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?

My friends Rastafarian son started wearing a hijab when his locks were declared non uniform AND HE WAS PUT IN DETENTION FOR A WEEK!!! It's outrageous how black school children are treated.

But if he'd ID'd as female, and converted to Islam, no-one would have had a word to say about it!

I atualy have. Real problem with this not just with black people's hair but with any my daughter not only has to ear her elbow length hair up to her high school but the police colour or hair elastics too! It's shocking to me the whole world wants to create a generation of robots with no gender and the exact same looks it's not right stall me and my daughter have dead straight typical half Aisian hair and we would all love a big curly head of hair

It's about avoiding distraction. I support rules that prevent kids from thinking about nothing but their hair or make up or whatever.

The problem is that the rules don't usually have kids with Afro hair in mind. But I think fairly conservative rules are a good idea.

For those saying to concentrate on behaviour instead, this is where good behaviour starts. It's submitting to authority at the end of the day and kids have to learn to do it. I'd rather that they had their battles against authority over hairstyles etc than more serious behaviours.

It's about avoiding distraction

But why is black hair distracting? Honestly, I can't understand how dreads or braids or hair around someone's face is distracting.

But how is hair distracting?

Its on top of someones head. Its just there .

If they were standing on top of tables screaming you would have a point

But its hair.

Sarah I think there was a case recently where pupils complained the couldn’t see the board as a pupils hair had been brushed out and big in volume.

That’s distracting.

Then you can just move the child.

If behaviour was actually dealt with as opposed to reliant on seating plans then where the child sat wouldnt be an issue.

Dd has had to put up with boys throwing her stuff about. Putting her stuff up too high for her ti reach. Shes had boys have entire conversations alone the top of her , man spreading across the table. Never has she been distracted by a black.class mates afro hair

"pupils complained the couldn’t see the board as a pupils hair had been brushed out and big in volume."

So what about exceptionally tall children? Overweight children? Children who have motor issues whose arms or heads move around a lot? I mean, I get it that the hair might be in the way, but I can't see why hair is being treated differently to other things that are also "distracting". Next we'll be saying children with physical imperfections/ scars etc are distracting or whatever. It's ridiculous.

As far as I'm concerned, the only time I'd understand any meaningful restriction is if hair becomes the kind of fashion statement that clothes can be. My understanding is that uniforms are popular in the UK to prevent that - so johnny can't be bullied because he doesn't have the hot new brand or the "right" shoes. If hair got to the point where the children were competing for more crazy, wild styles that then led to bullying etc, maybe. But a black girl with afro hair doesn't strike me as being anything like that.

@Ponoka7 -
There's a lot less freedom of hair styles in African countries and you can be arrested and detained for having a certain hairstyle

Arrested by the fashion police maybe

Please, get your information correct. You can't be arrested or detained for having 'certain hairstyles' . There is FAR more freedom of hairstyles in African countries. You can have your hair in braids, plats, permed, weaves, wigs, crotchets, etc. The only restriction may be in school (as part of the school uniform, where you are either required to have short hair or have a certain style.

*Speaking as an African and having lived in several African countries.

I don't see why schools should be allowed to interfere - as long as it's tied back if necessary,

Schools have become more and more petty and ridiculous when it comes to student's appearance. Add that to the endemic racism we all know is there but refuse to acknowledge and this is the shit that happens.

YANBU at all OP.

One of the reasons why restrictions to hair is such a big issue for us black people is that the restrictions appear to be made with white hair in mind. I can't simply pull my hair into a ponytail - not possible. If I wash my very long hair, it shrinks to a very short afro that CANNOT simply be combed and put in a ponytail. I can't leave it in that short afro either because if it dries, it's a horror to style.

My hair is exactly like the first picture, and then I have to spend hours blow drying it (1st half of picture 2) and then straightened (2nd half of same picture). God help me if a drop of water then went on it - that part would revert to picture 1, while I'm out attempting to look 'professional'.

The only way to get the kids to school with hair looking neat and tidy is to put it in braids the day before (taking about 4 hours), but we do it. Imagine if a school said braids are also not allowed.

Give our kids a break!

DS has hair down to his elbows and fortunately our school don't have an issue with it, as long as it isn't dyed blue they don't care!

As far as I'm concerned, the only time I'd understand any meaningful restriction is if hair becomes the kind of fashion statement that clothes can be. My understanding is that uniforms are popular in the UK to prevent that - so johnny can't be bullied because he doesn't have the hot new brand or the "right" shoes. If hair got to the point where the children were competing for more crazy, wild styles that then led to bullying etc, maybe

Bullies bully. Doesnt matter if you shaved everyone's heads and made them all.wear orange jumpsuits like in prison. You would still have a bumbling problem if the response to said bullying is to remove everything you feel is "wrong " with a person which implies somehow the problem is them and not those bullying.

ou would still have a bumbling problem if the response to said bullying is to remove everything you feel is "wrong " with a person which implies somehow the problem is them and not those bullying.

well yes. My point is that it's the only reason I could see for such a restriction and clearly it doesn't cause a bullying issue so it's silly to restrict hair.

Hair and clothing on.schools just turns the teachers into bullies. Which is worse than anything the kids can through at you cos they are supposed to he the good guys. The ones who know better.

@Ponoka7 you are talking nonsense about fades being gang symbols. Here is a link to different fade styles: haircutinspiration.com/taper-fade-haircut/

Black people have different hair to white people, they should not have to be held to western standards of acceptable hair styles

Yes they should - this policy doesn't discriminate against POC and no pupils have had to be sent home for contravening it because the school are sensible:

Hair styles should be appropriate for school, inappropriate hairstyles are:

Extremes of styles, cut or colour - we accept there are changes in fashion but a 'number 1 or shorter' is unacceptable

Lines or shapes cut into the hair

Hair dyed/streaked with unnatural colours where there are two+ separate colours to give obvious contrast such as red and black.

Long hair (in boys and girls) that covers your face must be tied back so staff can see your face.

I find this so shocking, I think it's appalling! It's not the first time I've heard of it. I just don't get how places such as schools, think this isn't essentially racism?! And it can lead to women relaxing their hair which causes all sorts of problems.
Argh.

Extremes of styles, cut or colour - we accept there are changes in fashion but a 'number 1 or shorter' is unacceptable

Why? What on earth impact does it have on a child's learning or wellbeing?

You should not have to right to bar children from full participation education because you do not like their hairstyle. It astonishes me that you want to.

winnie

What's wrong with a number 1? What is it that 2mm if hair changes exactly.

And did you not read the post above thay just explained its not as simple as just tying it back

If a POC has to spend hours straightening hair or getting it braided etc. Which from what I've read on here is painful and can cause hair loss, in order to be deemed acceptable then a policy is not acceptable.

If no ones complained then that doesnt just mean somethings ok.

Sarah

And did you not read the post above thay just explained its not as simple as just tying it back. If a POC has to spend hours straightening hair or getting it braided etc

But they don't need to with that policy - if you look it's only long hair that is covering your face which isn't really an issue for POC in my experience.

A number 1 isn't acceptable in many workplaces so I don't see why it should be acceptable in schools.

Plenty of places would accept many a hair cut.

" sorry mr firefighter you cant rescue me with a shaved head I'll burn instead"