To think the school are being arses?

[TheLadyEvenstar]

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

Well, you can express individuality. But school isn't the best place to do it. And anyway, if other boys have similar haircuts, it's hardly individuality is it?

There's no mileage in teaching your DS to rebel against school rules, however stupid you think they are.

The last thing you want is for him to become the class rebel and end up underachieving, because he's spent all his school life twatting about breaking rules.

We all know that there are some school rules which are pointless, stultifyinbg and just plain stupid. In my day, it was having to wear your boater or hat on top of your head (no slung at a jaunty angle for us) at any time you were in uniform off grounds. But the point is they are the rules, and railing against them just teaches children that not all rules in school are to be obeyed. And before you know it, they're sneaking off to the copse having a fag at lunchtime and snogging in the cricket pavilion (or was that just me?)....

Anyway, its not going to kill him or you to even up his hair, so just bite the bullet and get on with it.

In your OP you say they rang you to tell you it was unacceptable. So is his hairstyle against school rules, and is there any rules in the student handbook?
Everyone is banging on about adhering to school rules but that is not what you have said. It could just be a case of a different teacher has seen it and doesn't like mohicans.

Would a teacher have the power to send a child home for a haircut though? I would have thought it would have had to be the head of year at least to make that kind of decision?

debs75, that was my point too.. clarification please evenstar

The whys and the wherefores of whether or not a haircut affects learning are irrelevent.

You chose the school, therefore you chose to adhere to its rules. However petty they may seem.

YABU.

But Oiteach were they the rules or just one teachers interpretation?

A teacher can't just send a child home. It would have to be a Head of Year or SLT.

It would have to be the rules, as others said a teacher can't randomly send a pupil home.

My biggest objection to the "affect his learning" bit is that the school is claiming that any learning at all is going on four days before the end of the term.

All they will be doing is watching DVDs.

It's clearly a disciplinary/don't flout the rules, sonny issue.

I would guess that if other children have mohicans as well as him, and they are still at school, then there might have been a little display of attitude somewhere along the line which perhaps contributed to the decision to send him home.

YABVU, and worse, unhelpful to your DS.

Personally I am not struck on rules re clothing and hair. However, once they are in a school it is really important that you do, as another poster said. Work WITH the other adults in his life and not against. Help him get ion in the school, not fight it. How confusing for him otherwise. If it's a rule, it's a rule. You sound like a 14 yo, whining 'but other poeple have differnt cuts...but he's had it like it befoooooore'. So what? If it's against the rules, it's against the rules.. I really feel fro schools and teachers who have to put up with this petty childish moaning from parents. No wonder kids think they have the right to make every detail in the world revolve around them.

If you think you have the ability to educate better your way, then give the school a break and HE him.

Nicely put Blu.

StayFrosty - know, and youre right. But it was the 'see you here in a few weeks' I thought was mean.

But hey, as you were. Im not MN police!

I am with loopy on this one-you see it so often in schools-the parents condone the child's minor rebellions so the child tries it on a bit more.He probably wanted his uncle to trim the sides of his hair just to make sure that the 'I've got a mohican' message was clearly understood.It will affect his learning because,having realised that he doesnt have to listen to teachers re haircut etc then why not play up a bit in class,get the other boys to think he's 'cool' and most of all....why listen to the teachers at all?

I quite like the teenagers who dare to be themselves ..nothing wrong with that in my book

Loopy how wrong you are I am the first to tell him off if he is in the wrong.

Now I am off to read all the replies

For a start I do see his hair as a MINOR thing I also am working with every individual who is involved with DS1. Trust me there are enough of them.

ok the hair itself...
a number 2 on the side - allowed by school
and about 2 1/2 - 3" on top - also allowed by the school.

Schools code of Conduct

CODE OF CONDUCT IN THE CLASSROOM
Classrooms (including labs, workshops and gyms) are places of work. Just as in any factory or office, rules and expectations need to be clearly understood to allow everyone to work successfully, safely and enjoyably. Pupils must be ready to learn.

1. Before pupils enter a classroom, the expectation is that pupils will: Arrive at class on time Wear full school uniform. Line up before each lesson under the supervision of their teacher.
2. At the start of lessons, pupils must: Enter rooms in silence and go straight to your workplace, sitting where the teacher requires you to sit. Take off and put away any outdoor wear (not on your desk) Have pen, pencil, ruler, diary and any books or folders needed Take out books, pens and equipment Put bags away (not on desks) Start ?focus work? Remain silent during registration (except when your name is called!)
3. During lessons, pupils must: Remain silent and concentrate when the teacher talks to the whole class. Put up your hand to answer a question. Do not call out (unless you are asked for ideas) Work sensibly with classmates, respecting the view of others. Do not distract or annoy them Refrain from talking to classmates unless it is part of a class activity. Treat classmates with respect, no teasing. Wait until after class to discuss a disagreement with a teacher ? absolutely no arguing in class Be detained, if late with no justification, for a set amount of time in order to make up the work. Record homework in the School Planner Not eat, drink or chew in lessons. If caught you will have to empty your mouth, hand in any other food or drink and receive a sanction. Not bring walkmans, radios, mobile phones, mp3 players, all electronic devices, magazines or other distractions. If seen they will be confiscated. If your mobile phone is seen or heard during the lesson, it will be confiscated by the teacher Not leave a lesson without a note from a teacher. SLANT ? Sit, Listen, Attitude, Nod, Track
4. End of lessons:

The tannoy/pips are not the signals for you. They are information for the teacher You should not begin to pack away or put on outdoor wear until your teacher tells you to do so When told, stand and push in or put up your chairs. Any litter should be picked up Only when your teacher finally tells you to go may you leave the room.

