To be shocked that schools are still doing this?

[LakieLady]

I've just been reading this article

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/25/black-pupils-excluded-hair-discrimination-equality-act

and can't believe that schools are still treating black kids like this.

Reading between the lines, it sounds as though braided hair is uacceptable in some schools, too and quite what is unacceptable about a fade (unless perhaps it's one with a very high top) is beyond me. Isn't a fade more or less the same thing as a short back and sides, albeit a bit more artful, which used to be forced on boys in my schooldays.

I remember the case about the boy with dreadlocks, but hadn't realised that that had been won on faith grounds.

If our schools can't be accepting of ethnic differences, what hope is there for wider society?

If that’s the case then yes they should be told to pin it back during school hours. Like every one else.

A tall kid would make it harder to see the board, a fat kid, one with a big head. If the child can't see the board move them!

Individuality is stamped on, whether you're black, brown

But rather more so if you're black or brown, it would seem

It's not just school where this happens. It's also still in the workplace. Natural afro hair is still seen as unprofessional. Many black women wear weaves to conform to business expectations. Disgusting really.

@CatherineVelindre the only places I know that discriminate against hair types are a few American forms where women (of all hair types) are expect to have blow drys. Everywhere else clean looking (not dreds for this reason), neat and, unostentatious (this is where fades come into to it) hair is all that is required. I’ve never heard of anyone taking exception to braided hair this decade (with the exception of wanky American firms noted above).

@FrancisCrawford that’s kind of my point. You can easily teach children grooming rules like don’t turn up to a job interview with pink hair or black suits in court etc without forcing them to conform to these rules all day every day. If anything they’ll be more receptive to advice and guidance than they would be to arbitrary rules.

Everywhere else clean looking (not dreds for this reason)

Another arbitrary rule?

Most Nigerian women dont wear wigs. It's a very urban phenomenon.

That aside, there are very real issues in the UK about curly hair and "professionalism". Goes all the way back to puritan times, now with a huge dollop of racism on top.

@MerryMarigold

Nope, that's just not the case.

If you're a blond haired Caucasian boy, you won't be asked as often to change your hairstyle.

That's just how it is. My mates from school managed to evade the teachers gaze because the fashion at the time was preppy, short back and sides.

I came from an Afro Caribbean background and was used to neat fades. I go to a suburban school and I'm threatened with suspension the minute I turn up with a haircut that would be considered de rigeur in the inner city.

SO that's got nothing to do with scarves or power plays, that's simply discriminating against a whole lot of people who have different characteristics.

Manimaran

You are an absolute disgrace. reported. foxtrot oscar.

The rule at school for hair should simply be if it's likely to cause any danger to the pupil (for instance dangle into a bunson burner or get caught up doing sport) it needs to be tied back in some way. Other than that it's not an issue. At my DDs all girls school there are girls with long braided and beaded hair, no issues other than tie back when necessary.

@Gindaddy. But it is the case really. My son is light brown. His hair is Caucasian. They are not allowed anything below a number 2. He was refused permission to bleach his hair (too ostentatious). There are plenty of hairstyles for poc, but if you choose one which is too exciting/ individual it draws attention. My son's school is around 50-70 per cent poc so I see the number of hairstyles which are all acceptable. I really don't think this is discerned to choosing to bleach your black hair (if you're light brown) or have a number 1 on the sides. It's about ridiculous rules and those who choose to enforce them strictly.

@Porcupineinwaiting my closest friend has just gone home for Christmas, for a month and every picture/ video shows her and her friends, those out and about wearing either a wig or head wrap.

OK, we don't have youth gang issues particularly in London. Lads don't have particular patterns (in the form of discrete lines) cut into their hair and there are no gang stabbings, silly me I forget what MN world is like.

FrancisCrawford

Intrinsically? Nothing. I didn’t say anything about that.

At dd3s school it is like the 1950s.girls allowed small earrings, boys are not. Only this year girls allowed trousers
Girls have to have natural coloured hair tied up. Boys short neat hair above the collar, no3 cut.
I wonder what they would do about a fro. Dds 1 and 2 schools had similar but boys did have fros and I don't think it was ever commented on in a negative way. Seems a truly ridiculous argument to start .

It definitely is racist in some cases, I mean getting told your afro is too big? Jesus, get into the 21stc. I don't get the rules about natural hair colour either. They are kids, they're not in the workplace yet. Let them have a bit of time for experimentation.

@Ponoka7 if your friend is travelling between the UK and Nigeria she's not a typical Nigerian woman and not poor by the standards of the country. Life in the villages is very different, esp in the middle belt and north.

@MerryMarigold

Thank you for sharing. We'll have to agree to disagree. It's not just "a Grade 1 on the sides" for POC guys like myself. Try going into the barbers I go to and asking "could you make sure it's anything above a 2 please" it's just silly, it's either a low fade or a high fade and you trust your barber accordingly.

Caucasian, blond children have to follow the rules too. Not skinhead, not long, not obviously coloured etc. They absolutely do get sent home if they don't comply.

It's interesting because my friends from Nigeria like that they have the freedom to not have to wear wigs (women) and that they can pick neat styles for their children, in the UK. There's a lot less freedom of hair styles in African countries and you can be arrested and detained for having a certain hairstyle.

As a matter of interest, which countries?

I live in a very multi cultural area and all the children, regardless of race, colour or creed, clip and/or tie back their hair for school. Why? Nits.

@Ponoka7 I would like to point out that the article was an opinion one and didn't bring up any actual cases.

....But it did? Fourth paragraph down?