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?

It's bullshit. If kids have to wear uniform, they should be allowed to express themselves in other ways, like hair styles.
Along with the extra maintenance certain hair types need, anything should be allowed.
The Head at this Grammar has got it right...
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/to-say-grammar-schools-are-full-of-rich-white-pupils-is-lazy-and-wrong-says-townley-grammar-head-teacher-jr6f7djrm

Reading between the lines, it sounds as though braided hair is uacceptable in some schools

But have there been cases of that?

Yes, notably the case of the boy who was excluded for having his hair in cornrows: the court declared the school had acted unlawfully.

My white DD's all had to wear their long hair tied back in some way.

Irrelevant. It makes some sense to require long hair to be tied back because if it flops around the child's face it gets in the way for work purposes and may be dangerous, particularly in subjects like science and DT. Afro hair doesn't flop generally, so doesn't need to be tied back routinely: it might be appropriate to require safety precautions for some lessons, but that is the most that should be permitted.

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

This came up in a similar thread recently. The fact that another country operates an oppressive and discriminatory regime doesn't mean that our schools are incapable of unlawful discrimination.

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

Yes it did! Read it again.

If you send your child to a school with a thousand or so other kids, you are contributing to the huge responsibility those staff have to keep those children safe. Give your support.

How does ordaining that a child with big Afro hair ties it back full time or cuts it drastically improve safety in any way? Rules about hair have very, very little to do with safety, and have much more to do with the tendency of academies, in particular, to impose draconian rules about uniform and appearance because they perceive that it impresses parents and the rules are relatively easy to enforce. It gives a false impression that they have raised standards, and it's much easier than actually raising standards by improving teaching and learning.

My understanding is that uniforms are popular in the UK to prevent that -

Yes, and it does nothing considering they still have issues with bullying and children self-harming and committing suicide. It’s just putting a band-aid on a wound. Yet, many will defend it because that’s the way things have always been done.

I’ve been bullied in a uniform and without one, only difference was with a uniform it’s easier to bully people about their actual attributes that they can’t help vs their clothes.

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

If your kid is so easily distracted by something as simple as hair colour then they’re going to have some real trouble when they get into the real world.

Plus, I highly doubt uniforms and strict hair rules stops them thinking of such things considered what I’ve seen teens walking around in after school.

I went to a non-uniform school where we had a dress code and we were way better dressed than what I’ve seen living here. As long as you looked presentable, you were fine.

[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/newsbeat-51446933/sent-home-from-school-because-my-afro-hair-is-too-big]]

This is video article on a young lady who was asked to leave school because of her Afro hair.

She’s incredibly articulate and I can understand from watching it what a hassle it must be to deal with Afro hair every morning. I think her hair looks ace in it’s full glory but I can see why it would be an issue when it was fully brushed out in school.

And people keep talking about this 'number 1' hair. Do you not see that No1 for white hair may be different from number 1 in african hair? Or that because a boy's hair may have an extremely coily texture, in order to keep it neat (for school) and free of knots, it may have to be No1? Or if it is longer, it may have to braided?

Blanket rules, not taking into account the actual practicalities IS discriminatory. Lucky for me, my nephew's schools don't have these unreasonable rules.

Blanket rules, not taking into account the actual practicalities IS discriminatory. Lucky for me, my nephew's schools don't have these unreasonable rules

Exactly. You would think after years at school college and university, that figuring out that cramming 1500 kids into one minimal option uniform policy just wont work

Yet all the time we hear of black kids treated like this, girls body shamed because their natural stage of body development or height or chest size means that the designated trousers, skirt, sweater vest etc is too short tight long or whatever. No recognition that Elle the rugby player will fill out her trousers differently to the smaller than her peers lana.

Thats if they even get into the school before they are stopped to label check their patented shades of grey 16 pou d trousers that are exactly like the 4 pound asda ones but no poor riff raff through these gates please...

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

But surely if you make a child with Afro hair pin it right back or put loads of product on to try to stop it being frizzy, that's way more distracting? There's nothing inherently distracting about a hairstyle that is natural to the type of hair in question.

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.

That was the excuse the school itself gave. Given that ultimately they conceded and gave in when challenged, they obviously didn't seriously believe in their own excuse - and rightly so. If this were valid, schools would have to ban tall kids or kids with broad shoulders who would also prevent others from seeing the board. But we all know it's child's play to arrange the classroom so that everyone can see the board.

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.

Why would he do that though?

Why not?

It's a head covering. Girls are allowed to wear them.

Hes wearing uniform presumably as schools have hijab on their uniform list/site. Well round here they do anyway . So what's wrong with a boy turning up to a class in uniform exactly?

DD's school specifically states 'Headscarves worn for religious reasons". He wasn't wearing it for religious reasons.

judy it was settled out of court and the still didn’t apologise and maintain that they are right about the decision they took. I guess they settled because they knew it was going to be a very costly court battle

Well if hes rastafarian then the dreadlocks are also part of it then arent they? So muslims can wear head scars but rastafatians can't have dreads?

Surely there would be some unfair treatment there?

I only commented on the headscarf.

Uniform rules need to be able to apply fairly to all ethnicities.

I think it could be argued that wearing a hijab to enable him to keep his expression of his religion would count as religious reasons? Unless it specifies muslim religion only?

What a waste of everyones time anyway. If hes at school and behaving himself worry about someone else...

Of course it couldn't. Wearing a hijab is not a requirement of the Rastafarian religion.

It's just attention seeking.

The focus should be on the issue which is/was his hair and how they can meet religious requirements with exceptions to the uniform code or compromises.

Wearing a hijab is not a requirement of Islam.

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.

No - the school alleged that, EHRC supported the pupil in bringing a case against the school and the school offered an out of court settlement and had to issue a statement on its website

Totally derailing but OMG @insideoutsider I never knew that was how afro hair behaves, pretty amazing! I always presumed that short afros were just that. Would never have guessed that your hair was that long. Consider myself educated, thanks for sharing

it was settled out of court and the still didn’t apologise and maintain that they are right about the decision they took. I guess they settled because they knew it was going to be a very costly court battle

More likely that they settled because they received good advice that they couldn't win. Otherwise they would have settled at a much earlier stage.

@Fiberoptic, it's also worth noting that the school in question changed its rules - which is in effect an admission that they were in the wrong.

Ds hair is below his shoulders,,frankly he looks like a shaggy dog, I hate it but he refuses to have it cut, I'm surprised school haven't said something, but two summers ago when he returned to school after the long holiday he had dyed his hair blue then bright red, I stripped it all out a week before he went back to school, he got sent to the year head's office because he still had a hint of colour left in small strands. I had used 3 lots of colour stripper but his hair is blonde & I couldn't have used any more for fear of damaging his scalp, there wasn't any obvious colour left, the only other option would have been to have it clipped off but then he would have been in trouble for it being too short. Thankfully he starts sixth form in September & all these silly rules don't count.

Or that because a boy's hair may have an extremely coily texture, in order to keep it neat (for school) and free of knots, it may have to be No1

Which is fine isn't it, I mean it's not looking like the skinhead cut that a white boy's hair does when it's a number 1, at least not with the boys that I've seen with very short coily textured hair.