School Trustee Thinks Something Stinks About Student Body Spray
Posted October 9, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s called Axe and it’s supposed to be the cutting edge when it comes to fragrances for men.
Instead it may be chopped by school officials in the G.T.A.
The reason? The Toronto District School Board is angry at the way the body spray is being marketed and believes it may be violating a fragrance-free policy it hopes to institute.
It’s being sold as an aphrodisiac for boys, a way to get girls to come after them. That in itself upsets trustees like John Matlow. “I think these fragrance companies know what they’re doing, they’re focusing on young boys ’cause they want to let these boys know they can meet girls if they spray it on them,” he condemns.
“We’re certainly smelling it in every classroom in our school system.”
The problem: so many young males are dousing themselves with so much of it, it’s becoming both ubiquitous and downright offensive, as well as bothering those who are already sensitive to strong perfumes and odours.
“It doesn’t smell the greatest, but it attracts the girls, I guess,” shrugs Stephanie, who’s in Grade 6.
Some parents understand the sensitivity, but wonder if officials aren’t going overboard.
“I think it’s an overreaction,” suggests Chris Bell. “It’s taking things too far, which is only too typical in a lot of public institutions.”
To some, the idea of a ban on fragrances makes sense. But to others, it doesn’t make scents. And they’re upset their freedom is being sacrificed to what they see as possible political correctness.
For now, the school board admits there’s no policy in place to protect staff or students from a perfume overload. So it plans to hold public hearings first, then have a ban in place by the end of the year.
