Urgent School say my Sons hair is too short!

[Dontjudgeme101]

My son told me last night, that the his hair is cut too short. The school have had, if it happens again, that he will have to go into isolation until it grows to a acceptable level. I need to contact school this morning to speak to them about it. It looks neat and tidy and it grows really quickly. His hair is mixed and he doesn’t look after it properly. Is there anything, that’ll can say to the school, or will l just have to accept that it’s too short?

Yes, grade 2 is 1/4 of an inch. If your son’s hair is half an inch, then it’s not too short.

Hang on, we've just come out of lock down. Barbers are JUST opening, everyone seems to be going a bit shorter than usual. On account of having scraggly hair for so long.

Ask if they are really serious about putting him in isolation after months of lockdown.

Are they saying length of the hair, or ‘hang’? That actually makes little sense. Curly hair won’t hang down.

Grade 2 is 6mm

I don't get this either, 1 and a half inches is long unless your child is into really floppy haircuts ... Our son sports a #6 cut, which is 3/4 inch. He looks smart, no issues with school.

I didn’t know that about a grade 2 haircut, excuse my ignorance.

I don’t even think your really see scalp at that length of the hair is thick.

I suspect OP has got her measurements wrong. 1.5 inches is not short.

Do you mean it's a grade 1½ rather than 1½ inches?

His head of his house at school.

Sorry said his hair was too short.

@Dontjudgeme101

I agree it’s petty and pointless. I don’t want to come across as a ‘agressive back woman’ in saying something to school about this matter. Also, l don’t want my son to feel embarrassed about this situation either. I want to be calm and direct when l talk to the school today about it.

Ugh, I'm sorry you feel so bad/ worried about coming across as an "aggressive black woman". You should be able to make your views known! Especially about something as silly as this... it sounds like it's not actually their policy and they could actually be discriminating. Hard to say without seeing the actual hairstyle whether it would count as "radical" or too short.

It's a tricky one because I suppose you agreed to whatever hair policy they have when you enrolled your son in the school. But if they say grade 2 and his hair is 1 1/2 inches then it's not breaking any rule (grade 2 means a grade 2 hair cut, which is about 6mm, not 2 inches)

I’ve never heard of a school complaining that a boy’s hair is too short. It seems completely unreasonable. It wouldn’t matter if his head was completely shaved!

(sorry this came up in active)

I think the OP might mean cm when she says inches... Still I would contact the school and explain that the hair is the way it is to be kept neat and tidy and should grow the offensive 0.5 cm in the next few weeks

Just a thought - is it all the same length? Or is it like a cornrow hairstyle where you can see his scalp? If there are parts where you can see his scalp maybe that's what they are talking about?

OP said its shorter on the back and sides and longer on the top. She makes no mention of cornrows. Does it matter if scalp can be seen?

@dementedpixie

OP said its shorter on the back and sides and longer on the top. She makes no mention of cornrows. Does it matter if scalp can be seen?

I don't know. I think the whole thing is ridiculous, but just trying to work out what the school might mean saying it's too short when it sounds like it is longer than they state on their policy.

I remember my BIL not being allowed lower than a grade 3.

I thought that after the girls won her discrimination case about her hair that schools had taken note and changes their policies.

I would definitely point out the legal discrimination side of things.

I'm assuming your son is well presented otherwise? That this isn't a case of him always flouting some uniform rule or another and this is the one they can actually make 'stick'?

Hair rules are obnoxious.

@Empressofthemundane

I’ve never heard of a school complaining that a boy’s hair is too short. It seems completely unreasonable. It wouldn’t matter if his head was completely shaved!

Schools do complain. My DD's school has the same rules as the OPs (grade 2, no tram lines etc). Completely shaved can look 'thuggish' and tram lines can be associated with gangs.

OP, from what you have said your son's hair meets the rules and it is like that for hair management purposes. So ring up & email the school saying your son was told otherwise by X, you believe it meets the rules, black hair is different, please can someone phone you to confirm as obviously isolation for having mixed hair would be inappropriate.

@UCOinanOCG

I suspect OP has got her measurements wrong. 1.5 inches is not short.

Yes, l think l probably have. Not good with measurements and son not being helpful at try to explain to me about his hair length either!

So his hair is 1/2 inch too short. So l am in the wrong.

You might technically be wrong but that's a bloody stupid rule. Definitely challenge it.

Maybe you could ask them for some photos of hair length that would be acceptable under the school policy but in relation to his hair type. Put the onus on them to provide relevant information rather than you trying to apply a rule which isn't relevant to your son's hair type.

@dementedpixie

Do you mean it's a grade 1½ rather than 1½ inches?

Son said not a grade11/2. I am clueless about haircuts for boys.

#2 is 1/4 inch or 6mm so much shorter than 1.5 inches..

Just talk to the school and find out what they really said. Your DS's hair doesn't sound particularly short, and I have never heard of a school objecting to normal clipped hair.

Is there any chance DS would prefer to wear his hair longer and is hoping to use school rules to support that?