To think schools should be concerned with things other than kids haircuts.

[DroningOn]

metro.co.uk/2019/01/20/mum-says-school-is-culturally-biased-after-banning-son-from-playground-over-haircut-8365293/

Sounds like the haircut policy of North Korea.

Do educators really believe this is an appropriate use of time and energy? Time that could be used teaching and developing kids.

I'm usually one for 'follow the school rules even if they are stupid'. But a rule in which the description is 'distracts from learning' is purely subjective. I can totally understand why the mother would consider the boy's hairstyle acceptable. Nothing extreme about it at all. Unless the top is over a foot in height, maybe.

On a tangent the hair style has made me have a very vaugue memory of a band from the 90s, possibly 80s, of a group boys. Can't recall much passed high energy dancing, bright clothes and tall hair! Bugging me now trying to fully recall their name.

Err right.Or just not cutting it extremely short!
But again, you can't apply what's deemed a suitable grade for a white kid to a kid with a completely different hair type. It would look different.

There is bugger all wrong with his hair.

It's very smart and I've seen plenty of people with similar.

He Look really smart and grown up with the hair and glasses...

He's be much less noticable in a class photo than mine who closely resembles newt from aliens at times

In my area of work there is a loose dress code (and often a uniform) for the times we are public facing. In the office, often even with some clients, anything goes as long as it is not offensive slogans etc. One of the reasons l love the sector I am in.

That said, we are also expected to challenge authority and rules when needed. You can usually tell the most senior / experienced people there - they’ll be the ones in the ripped jeans who look like they just rolled out of bed . My office is by no means unusual either.

NothingOnTellyAgain you have expressed very succinctly something which I am aware of but have never really consolidated my thoughts on.

Strict school uniform policies dont teach students to dress suitably for work. Instead they teach students to dress without thought on their appearance or the suitability of clothes for a given situation. Schools end up with year 11s dressed like scarecrows (shabby worn out, ill fitting blazers, ties, broken down shoes etc). Parents arent going to spend out on replacement uniform which is only needed for a couple more terms.

What does the student learn? That following a set of 'rules' is better than thinking for themselves. From time to time I see these superannuated schoolboys in the office; badly dressed but still following the school uniform rules of shirt and tie.

BLINDLY following rules that have no basis in any kind of common sense is not something I've taught dd - and frankly I'm finding myself edging towards godwits law in how I feel about such an approach.

Rules that ensure the safety of pupils and GENUINELY encourage learning (and don't even get me started on the fact that schools in U.K. Are becoming further and further away from learning as opposed to indoctrination!) are fine - particularly if regulated SENSIBLY!

THIS is utterly ridiculous and really does have some distinctly nasty tones of racism about it!

I also get the very distinct impression especially from some of the earlier posters that they haven't even looked at the actual haircut under question.

It is as pps and myself have said actually quite a standard fairly conservative styling that really wouldn't look amiss in the majority of office settings.

If ANYONE is causing an UNNECESSARY distraction from learning for this pupil or indeed others it's the school - not the pupil or the mother!

Maybe uk pupils would be achieving better if schools and by default teachers (I know teachers don't always agree with the rules either but are required to enforce them) ACTUALLY concentrated on education rather than petty discriminatory rules.

I worked for a company that made everyone wear uniform - from customer facing to MD. it was about equality yada yada yada.

I looked awful in it because I’m fat and although I’m fat, I actually take pride in my appearance.

I looked a mess the 6 years I was there because nothing I could do to make it look decent.

I now work in a school so have to look professional but they realise they can trust a 40 year old accountant to dress herself suitably for work. I occasionally bump into old colleagues and they don’t recognise me.

Merryoldgoat what you say about corporate uniform chimes in with what NothingOnTellyAgain wrote.

The uniform you were made to wear was designed to fit a particular corporate mould. It fits fine the shape it was designed for but nobody else. It is the same with deciding a 'one haircut suits all' policy.

I will assume that if you are unfairly treated at work even though youve signed an employee contract you will remain silent

I will assume that if you are unfairly treated at work even though youve signed an employee contract you will remain silent

What does this mean? Is it directed at me?

Streetwise. I agree a lot with you. I opted away in the end from schools as I couldn’t be bothered with there petty pointless rubbish.

That haircut looks fine to me.