school crack down on hair colour

[mrsfuzzy]

new school year and problems already! ds is 14 and like a lot of girls her age experiments with her hair, for the first time during the school hols she tried a semi permanent raspberry colour on her red hair [god knows why- ex p let her do it] anyhow i was cool with that as it doesn't look that obvious, as she washes it it becomes less obvious, however school are cracking down on these things make up, uniform etc as they did last year, but she brought a note home yesterday saying to remove the dye or steps will be taken, i wasn't fazed by this as each wash reduces the colour, but how do people 'get away' with flouting the rules about such things one girl has dyed her hair jet black with blue streaks over the hols and mum told me she is not going to remove the colour for anyone, one lad keeps one side of his head shaved in spite of repeated warnings, mum says she ignores them, i accept the school policy that's not the problem but aibu to wonder why it seems the 'easy targets get picked on' to set an example? any thoughts or similar experiences anyone?

In short: if there's an ongoing extenuating circumstance I expect the Head to work with the family to deal with it. If there's an day to day emergency, for the HOY to authorise it with a note. If something happens in, for example, a PE lesson, for that teacher to write a note explaining and to address the problem. I think expecting individual class teachers to use their discretion in each lesson invites inconsistency, wastes time and is not fair on teachers or pupils.

I can see why our teachers 'pretended not to notice' minor infractions.

The Head of Years taught, as did Form teachers, Head of upper school, Head of Lower school and Head of 6th. The only one who didn't was the HT, but he often had meetings.

Big school about 1500 pupils. It worked though. Got good results. Had a good reputation.

I can see why our teachers 'pretended not to notice' minor infractions

That's where you get inconsistencies. I taught as a HOY by the way. I expected to deal with such issues before the start of school.

As a class teacher I objected to trying to address them only to be met with "Mrs X didn't say anything last lesson..."

How can you expect to address issues at the 'start of school', if they happen half way through the day?

I was emailed two links in the Daily mail about pupil's uniform, one was a skirt that was too stretchy (I have no idea how a skirt can be too stretchy) the other about a boy with an inappropriate hair cut and the mother saying that it was a stupid rule (paraphrase) it turns out that the boy was sent home last year for exactly the same thing (different haircut).

Some parents don't help their own cause.

I think the system worked at our school because you could not be guaranteed not to be reprimanded for uniform infractions.

However the teachers were understanding regarding accidental infractions, such as soaked / broken shoes, your parents could provide you with a note. If this happened a lot I expect the SMT would have wanted a discussion with the parents.

I said that in the PE case you cited I expected the PE teacher to address it. There are breaks, lunctime and afternoon registration, all of which I expected to use as a HOY to deal with matters arising, not to mention nonh contact periods. If I wasn't free the likelihood was that a fellow HOY would be and would help by dealing with an emergency situation, and I would help them out too if necessary. Either way, imo situations need dealing with consistently that that should not need to be down to individual subject teachers on a lesson by lesson basis.

If your parents can provide you with a note presumably you have that note when you arrive at school and the HOY can be informed. It doesn't then need the individual teacher to be "understanding" at all. The matter is dealt with.

Boney I saw the one about the hair cut. I would have thought the parent would have realised that it was likely to be unacceptable.

ilovesootyAll OK if it works. Does seem a lot of fuss though, over uniform.

Perhaps we weren't that rebellious at my school, but I do not remember anyone really pushing it that much, apart from wearing boots in the snow. But it was only the Deputy Head that used to insist on that, the other teachers pretended not to notice this. We just used to avoid the Deputy.

All in all not much of school time was spent in regard to uniform or lack of.

^that should be 'not wearing boots'.

That is we weren't allowed boots.

We showed the note to individual teachers that is all.

I spent my entire career working in difficult schools. In the one where I was a HOY pupils didn't push the boundaries because they knew what the frameworks were and how they needed to approach situations where they could not comply with uniform requirements through no fault of their own. In my last school individual teachers were expected to deal with situations and there was a lot of inconsistency which caused argument, time wasting and confrontation by pupils and parents who objected to the teachers who attempted to enforce the rules. It was easier not to bother and a lot of teachers were lazy enough to take the line of least resistence, making it harder for their colleagues. Every so often the Assistant Head would have a "uniform purge" which resulted in two days of staff being expected to address infractions, and after that no one much bothered until the next one. And the pupils generally did as they pleased, which was to no one's advantage.

