School and DD's hair

[upsideup]

Uniform policy says long hair must be tied up out of the way and no extreme or fashion hairstyles. There are no examples or descriptions of what is considered an extreme/fashion hairstyle.

DD is year 6, has long, curly hair. For most of school so far it was just tied in a ponytail which by Y6 meant still had loose down to her bum, other girls complained that their hair down was still shorter than dd's up, teacher told us it was too long to just be put in a ponytail so we put it in 2 plaits, still went down to her bum but was secured tightly down her head and back out of the way. This was fine for 8+ months until another child purposely (but claimed accidentally) pulled her by her plaits on the playground and when the same child claimed she spun around a whipped him with her hair which apparently really hurt, teacher said they were still too long and getting in the way at school so we needed to change it. Other girls with longish hair(mid back) are still allowed their hair in plaits.

So for 3ish weeks we have been putting it in space buns (2 buns either side of her head), today we have been told that space buns are considered a fashion/extreme hairstyle and are not suitable for school. There really is too much hair to go into one bun and apart from cutting dd's hair which she is not prepared to do, we cant think of any other options. For secondary school her hair only needs to be up for sports and science and there are no rules on how its tied.

So AIBU to just keep sending her in with a a mixture of plaits and space buns for next few weeks with a note saying this is are only option until we get it cut but never actually get it cut? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

I would really be questioning how the fuck can schools concentrate on hair cuts or telling parents to tie up the kids hair. Never ever have I had been told to tie my hair when I was going to school... Nah not in the UK. Too much time waste on watching the clothing rather than eduction. Ridiculous

Don’t get up an hour early and don’t cut her hair.

Teacher should have told the other girls to stop moaning....they can always grow their hair longer if they wish.

School are not being clear by the sounds of it. Agree with another poster that to say neatly tied up buns is an extreme style is rather silly.
One of my friends often styles her daughters Afro hair into three buns. Two at the top and one at the back just above the nape. That might be easier for you to do than long plaits?

I have twins - one has short hair, the other prefers hers long. After being told how to have my hair until well into my teens by my father, I have always insisted the girls have their hair how THEY want it. The only rules are, hair up for PE or dance lessons, and keep it well groomed. Even their Dad wouldn’t try to tell them how to style it.

You are clearly complying with the school rules and I would suggest the teacher has an issue with your child rather than her hair-do.

This close to the end of her time there, I would be phoning the office to let them know your DD will have her hair as per the school rules and, as far as you are concerned, that’s an end to it.

This is utterly ridiculous. Sorry, I got bored/too cross after reading the first few comments. I have no idea why people are suggesting possible hairstyles. The school are being completely and utterly ridiculous. Hair up, fine. Anything more than that, not acceptable. Having long hair is not extreme. The issue seems to be the jealous darlings moaning about it. My daughter has hair down to her bum and we've never had an issue with school. If they implied she needed to cut it (as seems to be the case here) I be tempted to give them a slap!

Send her in with a baldy wig.

So a girl who really loves her long hair has to be punished? Oh well, I would let her cover up with a nice scarf and tell the school she has turned muslima. She can always reconvert during the summer holidays.

The school seems to be severely overreacting (or teacher is jealous of your daughter's lovely hair).

Putting her hair in one plait will mean it is thicker and shorter and starting the plait higher up on the head, even more so. Clips either side for security. Will look nice and not be a fashion extreme. Just a suggestion.

However the school needs to lighten up.

jees is this a issue now in school.people are replying as if its reasonable! ok long hair down maybe not.but long hair in a pony being frowned upon.then buns or plaits.crapping hell is this really where schools and life are going now.with rules like this on long hair and appropriate for school looks!

we've had accidents caused by long hair in plaits whipping around, can easily knock boiling water off a tripod in a science lesson. I tuck the plaits down the back of the neck of the clothes. it doesn't look particularly stylish, but quick and easy and safe

thejetpack u put it so much better than me thankyou :)

crapping hell is this really where schools and life are going now.with rules like this well, we have had rules against long plaits that can be whipped around for a t least 30 years, nothing new about it, they are not safe in a crowded situation, around anything dangerous or fragile, or a lot of children.

Nothing to do with anything other than the practical considerations of a safe active school day

I believe the expression you are looking for, to use at school, is ‘Get Tae Fuck!’

I don't like long hair.

What you like or don't like is completely irrelevant to the discussion but seems to be so important to you that you can't see past it to the actual issue at stake which is whether long hair is safe/appropriate in the classroom context it is.
I have never seen a rule against long plaits but it's very easily dealt with by tying at the nape.

clairetree1 not at any school ive known.and I think its ridiculous.not safe...really? then we need to be a lot more worried for our kids if this is an issue.
hair as weapons.being whipped round not safe in crowds.haha I despair.dangerous or fragile* its hair!its childrens hair! its school.its fecking life

next ill have to tie my arms in place as they can be whipped round and are dangerous.heaven forbid if my eyelashes might flutter someone into a frenzy too.

Tell them to stop being so ridiculous and focus on teaching. Or ask them to do it since nothing you have tried seems to suit them.

clairetree1 not at any school ive known.and I think its ridiculous.not safe...really? then we need to be a lot more worried for our kids if this is an issue.
hair as weapons.being whipped round not safe in crowds.haha I despair.dangerous or fragile its hair!its childrens hair! its school.its fecking life

You clearly have never been in charge of 30 teenage girls in a lab or kitchen then, particularly where there is a common culture of never having your hair cut.

I have seen swinging plaits knock experiments off burning bunsens. I've also seen them catch other children in the eye, break glasses, and cause other damage and dangers.

It is unsafe, and always has been, and there are rules in place to make it safer - I would normally ask the girls permission to tuck it down the back of their clothes no one has ever said no and I have taught literally hundreds of girls who have never cut their hair in their life.

You are speaking from a position of not only lack of experience, but also total failure of common sense.

these rules are not new, I have been teaching 30 years, these rules have always existed throughout that time, and I should imagine for centuries before.

The school is ridiculous. I would be tempted to just ignore them tbh.

next ill have to tie my arms in place as they can be whipped round and are dangerous.heaven forbid

for goodness sake use your brain, your arms are under your direct voluntary control, your plaits are not, many plaits are longer than arms too.

Absolutely ridiculous at primary school age.

Could you try something (may be tricky if it’s thick) similar to the mocking jay style? Or French plait from one side, over the front, round down the back and back to the same side you started off, so it hangs down her front. Sorry, that probably doesn’t make much sense, but I can picture it in my head.

If I had a daughter, and was in this situation though, just to see their faces, I’d send her in with the Cindy loo who hairstyle for the last day of term!

clairetree ok in labs and for certain classes where there could be dangers about like that then yes its then that you could ask all student make sure hair is tied back.but not for general day to day life.
and excuse me who are you to tell me I lack experience.no me do you?

to a point your hair is very much under your control

LethalDrizzle I lost my hair during chemotherapy 8 years ago, so I was very pleased when it grew back. I guess it was what you'd consider 'long' and so you wouldn't like it, but really I couldn't give a flying fuck. Speaking as someone who wears no make-up. But hey call me vain by all means....

What do the Sikh girls do? Or other religions who have restrictions on hair cutting? Sounds like they want her to conform to some idea they have in their heads rather than reality