1. Finally, but most importantly, teachers are in the position of parents/guardians while you are in school. This means in particular that:

There is no excuse for rudeness or disrespect towards teachers Any reasonable request from a teacher should be carried out at once and without argument. Breaking either of these basic rules will be treated as a VERY serious matter. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PUPILS AROUND THE ACADEMY

1. Treat everyone with courtesy and expect in turn to be treated with courtesy.
2. Allow everyone to feel comfortable and safe in school.
3. Always walk on the left.
4. Walk sensibly along the corridors.
5. Walk quietly, keeping appropriate voice level
6. Do not run. Running can seriously undermine the Health and Safety of all in the school community
7. Do not push. You must move safely around the school.
8. Eat only in the appropriate places - dining hall, playground.
9. No eating/drinking in the corridors. We want pupils to be proud of their school environment.

10. Respect the environment. Use the bins provided and help to keep our school as clean and healthy as possible. 11. Hats, caps, bandanas and hoodies are not allowed on the school site. 12. Do not congregate around the reception, main school door, front of the school, staffroom, classrooms or offices. 13. Absolutely no play fighting 14. Respect other students, their work and belongings. 15. Use appropriate language and be respectful to all other students, staff and visitors. Code of Conduct for pupils outside the school Students are expected to be responsible citizens of the local community and good representatives of the Academy, particularly in the following ways:

1. Show respect to others
2. Under no circumstances do something that brings the school into disrepute
3. Keep the neighbourhood free of litter ? put all wrappers, paper, cans, etc. in rubbish bins
4. Exhibit good behaviour when travelling to and from school
5. Use appropriate language in public
6. Use appropriate manners at bus stops and on public transportation (no rough play or being loud on the buses or at the bus stops)
7. No fighting (fighting with another student from the school or with students from another school before or after school will be treated as a fight in school)

Nowhere can I see where it says about hair styles there.

The home/school agreement

We will: I will agree to conduct myself in a courteous and professional manner when coming into the Academy See that my son/daughter attends regularly, on time, in full school uniform and is properly equipped Keep the Academy informed of any concerns or problems which might affect my son?s/daughter?s work, behaviour, attendance or punctuality Support the Academy?s policies and guidelines for behaviour, including the anti-bullying and anti-drugs policies Support my child?s learning by
 Showing an interest in their homework and by signing their homework diary each week
 Attending parent?s evenings and discussions about my son/daughter in order to work with the Academy to ensure his/her progress
 Ensuring that they attend support classes where necessary Agree to Senior Management Detentions on Saturday mornings from 9.00-11.00am and accompany my son/daughter if they violate the Academy?s code of conduct. Resolve disputes with members of the Academy?s community by way of mediation via the Senior Management Team

The pupil agreement.

Attend school regularly, on time and in full school uniform Come to school ready for work, always have with me pen/pencil case, homework diary, school bag and PE kit when required Do my classwork and homework as well as I can, recognising that failure to do so will result in detention Show respect to teachers, listen and act upon requests and instructions Not bring the Academy?s name into disrepute Support the Academy?s code of conduct Sort out disputes with other pupils in the Academy by telling my teachers and not involving relatives or friends from outside Not use my mobile phone on the Academy premises. If I?m found using a mobile phone it will be confiscated Not wear jewellery, apart from girls who are allowed one stud in each ear.

I cannot see in any of them where is says about hair...maybe someone else can and can point it out.

Get him a wig - they will be hard pressed to disagree with a wig for school to comform to their standards and you will have at least tryed to conform to their standards

But the point surely TLES, is that it's much easier to simply trim his hair, than engage in a major battle over whether the school were exactly 100% right in applying the rules? That way you avoid making it into an even bigger deal.

Oh and as for mohicans affecting leanring - I went out with a boy who had a mohican and a full scholarship to a public school - he left with 11 O'levels grade A for 9 and grade B for 2 added to 4 A'levels, his mate also had a fully scholarship and got 12 o'levels and 4 A'levels, his brother had a full scholarship to another private boys cathlic school and did very well with around 10 o'levels

So possible if they had had standard hair cuts they would have got more o'levles?

never judge a book by it's cover is something I was taught in life at an early age and not to be judgemental

Just trim his bloody hair and send him back to school. Stop giving him the "oxygen of publicity"

Say something like "well, you and I both think it's a bit of a crap rule, but it's not worth getting inot a major hassle about. Pick your battles - that's a really imoportant lesson to learn in life"

Once a kid's got a reputation for being a bit of a trouble maker, the reputation will follow him round for the next 6 years.

I'm afraid that the more you fight this the more you rather than the school will look like an arse.