Racism in Schools

[RedMarauder]

First a disclaimer

Just in case this thread pops up in “Active”. This is a contribution to the Black Mumsnetters board which was established to be a safe space for black women and allies to discuss issues of interest black women, from racism to African history, from black hair care to culture-specific issues in relationships. If you feel triggered, nothing here is an attack on you. I would hate for a thread centering black experience to be hijacked so that it ends about centering those who may have hurt feelings because this discussion may be uncomfortable for them. Thank you!

On to my issue

The Guardian has been doing a series of articles on racism in education in schools. The voices of both black pupils and teachers are heard. The articles are worth a read as for those who don't have personal links to schools but went through the school system here, as they illustrate that schools have not improved over the decades in their attitudes to racism and inequalities.

This is also why, as I pointed out on another thread, it is not good enough just to have a black minister, whose portfolio covers some of these equalities. We need one who went through the state school system here so understands the racist attitudes black children and teaching staff have to deal with.

• Exclusion rates 5 times higher for black Caribbean pupils

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/mar/24/exclusion-rates-black-caribbean-pupils-england

• ‘I was terrified’: pupils tell of being victimised in UK schools

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/mar/24/i-was-terrified-pupils-tell-of-being-victimised-in-uk-schools

-‘Systemic racism’: teachers speak out about discrimination in UK schools
www.theguardian.com/education/2021/mar/24/systemic-racism-teachers-speak-out-about-discrimination-in-uk-schools

-British schools are institutionally racist. That must change fast
www.theguardian.com/education/2021/mar/24/british-schools-are-institutionally-racist-that-must-change-fast

No I do not but my niece does and accompanies it with a comb which infuriates my sister. I used to work as a TA and regularly came up against extreme hairstyles and other forms of non compliance of uniform.
Speaking from school experience our aim was to get our young people ready for the world of work and higher education and conformity was part of that, I am sure that most companies do not want someone with bright green hair representing them.
I had the same arguments about uniform that I should imagine most families did up and down the country but I could see it from both sides.

A combination? Is this a bad 80s joke?

Comb not combination

I don't know why people who don't have afro/tightly coiled hair that grows upwards or have their own children who do, think it is appropriate to comment on this thread.

@Idliketoteachtheworldtosing1

I can see it from both sides, schools try their best to implement fair uniform policies, no extreme hairstyles. A number 1 on a white boy would look very neo nazi and would present the wrong image, the same as ridiculous coloured hair or really big Afro's, especially when accompanied with a comb stuck in it. The whole point of school uniform is to prepare our young people for the real world where most employers will enforce their own policies re appearance because they will be representing that company. Not to mention potential health and safety issues with long or big hair so it's not always a race issue, ultimately we want our young people to be happy but they have to learn to follow rules even if they don't agree with them. It must be exhausting finding offence in everything!

My son's school didn't have a maximum hair length rule, just a minimum one. So there was a white kid with a massive unruly ginger mane of hair who was allowed to go about his business with no harassment and the headteacher himself had shoulder length hair, which imo wasn't professional if we're talking about looking professional. Especially when compared to a black boy with a neat number two all over.

'I can see it from both sides' is Trumpian code.

You can't compare a child wearing their hair in its natural state to 'ridiculous coloured hair'. The Equality Advisory Support Service advised me that the hair cute rule was indeed discriminatory. I was willing to take the school to court but they backed down and stopped harassing my son and the other black boys. But they lied and said they would change the rule, but they never did. So while we have since left the school, no doubt others are going through it now. It's pure systemic racism continuing this policy when you have been advised it is discriminatory. White people need to use their ears when minorities tell them their policies are harmful to them.

My son's school didn't have a maximum hair length rule, just a minimum one. So there was a white kid with a massive unruly ginger mane of hair who was allowed to go about his business with no harassment and the headteacher himself had shoulder length hair, which imo wasn't professional if we're talking about looking professional. Especially when compared to a black boy with a neat number two all over.

