To wonder how a school could get this so wrong

[Hingeandbracket]

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.

Definitely racist. Afro hair isn't a style choice, like shaving your head or dying it pink - and it's such an insanely politicised area, used for decades to discriminate against black people. Afro hair was used as a reason to legitimise the slave trade - these creatures don't even have hair, they have wool, they're like animals, they're not even human... It's only very recently become illegal to discriminate against natural hair styles in America, and then only in two states.

The school could have avoided the cost by a) not being racist in the first place b) listening to the experts writing to them about the harm they were doing to a teenage girl and/or c) realising that the EHRC's involvement probs didn't bode well for them.

There were many points at which they could have avoided this completely or retreated - but dear god, they doubled down. Vile.

Hairstyles
Hair Styles should be reasonable and not impact on other students. Long hair needs to be tied back for PE, Science and Technology. Hair should not significantly cover the eyes as this will affect learning

This is from the school's website, showing that the "tie it up" rule applies to all, but I'm wondering what happens about health and safety during things like science lessons, if some afro caribbean hair really can't be easily tied back?

I'm just remembering the bunsen burners we had at ours and thinking what could happen if a hairstyle like this came into contact with one ...

Firstly, It doesn’t matter how many black/ mixed race women come on here and say that they manage their 4c hair perfectly well etc. Hair care is as individualised as skincare so you can’t speak for someone else. It’s actually pretty narrow minded to say “I know black people who do XYZ, why can’t she do it too?” Really????
Secondly, the Rules are racist because they force black people to fall into a line that white people don’t have to. How is that anything but racist?

Omg don’t let the black kids near the bunsens. They may blow!!!

How the hell do you think schools with black kids in survive in a daily basis????

She has beautiful natural hair. I went to a school with lots of kids who had bigger afros than her's (NYC in the 80s). We had big classes and sat in rows looking at the blackboard. No one ever had a problem with anyone's hair. This school has a terrible attitude.

@Oulu
That's what I heard they (sic) say on the radio this morning.

What exactly did someone say, and on which programme?
It was a person interviewed on Mike Grahams radio show on TalkRadio this morning>

That should have referred to people who support racism, not those who cry racism. Brilliant post! 100% agree!

I think your comprehension may be letting you down, @Hagbeth.
Ops - I did read that wrong! Thank you for understanding that this was an error!

My issue with all of this is that it encourages children to be victims and to be victims because "woke" people say they should be, and it's wrong. I got five children, three who are of mixed race and I would and have always encourage them to stand up for them self where it matters. And this is a non issue created by large by people who's interest is to make themselves look good.

The school have been ridiculous - citing that people can't see past big hair to view the board is a stupid reason to send a child home. Her hair wasn't even that long! It's her hair, not a weapon of mass destruction.

Good on her getting some compensation from it.

How the hell do you think schools with black kids in survive in a daily basis????

They survive perfectly well, of course - why on earth wouldn't they?

And my question about the burners/health and safety issue was simply an honest enquiry as to what happens in such lessons with pupils whose hair can't be tied up without spending a lot of time or money. They obviously can't say "you can't do science because of your hair", so how do they approach it in Hackney of all places, where there'll be plenty of other afro caribbean pupils?

Seems like she doesn't know how to care for her afro hair.

Care to enlighten?

Why couldn't they just rearrange seating so that those behind her who couldn't see (hmmm, not sure that's insurmountable by those people just trying a bit harder) were put in places where they could?

My legs used to lock when I was a schoolgirl. On days when I couldn't sit down due to that, I stood at the back.....

This thread is quite something.

Black children should follow the rules just like any other child so if there is a rule about no "big" hair styles (white girls can have big hair as well you know) then no big hair styles.
My husband is white, I am black. If we both stood in the same spot for a year, his hair would have grown 6 inches down his back. Mine would have grown 6 inches towards the sky. My hair is not now in a “big hair style”. It is my hair as it grows from my head, not styled, just as his is. Any rule that discriminates against my hair vs his is racist.

