Urgent School say my Sons hair is too short!

[Dontjudgeme101]

My son told me last night, that the his hair is cut too short. The school have had, if it happens again, that he will have to go into isolation until it grows to a acceptable level. I need to contact school this morning to speak to them about it. It looks neat and tidy and it grows really quickly. His hair is mixed and he doesn’t look after it properly. Is there anything, that’ll can say to the school, or will l just have to accept that it’s too short?

[dementedpixie]

How short is it?
I think its bonkers that some schools have draconian rules about hair. I'm not sure it affects their learning!

[WaltzingBetty]

Sadly this discrimination is common, and some schools won't actually realise that they are inadvertently discriminating against black and mixed race pupils and need it pointed out

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/25/black-pupils-excluded-hair-discrimination-equality-act

The halo collective has some useful articles and resources:

halocollective.co.uk

[Dontjudgeme101]

Thank you for replying. The top is short , nit sure how many inches, that’s fine. It’s is the back, it’s 11/2 inches.

[Dontjudgeme101]

@dementedpixie

How short is it?
I think its bonkers that some schools have draconian rules about hair. I'm not sure it affects their learning!

Yes, you are right about the learning.

[Dontjudgeme101]

@WaltzingBetty

Sadly this discrimination is common, and some schools won't actually realise that they are inadvertently discriminating against black and mixed race pupils and need it pointed out

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/25/black-pupils-excluded-hair-discrimination-equality-act

The halo collective has some useful articles and resources:

halocollective.co.uk

Thank you for those interesting articles. I don’t how to word it to the school about his haircut?

[Ilovemaisie]

Ask if he can wear a head scarf while it is growing. A nice granny style one like the Queen wears.
This is there type of thing that makes very very angry about schools and their petty pointless nonsense.

[toffeebutterpopcorn]

An inch and a half at the back and the top is longer? How long exactly are they expecting it to be? Is there any mention in the school handbook/website. Surely as long as it it tidy and clean, what’s the problem?

DS has it very short back and sides and monger in the top (sounds like we have the same issue - thick curly hair and never sees a hairbrush).

[Dontjudgeme101]

I agree it’s petty and pointless. I don’t want to come across as a ‘agressive back woman’ in saying something to school about this matter. Also, l don’t want my son to feel embarrassed about this situation either. I want to be calm and direct when l talk to the school today about it.

[MichelleScarn]

How on earth does this affect his learning? Absolutely ridiculous!! Is it because they think his head will get cold and distract him? Absolutely bonkers!!

[SpiderinaWingMirror]

Take some pictures today before he goes to school so you have a record of what "too short" looks like.
I would word it
Little judge has been told that his hair is too short.
Due to his black heritage, his hair is naturally (depends what the texture is,so your words). The solution to this is to have it short. This means that it is as neat as possible. I have looked at the rules and this, to my eye, meets the requirement ( no.2, no fade whatever.
Please can you advise?

[Sbk28]

You don't need to be angry (though I wish you didn't have to worry about being stereotyped as an angry black woman for being angry) and you don't need to deal all in one phone call. State that you would like to see their policy (you can pretend that it's so you can follow it).

Once you've seen the policy, if there is one, you can then challenge it as discriminatory.

[Dontjudgeme101]

Just looked at School Policy, it states no, extreme styles. Not allowed tram lines or shaving of the hair. It says short hair minimum grade 2. It’s there in print. So his hair is 1/2 inch too short. So l am in the wrong.

[toffeebutterpopcorn]

I think they need to be specific regarding what they think is ‘unsuitable’.

God I had my back and sides cut with a #2 when I was at school and noone said anything. My head did get cold though.

[toffeebutterpopcorn]

Half an inch? That can’t be right - that’s long for a boys short cut surely.

[TeenMinusTests]

This came up in active.
Who at school said it was too short?
Can you go above their head or sideways? (eg to head of year or pastoral)
Is there a Black teacher who could advocate for you?

1.5 inches is usually plenty long enough if it were straight hair.

[ginoclocksomewhere]

What the hell does the length of his hair have to do with his learning?! 🤯

Also contact your MP, I'm sure I read somewhere a while ago there was to be a discussion in parliament re: racial discrimination based on hairstyles!

[toffeebutterpopcorn]

Who is actually measuring hair! Because yes straight hair will hang lower than curly (or frizzy in my case). I still think 1.5 inches is long for a ‘boys’ cut.

[AreTurnipsReal]

Can you say that you respect school rules but it is difficult to abide this rule because it doesnt take into account how black people care and can care for their hair? Just be calm and relaxed and you will be fine hopefully.
I am sorry you have this stress - wishing you luck . Could you offer to send them some articles, or ask if they need help understanding how to care for black hair?

[bunburyscucumbersandwich]

Ffs! This really pisses me off. What does someone's hair have to do with their education?

There are a few key points here: dera.ioe.ac.uk/7044/4/uniform%20guidance%20-%20final2.doc that you could pick out, such as

A school must have regard to its obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 and anti-discrimination legislation.

Remind them that 'protected characteristics' of race is being discriminated against as Afro hair is different from the hair that they are setting the rules for.

[TeenMinusTests]

Grade 2 is 1/4 inch though?

[TenaciousOnePointOne]

@Dontjudgeme101

Just looked at School Policy, it states no, extreme styles. Not allowed tram lines or shaving of the hair. It says short hair minimum grade 2. It’s there in print. So his hair is 1/2 inch too short. So l am in the wrong.

A grade 2 is shorter than 2inches, it is 1/4 of an inch.

[JingsMahBucket]

This is seriously racial harassment.

[DietrichandDiMaggio]

A grade 2 is not 2 inches long, it's more like 1/4 inch.

[Ilovemaisie]

Even if you are technically 'wrong' what do they expect you to do - you can't put the hair back. They should just say "we will let it go this time but remember for next time". How long will it take to grow to 'acceptable' length.

[toffeebutterpopcorn]

I do a 2 or 3 on back and sides for DS. It’s not too short it’s near. I can’t see it being worse on him than on, say floppy blonde hair (which would look even shorter surely?)