What's the relevance of his hair colour?

There's also not a workplace in the world that would ban a number two haircut so that excuse doesn't really fly. What do bald men do? 🤔

What's the relevance of his hair colour

You're the one talking about ridiculous hair colours. White people seem obsessed with colour.

There's also not a workplace in the world that would ban a number two haircut so that excuse doesn't really fly. What do bald men do?

Since some start going bald at 16 so there are lots of 16, 17 and 18 year old white boys/men suspended from school.

Oh they aren't because it is seen as a genetic issue...

Yeah, genetic unlike Afro hair 🙄🤔

twitter.com/angelamavalla/status/1377192160886460417?s=19

@HmmmmmmInteresting I agree with you if there is a minimum length given there should be a maximum.

No doubt squatters are going to take exception to my comment about white people being obsessed with colour and try to get my comment deleted, but FFS am I wrong?

Racism is literally disliking someone for the colour of their skin. It is still acceptable to mock ginger people for the colour of their hair ...it's the last 'acceptable' time you can treat someone as less than, purely for the colour of a part of their body. They literally put hair colour preferences on their dating profiles ..my type is 'blonde' or 'brunette'. Obsessed? Yeah. I said what I said.

[quote Benelovencd]twitter.com/angelamavalla/status/1377192160886460417?s=19[/quote]
Hilarious thread. So true. Disgusting excuse for a PM.

I’ve just reread the uniform policy for my children’s school. I have to admit since dd moved to the upper school (which has a variation on the younger girls one) 18months ago I have not looked.

There is a section on beards which I’d not noticed before which says they must be “ neat and cropped close to the face”

So many older boys who follow certain beliefs may want to grow a beard. Sikh, Muslim and Jewish faiths are more prevalent in uk schools. These are BAME boys by and large.

I know facial hair will not be as big an issue as head hair in schools; it only has implications on boys and older ones at that but I’d be interested to know if it causes issues. It only really occurred to me today- the men in the orchid family have always been clean shaven!

You're the one talking about ridiculous hair colours. White people seem obsessed with colour.

Are you saying red hair is ‘ridiculous'?

Why are you assuming I’m white?

That last statement tends towards racist generalisation anyway.

@HmmmmmmInteresting

No doubt squatters are going to take exception to my comment about white people being obsessed with colour and try to get my comment deleted, but FFS am I wrong?

Racism is literally disliking someone for the colour of their skin. It is still acceptable to mock ginger people for the colour of their hair ...it's the last 'acceptable' time you can treat someone as less than, purely for the colour of a part of their body. They literally put hair colour preferences on their dating profiles ..my type is 'blonde' or 'brunette'. Obsessed? Yeah. I said what I said.

Says it all.

Maybe we should all try for a fairer world for all. While you think it’s ok for one person to insult another, you lesson your own argument.

[quote RedMarauder]@Idliketoteachtheworldtosing1 - do you have afro hair? Or are you just here to troll?[/quote]
Just here to troll from that comment.

I have a friend that I have heard complain about afros due to it blocking the board for other children. When I asked him what he would like the children to do about their natural hair, he said he assumed they could tie it up. I think my laugh made him think, I have friends with long 4c hair so I invited them to explain how long it would take to braid/plait and how often it would need to be redone, he now knows that while it is annoying for the other students that why should school get to dictate how long a Childs hair is when they wouldn't do it for a child whose hair is straight.

For individuals who are enforcing the rules they don't necessarily understand the realities.

Many, many schools just say 'no extreme hairstyles', this gives the school the opportunity to fit the rules around the pupil.

A time and a place. I want my child to be able to see the board.

My mixed race DD has fairly big afro. The school is fine with it. However the other kids make fun of her hair, touch it without permission or ask endless questions about it. This is London. Drives us both crazy.

The biggest thing I don’t get is the uniform codes usually ask for natural hairstyles but isn’t an Afro natural?

To be clear I'm only talking to the other Black posters on this thread. Thank you