I hate the idea that Afro hair is a “style”. It is a texture. Furthermore it is not an “extreme” style as a commenter insinuated earlier by placing it in the same bracket as a skin head or coloured hair (not that they are extreme either, frankly).

When Rosa Parks refused to stand up and move on her bus, three other black people complied. By the logic of some on this thread she was in the wrong and hose who complied were doing the right thing... Imagine how that would have changed the course of history.

Quite.

For the record, I’m a 6foot1 black woman, always tallest at school (girls school, Home Counties) and there were never any “blackboard issues”. I also survived without setting my head alight on a Bunsen burner . I even managed an A for a-level Chemistry.

Finally for those in denial about hair- based discrimination against POC take a moment to google “unprofessional hairstyles for women” then google “professional hairstyles for women”. Then have a think about how it feels to be a black woman in Britain sometimes!

I think the school were ridiculous and also racist.

Black children should be encouraged to wear their hair like Ruby had hers, in a loose Afro style because there’s no pulling going on. As long as the hair isn’t going to get burned in a science experiment or whatever, I cannot see why the school got silly over it.
I usually am a stickler for school rules and think that people breaking them are attention seeking in most cases. But not in this case.

I too am a stickler for the rules, some rules are daft but I think that change from within as opposed to vehement flouting is the way.

But that is not the issue here. The school are so wrong in three ways:

1. By having a truly racist school rule re Afro hair in the first place
2. By going at this girl and her family again and again and again and for what? Truancy? Bullying? Nope, just a large barnet.
3. By their arrogant refusal to admit wrongdoing thus cementing their school as an unwelcoming place for any kid who’s hair is Afro and not tied, braided, straightened etc.

It would piss me off if I couldn't see the whiteboard.
She's a selfish girl.

The rule is racist and I’m glad the school lost. I’m sure there are lots of black girls who comply with the rules but that doesn’t mean she should have to. I work in a girls school where more than 60% of pupils are BAME. Not many girls wear their hair naturally but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be allowed to. There’s a huge amount of pressure on them from their peers to spend a lot of time and money on weaves, braids and wigs. Some of the girls I teach have traction alopecia and find it hugely distressing and embarrassing. They should not be made to feel that their hair, in it’s natural state, as it grows from their head is wrong and they shouldn’t be forced to alter it. It’s not at all the same as having rules against artificially created styles like mohicans or skinheads.

Fuck me this country just gets crazier (more racist) by the day since that stupid election. It really has given a voice to some of you vile people out there - cannot believe some of the comments on here 😕

@Puzzledandpissedoff they probably just assume that children of an age where they’re left near an open flame will know not to lean into said flame hair first. Just like when cooking in the home. Believe it or not I have cooked many a meal with my hair loose, used bunsens at school, been to campfires and even blown out birthday candles.

Hair has to be tied back at my school. Nothing relating to hair type though. It’s s health a safety rule.

What @TheFuckingDogs said

I don't normally post if I'm not contributing to the discussion but I do feel that this thread is a disgrace, and comments like these make me less willing to discuss any topic at all with users of this site.

She managed to have it tidy today, probably knew she wouldnt get much sympathy if it appeared totally unruly

It would piss me off if I couldn't see the whiteboard.
She's a selfish girl.

Do you think tall people and fat people are selfish too?

I think schools are going over the top now policing kids' appearance, full stop. They need to have a look at themselves, and at schools abroad where they don't even have uniforms yet, and consider their priorities. They are beginning to come across as very controlling.

This is a really difficult one as I totally understand that that is the way her hair grows and it’s a nightmare trying to tame it every morning.

However if her hair grows up and out - at what point does it become necessary to do something about it? My dd’s have very curly hair and it has to be tied back for school - it’s annoying sometimes however I understand for hygiene reasons (nits!) and for the uniform look of the school (ie neat and tidy) it’s necessary.

I’m not sure it’s racist - I agree the school and the girls family have gotten into a stand-off about it and ultimately no one has won (I mean the girl has theoretically “won” but how was her last year at school disrupted? Was it worth it?) should kids really be allowed to wear their hair however they like?