Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the school are being arses?

379 replies

TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:08

For the last 6 weeks DS1 has had a mohican (sp) yesterday my bil thinned the sides out as ds1's hair is very thick and curly.

Now I have not seen his hair today as he stayed with my mum last night, but at 8.30 the school phoned to say he was on his way home for having an inappropriate hair cut which they feel will affect his learning ????????

How the hell can a haircut affect learning ffs

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:13

I have been told to cut it all off or keep him home until it grows out.

but he has had the same style for weeks grrrrrrr

there are only 4 days left of school

OP posts:
Trifle · 19/07/2010 09:14

I agree with the school. Why is it necessary to have a mohican. You'll get others who decide they want their head shaved, dyed, razor stripes etc. Totally inappropriate. The schools round here dont allow such hairstyles and wont allow hair any shorter than a No. 3. Accept it and deal with it.

LaBellaSantaCatarinadiSienna · 19/07/2010 09:15

Out of interest, what's their policy for girls' hair? I only ask because a friend of mine had a phone call about her son's fringe being too long and affecting his learning. She asked how the girls managed. They didn't have an answer to that..

CoronaAndLime · 19/07/2010 09:17

I would love to know the science behind their thinking!

Unless he has 'fu*k off Cun£s' shaved into his hair, then I think the school should mind their own.

loopyloops · 19/07/2010 09:18

YABU.
The school, will have a dress code, which will outline what haircuts are acceptable and otherwise. Strange as it sounds, I have seen this kind of haircut seriously affect learning. Boys with mohicans and the type (who, massive generalisation but still: tend to be the naughty boys) start to act up to the style, getting more and more difficult the longer they are allowed to look like a rebel. Other children will (for some bizarre reason) think he looks cool and want to copy him. Before you know it all the "popular" boys are looking like Rik Mayall and refusing to listen to the teacher.

emy72 · 19/07/2010 09:19

Actually girls have "hair rules" too. They have to wear their hair tied back and can't have fancy styles in them. They are also allowed no jewellery or makeup.

I think if it's in the school rules then that's fair enough. You do have a point that we are at the end of term though............

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:19

Trifle, he is not the only one with the hair style. There are plenty of boys with it.

There are white boys with the same style and black boys with designs in their hair...how can it be inappropriate for DS1 and not others?

Thats what I don't understand,

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 19/07/2010 09:20

Unless his head is somehow going to catch a chill and freeze his brains, I can't see how his haircut is going to affect his learning .

They are being arses. Unfortunately I think they are allowed to have these rules and insist on them. Keep him home to "grow it out" and then clip it all off at the end of the holidays.

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:23

AMIS lol yep that could be it brain freeze lol

OP posts:
loopyloops · 19/07/2010 09:24

Didn't you know? Mohicans lower IQ by a half!

gillybean2 · 19/07/2010 09:25

Well I guess there must be something different about today's hairstyle. And as you didn't see his hair this morning I guess you'll have to wait till you see it to know...

How old is he and does the school have policy on haircuts? Am guessing this must be secondary school..?

Schools often have uniform and appearance policies. Children shouldn't be worrying about fashion (hence uniforms) and hairstyles too much when they ar ein a learning environment.

My ds is starting secondary and we were told no shorter than 3, no razor stripes (parents were advised these should be grown out over the summer as some boys did have them), no unnatural colour. We were also told that absolutely no jewellry is allowed apart from a watch. That includes pierced ears, all earings have to be removed at school (boys and girls).

So if you don't follow these rules the child may well be sent home. However anotehr local school has no such rules. So I guess it depends on teh school's policy. Presumably you signed the parent/pupil agreement for the school?

Your ds can gel up his hair to make it more of the effect he wants at the weekend maybe. Perhaps he's been sent in with gel or colour or something different today that has tipped the balance here...

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:25

loopy is that because the hair holds the brain in place??? haha

OP posts:
mummytime · 19/07/2010 09:26

Schools have rules on dress, they should be consistently enforced. But maybe your son had already been spoken to, had been give leeway for it to grow out, but then as it was trimmed back in they have decided to act.

Most places where people work have similar rules. The school rules prepare young people for the world of work. If rules which are in place are allowed to be flouted, then young people will not learn that they have to obey societies rules or bear the consequences, which with extreme hairstyles can be the sack.

Girls also get punished for extreme hairstyles, make up usually involves being given some wet wipes.

usualsuspect · 19/07/2010 09:26

What a ridiculous rule ..

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:27

~No Gilly, was told when i asked that it is not gelled up. and my mum wouldn't allow him to have it coloured but i will see in a while what the problem is as he is on his way home.

OP posts:
seeker · 19/07/2010 09:27

A haircut on a particular individual can affect the learning of his whole class, believe me!

And if the school has a dress code then you should stick to it. It doesn't matter what anyone else does or doesn't do - there is a dress code and it doesn't do a kid any good to see his parent being a barrack room lawyer about stuff like this.

Cut it all the same legnth, say "Them's the breaks, kid" and send him to school tomorrow.

mumofthreesweeties · 19/07/2010 09:27

rules are rules OP. YABU

gillybean2 · 19/07/2010 09:29

Is your ds the only one being sent home today?

If other boys have it then perhaps the school is now taking action, right at the end of term where it won't affect their learning tooo much, but when it will give parents time to sort out the issue over the summer and make their point that this is an issue and they intend to act on it.

They probably want to catch this rolling stone before it gets completely out of control.

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:29

Mummytime, I have had appts with the school since his hair has been cut ,parents evening etc and there has been no mention of his hair. so there was obviously no problem before!

OP posts:
compo · 19/07/2010 09:30

I suspect instead of thinning out the sides your brother has shaved the sides

AMumInScotland · 19/07/2010 09:32

I'm guessing that whatever BIL did to thin the sides out has made it more extreme than it was before, which is why they've reacted now when they didn't before. Is it worth asking the school what would be allowed, so that he can have a version of what he'd like?

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:32

Compo I will see shortly when he gets home...i so hope I can do something with it without having to deal with a meltdown from DS1 over it.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:33

AMIS, shortback and sides or shaved.....

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 19/07/2010 09:33

ooppss pressed send too soon.

or an acceptable style.

OP posts:
BaggedandTagged · 19/07/2010 09:35

I would suspect that Uncle is being a bit economical with the truth when he says "thinned out". I'd take a look yourself.

I have to say though, I dont understand the issue with boys having completely shaved heads at school, given that it's pretty mainstream these days. Is it the association with the NF skins?

Swipe left for the next trending thread