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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder how a school could get this so wrong

287 replies

Hingeandbracket · 11/02/2020 13:47

And not admit it.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/newsbeat-45521094
I am not quick to shout racist but this seems pretty clear cut.

OP posts:
letmebefrank · 11/02/2020 16:52

I don't know much about Afro hair, but could she not have put it in a ponytail?

The school had rules and they apply to everyone.

People who spout this shit are part of the problem.

I hope the fine stops this from happening to people. Shame it wasn't more ... like the first year of University expenses.

Oulu · 11/02/2020 16:53

She managed to have it tied up nice and tidy for TV this morning.

And? The few times I've been on TV I've spent ages on the hair, make-up etc. Doesn't mean I should have to do it all day every day.

poppyonastring · 11/02/2020 16:54

WOW. What a horrible way to treat this beautiful girl. Sad I feel really sad for her. I really do feel this is racist too. The school should have done better than this!

If the girl's 'big hair' is blocking peoples view, then put her at the back. As a few posters have said, what if someone was tall, broad-shouldered, or chubby?

There are SO many reasons that people could block peoples view, and to attack this girl's afro hair is just damn rude (and yep, racist too!)

1forsorrow · 11/02/2020 16:54

When I was at school, long time ago so might have changed, if your hair was longer than collar length you had to tie it up.

1forsorrow · 11/02/2020 16:55

I doubt it took her ages. I have a mixed race daughter, her hair was always tied back for school, her friends with straight hair did the same.

Karenisbaren · 11/02/2020 16:56

Would love to know how other children are supposed to see the board with that hair?

BubblyBarbara · 11/02/2020 16:58

If the girl's 'big hair' is blocking peoples view, then put her at the back

Are you seriously suggesting segregating a black student by making them sit in “the back”? Confused

Oulu · 11/02/2020 16:59

@Karenisbaren, the same way they see the board when there are tall kids in the class with wide shoulders.

Piggywaspushed · 11/02/2020 17:00

She managed to have it tied up nice and tidy for TV this morning

Oh for goodness' sake, read the actual article!!

BlackeyedSusan · 11/02/2020 17:00

She has beautiful hair.

Looks tidy to me.

She does not even need to go to the back, just one side or rearrange the desks if it is your permanent classroom.

Oulu · 11/02/2020 17:03

I doubt it took her ages. I have a mixed race daughter, her hair was always tied back for school, her friends with straight hair did the same.

As you know nothing about this child's hair, you're not in a position to claim that, are you?

And, again, why should she have to? Subject to anything that has to be done for safety purposes in science etc, how would it interfere with teaching and learning to leave it natural?

OopsPregnantAgain · 11/02/2020 17:03

No student should be allowed to disrupt the learning of others if it can be avoided. If a student is especially smelly then shouldn't be told to wear antiperspirant even if their mates are lucky enough not to need it?

Jaxhog · 11/02/2020 17:03

Are you seriously suggesting segregating a black student by making them sit in “the back”?

For goodness sake!! It is no more segregation then asking a tall person to sit at the back! It's just common sense.

ChickLitLover · 11/02/2020 17:03

The school are were completely in the wrong over this. But then I find most of the rules that schools have about hairstyles a bit petty. Some schools have a problem with boys having a skin fade haircut. It’s basically a short back and sides, only much shorter at the sides. Very sensible really. I understand rules about not letting kids have extreme colours in their hair but things like this case are just madness. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oulu · 11/02/2020 17:04

@BubblyBarbara, how would this child be segregated if she's sitting in class with her classmates?

1forsorrow · 11/02/2020 17:04

Piggywaspushed, I did read the article and she seems to wear her hair tied up quite a lot doesn't she!!! (I can do exclamation marks as well) If she can't manage her hair she needs to find a manageable style. Funny how kids like to be awkward about school rules.

Original poster
Hingeandbracket · 11/02/2020 17:05

Would love to know how other children are supposed to see the board with that hair?
You can't be serious? What about tall/wide kids in the class? It's really not an issue.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 11/02/2020 17:06

She is several years older now 1 than she was and the article tells us that she learned form YouTube how to style her hair.

Please take some time out to watch the wonderful (Oscar winning) short film 'Hair Love'.

Piggywaspushed · 11/02/2020 17:07

I suspect you just looked at the pictures and jumped to drew your own conclusions.

1forsorrow · 11/02/2020 17:07

And, again, why should she have to? Subject to anything that has to be done for safety purposes in science etc, how would it interfere with teaching and learning to leave it natural? Why should boys have rules about their hair, why should there be rules about colour of hair or girls with straight hair have to tie it up? Or are you saying that rules are only a problem if applied to a black child?

Snaga · 11/02/2020 17:07

I was shocked when I read the article yesterday that Ruby had to go through such a rigamarole for her hair because the school were openly racist about their distaste for natural afro hair in the school policy.

I'm really disappointed at the "But it's not racist" brigade on here though. Even I know with my limited curly hair experience that all hair management techniques for afro hair like Ruby's are either largely damaging to the hair, or very time consuming and expensive. Why should a child have to endure hours of hair preparation just to attend school? Especially hair preparation that can literally rip the hair from her head? Or should she have just kept her hair at number one all over and worn wigs that were more socially acceptable? FFS!

Those of you saying "It's not racist" should hang your heads in shame. You are part of the problem with racist Britain!

I'm really pleased that Ruby got through the ridiculousness imposed on her by school and is campaigning to stop this being an issue for the many other black children who wish to just have their hair as nature intended.

Oulu · 11/02/2020 17:09

@OopsPregnantAgain, how do you claim this child disrupts the education of others, assuming you're not putting forward the school's fairly idiotic attempt at claiming this?

Helini · 11/02/2020 17:09

Her hair is gorgeous and I'm so glad she didn't cut it to conform with that school's racist rule.

1forsorrow · 11/02/2020 17:09

Piggy if she was too young to look after her hair why didn't her mother do it, you know like most mothers do if their kids can't do it themselves.

No I didn't just look at the pictures, I saw her being interviewed this morning.

Oulu · 11/02/2020 17:11

If she can't manage her hair she needs to find a manageable style.

What's unmanageable about her hairstyle? It keeps her hair off her face, it looks perfectly nice, and it won't get in the way of her learning.