LOL I do remember uniform purges. It wasn't many teachers that participated though. Mainly there would be a talk in assembly and the Deputy Head would be 'on the rampage' (mainly about boots and overly long skirts). The uniform was quite relaxed though no compulsory blazers or logos - apart from the one on the Upper School tie.

We learnt, the school got good results. We just knew not to turn up with very short skirts or loads of obvious make-up or outrageous hair dye. There was a lot of bleached hair (80s) and maroon coloured hair, some dyed black hair. There was crimped and curled hair. No blue or pink. Oh and there was the possibility of being sent to the chemistry lab to remove nail varnish or the toilets to remove excessive make-up. Any teacher could insist on this.

You could be sent to the Year Head or put on report but I don't know any who were, for uniform.

LOL I do remember uniform purges. It wasn't many teachers that participated though

We had no choice: we had to submit lists/records.

Honestly, the system in the school where I was a HOY was much more effective and pleasant, and though it might look as though it was a lot of work, it really wasn't.

It does sound like the system worked for you but I expect the uniform policy itself was fairer, easier to enforce than some of the uniform rules mentioned up-thread.

For example I think whole uniforms that can only be purchased from a couple of authorised suppliers for a State School is wrong. Parents don't necessarily have the resources to spend on these often overpriced items or much choice when it comes to schools. The schools tend to be quite big and the uniform suppliers sometimes do not have sufficient stocks.

With Private Schools parents have chosen to send their child there, they will probably expect to have a very individual uniform and money is probably less of an issue.

but don't you think it's a very petty way for a well educated senior position adult to spend their working day?

I want the hoy to be upping exam results, sorting out the curriculum, getting exciting new innovations in the school, tackling real issues like bullying. not obsessing over a teenagers foot wear or hair.

schools in Europe manage well without this stupid petty crap so why are we doing it in Britain.?

I suppose its the sake reason we state formal education at 4 when all studies show this is detrimental to early years.

we do it because we always have despite the evidence baed research that it does not in the least drive up standards.

what a waste of everyone's time, teachers parents and pupils.

I think the lack of record keeping about such matters was down to being at school in the 80s.

I expect the uniform policy itself was fairer, easier to enforce than some of the uniform rules mentioned up-thread

Absolutely. Black skirts/trousers. White shirts. Tie. Black shoes (not trainers). No extreme hair styles. All pretty mainstream really, which meant (wrt the body's post, that I didn't have to "spend my day" dealing with it, or doing any "obsessing" I didn't have to do much apart from sanction occasional trainers and deal with non wearing of ties now and then. And the girls knew better than to try sporting loads of bling!

The fact that it was a simple and fair uniform did make a lot of difference. It was also one that had been agreed by consultation involving teachers, parents and pupils. I'm not a massive fan of uniform, but I think if it's there it should be simple, affordable, and clearly/consistently enforced in such a way that individual teachers don't have to compromise teaching and learning by wasting time dealing with it.

I forgot: black jumper (no sweatshirts) with school logo, but this could be sewn/stuck on to a standard v-necked jumper purchased anywhere.

but why? uniform does not = better results.

No but rules are rules. Its hardly going to help our kids is it, saying its ok not to follow little rules.it wont help them in the work place.

i wish I understood why secondary schools don't allow children to take their sweatshirts/jumpers of when they grt hot, particularly as their polo shirts have the school logo ( at my children's school) on? It seems to be a standard rule, but I don't understand why? In our primary school children are allowed to take their jumpers off if they are feeling warm, so long as they put them in their drawers,and don't tie them round their waist. This is to (a) stop them looking untidy and (b) stop them fiddling with them instead of concentrating on what is going on. But I can't understand why teenagers can't be allowed to make that choice. It seems nuts!