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?

Has the school actually put him into isolation? If not, stop panicking. If they have, then give them hell for their racist hair policies.

Rules are rules and life isn't fair. You should be teaching your son this.

Britain, Ireland and Malta are the only European countries to adopt a rigid uniform policy. And there is no legislation to support uniforms in the UK.
Which means there must be tacit consent from parents or it would change.

Interestingly internationally it tends to be former British colonies that still have school uniforms.
All my school photos from 1970’s show the boys with mostly shoulder length hair. Is that allowed now?
It was never a problem at the time.

Can you post a similar haircut photo off google for e.g.? I can't visualise the length or style at all. Short hair used to be the ideal for schools, seems ridiculous for them to be complaining!

Hang on, it's not urgent. They said if it happens again. The rules say what is acceptable. If you think this is discrimination then make an appointment to go and discuss it.

@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?

No not cornrows. Short Afro hair on the top, At the back l think it’s called a fade.

I will try and attach a photo, if l can . Sorry l am not techno savvy!

Ugh can't believe schools are still doing this racist bullshit. My school never disciplined the kids who would stick pencils in my hair to see how many it would hold before I noticed. I only found out as an adult that the 'pencil test' was an actual thing in apartheid South Africa. Many, many people still don't seem to understand that racism extends to hair. His hair would be a fine length if it were straight, I guarantee it. Discrimination over a racial feature = literal racism. Don't let them get away with it. Be calm and matter of fact but point out precisely what it is they are doing.

This is ridiculous. Can you find another school that doesn’t have pointless, petty stupid rules and send him there?

State schools shouldn’t be permitted to deny children an education on the basis of a haircut fgs.

I think you just need to call the school and ask what the correct measurements are so the next time your DS is at the barbers he can ask for the correct length.

Has he has a skin fade? Many schools would have an issue with that.

Has he had

Is it bollocks racial harassment, you haven't kept to the rules that you signed up to when joining the school. If you don't like the rules, go to a different school. Debate the rules if you want them changing but doing that just because you didn't check the rules on this occasion weakens your standpoint. My kids school are very specific and strict about uniform and appearance, my kids often don't like the rules but tough shit. If they want to attend that school, that's the rules you keep to. Workplaces have rules and the kids have to learn to keep rules.

If it's a fade at the back then I think lots of schools would have an issue. Does it fade from hair to skin?

@Doghead

Rules are rules and life isn't fair. You should be teaching your son this.

Yes but unfair rules, especially ones that target a select group, be they children with curly hair, should be challenged.

I think this is an excellent opportunity to teach him how to calmly, firmly and appropriately challenge a ruling you do not agree with.

Exactly, challenge the rules if they cannot work fairly for a large group of children but moaning once you haven't kept to the clear rules weakens your point.

Yes you can say his hair is smart and short and tidy Unless he turns up with snakes coming out of his head do t contact me. And if you put him In isolation I will go
To the papers.
But really - start taking note of all the other ‘incorrect’ stylings and uniforms you see students wearing each day when u drop him off. Then present it to head - these students are going into isolation too , yes??

The school my son attends has a minimum number 2 grade on a clipper which is 6mm. A fade is pretty much bare skin to start with.

They keep a clipper comb to check the hair length then there is no guessing. They also have no un-natural hair colours (no purples or greens) no tramlines or designs cut in or extreme haircuts, I am assuming punk styles.

We knew this before we applied. It is strict on presentation. Strict on uniform and haircuts.

How pointless.
Ide be ringing them straight telling them not to be so pathetic and do what they are paid to do which is teach and not to bother ringing me about pointless none education reasons.

@Snowbeau

If it's a fade at the back then I think lots of schools would have an issue. Does it fade from hair to skin?

I am not sure, but it might be. As l said l am not up with boys hairstyles. I will have to talk to my dh as he took to to get his haircut.

@ElphabaTWitch

Yes you can say his hair is smart and short and tidy Unless he turns up with snakes coming out of his head do t contact me. And if you put him In isolation I will go To the papers. But really - start taking note of all the other ‘incorrect’ stylings and uniforms you see students wearing each day when u drop him off. Then present it to head - these students are going into isolation too , yes??

@ElphabaTWitch people have "gone to the papers" those are the fucking rules. Break them and you know the punishment. All the policies about uniform including hair styles are on the school website and at the presentation evening before we started at the school. They are also in the school planner which both the parent and child usually sign.

If you don't like the rules choose another school. Also the whole take note of who is breaking uniform codes, you don't know if they are put into isolation when they get inside, or change their shoes inside etc. Her son's hair is too short.

It can't be 1.5"!!??? I have had to shave my sons head a couple of times - latest due to him cutting his own hair and I would say it was about 0.25" long and no one batted an eyelid. Do you mean 1.5mm?

I think the question is, would a grade 2 cut be workable for your dc (and all other types of hair)? If so, I’d abide by it. But if it is in anyway an issue and that a person may need to have a shorter cut to suit their hair type then I would politely email and explain clearly that due to his black heritage, you ds needs a shorter style to manage his hair. Would they be willing to review this particular policy to take account of the needs of different/Afro hair types?
If you put it in writing like that it gives them the chance to have a proper think. Their only options are “yes we will review the policy to take the particular needs of black people into account” or “no we will not take particular the needs of black people into account in our policies”
I’d expect them to review it without resistance!

Rules are rules and life isn't fair. You should be teaching your son this.

but it has been shown time and time again that school hair policies, deliberately or not, discriminate against anyone who doesn't have standard European-type hair. Again and again. And it has been determined that in many cases it is discriminatory. So OP is teaching her son that some rules should be challenged. Other people have successfully done this in the past.

OP I'm guessing that they're talking about grade 2 and your son has gone a bit shorter? it will grow out very quickly.

@TeeBee

Exactly, challenge the rules if they cannot work fairly for a large group of children but moaning once you haven't kept to the clear rules weakens your point.

I am not actually. moaning, thank you very much. I made this post, because l wasn’t sure what to do about this matter. I wanted to speak to people who would have experience on this matter. I did state that l was probably wrong. I am not proud, if it is a fade and a mistake has been made on my behalf, l will own it.