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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that the school cannot enforce this uniform rule?

301 replies

ReanimatedSGB · 10/09/2017 22:01

DS started back at school on Friday and has come home with an annoying student handbook full of various pissy instructions and threats of hour-long detentions.
One thing I noticed was that 'boys' hair must be no longer than collar length. DS has long hair. While I completely understand a regulation that long hair must be tied back for school, isn't it actually illegal for them to insist that boys can't have long hair? IE sex discrimination?

OP posts:
rightnowimpissed · 10/09/2017 22:52

The rules are set out and you should follow them sorry but yabu. School is preperation for the world of work and looking neat and tidy is part of that.

Raizel · 10/09/2017 22:57

underneaththeash

Your post is utter nonsense from start to finish!

For a start would you like to explain why long hair on specifically boys looks "messy and daft?"

Also you do realise that women play contact sports as well and some of them have long hair! They get along fine! Not to mention all of the professional sportsmen who play a whole variety of different sports who have long hair!! They too are all fine! It is not more dangerous this is absolute rubbish!

I had long hair growing up and you know what I looked like a Pratt but at the time for me it was part of growing up, trying something new and expressing myself something which everyone has the right to do regardless of gender!

Op the rule is nonsense and you should fight it tooth and nail if it comes to it!

Raizel · 10/09/2017 23:00

rightnowimpissed

Are you saying that men in the work place can't look tidy with long hair?

If you are you know that's absolute rubbish right?!!

rightnowimpissed · 10/09/2017 23:06

No it's not rubbish thank you. It's absolutely not the look that 90% of employers want to see. And I know if anyone came into my office with this apperance they'd be asked to alter it. So promoting this look with boys is actually narrowing their choices and that's unfair in itself.

its not my rules but imagine someone turned up to any of the large banks wanting a job if they had hair down to their shoulders do you honestly think they'd get in the front door?

Raizel · 10/09/2017 23:12

Firstly not everyone who has long hair wears it down to their shoulders!
It could be tied back, nicely cut! Styled well!!

Can I ask does every women who has long hair have exactly the same style and look messy or untidy?

Also were do you get your 90% stat from? Is that an official stat or something you have just made up to support your view?

I work as a manager for a retail chain and I'm often in charge of recruitment and yes I do expect anyone regardless of their gender to be dressed appropriately for their interview but I don't judge a man by the length of his hair just as I wouldn't judge a women who had short or a shaved head as long as they looked professional I would judge them on ability!

corythatwas · 10/09/2017 23:14

Rightnow, by that logic schoolgirls should wear high heels because there are jobs where that will be expected of them.

Otoh plenty of jobs where nobody could care about either the length of your hair or the height of your heels as long as you look clean and tidy.

Surely there will be plenty of time for any boy who decides he wants to go into banking to have a haircut before he goes to that job interview?

rightnowimpissed · 10/09/2017 23:18

Tied back or not. It's not acceptable in many professions/jobs. Tell me if a consultant was sitting informs of you had long hair either in a man bun or down tattoo on his next and his fingers would you trust him to make you better in a grave situation.

I would suggest no because you make assumptions consciously or not based on his appearance.

My point is this what the rules for school apperance are based on and it's not an unusual rule it's one that I certainly held in all of my local schools so, the op is being unreasonable to protest.

rightnowimpissed · 10/09/2017 23:19

But how is his mother getting into a confrontation with his school going to help.

What you wear is dictated in a great number of jobs btw

Raizel · 10/09/2017 23:20

Cory I agree with what you say completely!

The only thing for me is why should a boy who wants to work in a bank have to have short hair? As long as it's tidy and he looks professional it shouldn't matter! If that's the case surely regardless of gender their should be a uniform length of hair for anyone wanting work in a bank!

By the way I'm not attacking you I think you speak a lot of sense I just think it's unfair!

