world where transgender feelings are never questioned, and always catered to, we face a huge number of teenage students for whom experiments in treatments and hormone suppression are extremely dangerous. Don't make the mistake of catering to a petition that so openly flirts with this ideology.

In conclusion, Principal Donnelly, don't give in to flawed and pointless demands from teenagers doing what teenagers often to, rebelling against authority. Don't give in to cry-bullies, people who uses the perceived righteousness of a social justice cause as a pretext to get their way. Don't give in to claims that you're not inclusive, or whatever else may come from this movement/petition. Don't give in to "feelings" but rely instead on what's actually best for the school: retention of the current uniform.