Teacher bans hockey jerseys

Stouffville students told to remove sweaters worn to honour Bronco victims Some parents at Summitview are demanding an apology.

The House of Commons, Queen’s Park, schools, businesses: everywhere you looked April 12, there were hockey jerseys.

But one of the few places they weren’t welcome was in a kindergarten class at Summitview Public School in Stouffville.

Chris Mulchinock sent his two children to school wearing jerseys for Jersey Day, a national tribute to the Humboldt Broncos.

When Mulchinock’s youngest, Arthur, returned from school not wearing the jersey of his favourite player, Sidney Crosby, his father was confused.

“I asked him, ‘Arthur, where is your jersey?’ ” he said.

The boy said his teacher made him take it off. When his dad asked why, Arthur didn’t know.

“I’m a little disappointed about my son being forced to remove his jersey,” Mulchinock said. “It’s insane.”

Accompanying the jersey in Arthur’s backpack was a note that said there was commotion in the class from students wearing jerseys. The note said the teacher wasn’t comfortable talking to the students about the tragic bus crash that killed 16 people affiliated with the Sas- katchewan Jr. A hockey team and injured several others.

The note said when the teacher asked the children why they were wearing jerseys, most of them didn’t know.

Mulchinock went to Summitview the next day to talk to his son’s teacher. According to Mulchinock, she told him Arthur didn’t know why he was wearing the jersey, so she asked him to take it off.

Mulchinock went to the principal to demand an apology. “There needs to be accountability. All the kids who went home thinking they did something wrong need an apology.”

York Region District School Board spokesperson Licinio Miguelo said children should not have been asked to remove their jerseys. “We regret that the actions of this teacher have upset some children, their families and members of the community,” Miguelo said.