Wolfiefan · 10/09/2017 23:22

This is a child. Not a consultant. FFS. And no. If I was seriously ill I wouldn't be worrying about whether my doctor had long hair or even a tattoo. But then I believe in judging a professional person on how well they do the job. Not on their hair or other superficial matters.
OP I would talk to the school. Students should be clean, smart and safe. Long hair shouldn't be banned for boys but not girls.

quaqua · 10/09/2017 23:24

It's never unreasonable to protest against discrimination.

ForagingForFaerieGold · 10/09/2017 23:24

School is preperation for the world of work and looking neat and tidy is part of that
Cobblers!
Many people between school and work go to college and/or university. An environment where they can dress as they please and wear their hair any damn way they want to. Long, short or dyed sky blue pink with yellow spots. And a great many do. Does this mean that when they are ready for the job market they have no idea that for certain positions they may have to conform? Or possibly not.
Why then should school be any different? They are there, in both cases, to receive an EDUCATION.

Don't be so damn silly.

Raizel · 10/09/2017 23:25

rightnowimpissed

The consultant analogy is absolutely outrageous! Why would I trust a man less if he had a man bun or long hair!!! Women have long hair! I trust women consultants! Should I not trust them?

All I will say is that if as a recruiter you are willing to send men away because they have long hair you will miss out on a hell of a lot of talented people!

quaqua · 10/09/2017 23:26

Most bankers will go to college or university where they can wear whatever they like. It doesn't seem to impact on their ability to dress appropriately for their working life.

Merida83 · 10/09/2017 23:27

Clean neat and tidy are all reasonable requsts/requirements. But because he's male it must be short is completely unacceptable, highly discriminatory and i cannot see how they can get away with trying to enforce it legally!

Alpacaandgo · 10/09/2017 23:27

The kid has years ahead of him in an actual job. He's still at school right now so the whole 'well in the world of work' crap is irrelevant.

If it's a school rule, then it's a rule however stupid. But maybe those rules were written quite some years ago and no ones updated the handbook yet. I'd not fret until they actually ask him to get it cut, then pull out the whole discrimination thing if you feel that strongly about it and can be bothered.

rightnowimpissed · 10/09/2017 23:27

I would suggest your the silly one how on earth do you expect these child to know what is acceptable if they are not taught it. And where does teaching happen, oh yes school uni is a time for experimenting school is a time to learn!

Raizel · 10/09/2017 23:28

Anyway I will apologise Op for taking this completely off topic certain views just really frustrate me!

If where you I agree with previous posters I would talk to the school it's an absurd rule!

rightnowimpissed · 10/09/2017 23:30

This reply has been deleted

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MadgeMak · 10/09/2017 23:31

Rightnowimpissed - Plenty of men working in the city in very professional jobs have long hair or tattoos or piercings. You are spouting utter nonsense.

ForagingForFaerieGold · 10/09/2017 23:31

Well I didn't go to university to "experiment". I went to learn. Which I managed to do, even with purple hair.

GreenTulips · 10/09/2017 23:33

Not all jobs require a uniform - so why make them wear a uniform

Teachers don't wear uniform
Local headmaster has long hair

He's capable of firing his job

ForagingForFaerieGold · 10/09/2017 23:34

Oh and "you're" is the contraction for "you are". And learn to use punctuation.

Raizel · 10/09/2017 23:34

rightnowimpissed

All I would say is read your previous posts and see how ridiculous they are!

I'm all for everyone has an opinion and every opinion is valid but...... you have just posted on a public forum that in your opinion you would not trust the opinion of a male consultant if he had long hair or hair in a bob! I'm assuming you would ignore the fact that to get to his position he had presumably gone through years of training and was very highly qualified in his field!

You would actually not listen to him because of his hairstyle?!!!

Wow!!!! Just wow!!!!

Wolfiefan · 10/09/2017 23:36

You're the idiot.
That's what you meant. Not your.
This is a child. Not a consultant.