What's your opinion on this news story? Should this lad have his hair cut?

[Aero]

Here.

I know looking smart is important and in my schooldays the rule was the same as this school, but haven't we moved on from 20 years ago? Shouldn't tying it back (same as girls) be enough? Just interested to see what the majority think.

I agree pointydog. My DS#1 has longish hair because he likes to think of himself as a surfer dude . Nothing to do with me I can assure you. He cried buckets last time I took him to have his hair cut. I would be very annoyed with his school if they forced me to upset him regularly over something as ephemeral and personal as his hair cut.

I would be interested to know what sort of statement I am trying to make, as the mother of one boy who almost has a crew cut, of another with hair halfway down his back and of a third with blond fluffy hair that looks like cotton wool!

Oooh, this is a subject that gets a frequent airing in our house as DS1's (all boys) school has a hair rule like this - hair must be on or above the collar and (a more recent amendment) on or above the eyebrow. DS1 is extremely unhappy and rants and rages at home on a regular basis about this issue. I had to forcibly drag him to the hairdressers (well maybe that's a slight exaggeration) last week because he had been told off, yet again, about his hair. To be honest although I am on his side and 100% sympathetic to his cause, I am also sick of hearing him moan about it. I like his long hair and it suits him but I knew about the hair rule (however outdated and sexist I might consider it) when we accepted the offer of a place at the school. As everyone else has said, I realise that it is my responsibility to ensure that DS1 complies with the rule. It has caused no end of aggravation at home though and DS1 has become very resentful towards his teachers. This one issue has really affected his attitude to school this year (as the teachers have become more insistent about enforcing the rule)and I can totally understand why. At 13 he is finding his own identity (all I hear him saying to DS2 is "Don't copy me - don't copy my clothes, don't listen to the same bands ..."!) and his blond surfer hairstyle is the image that increases his confidence and desire for individuality. A court case is, IMO, an unnecessarily financially extravagent amd self-indulgent response to the enforcement of a school rule of this nature and I would have hoped that the matter could be resolved privately.

I think it probably is sex discrimination. After all if girls can wear trousers why can't boys have long hair? With the same caveats about tying it back etc. My nephew has just been made to cut his hair by school (he's 15) but I think at an all boys school.

At our 6th form, going back years, the boys have to have a uniform black blazer (at c £50 ) while the girls only have to wear a black jumper.

Hmph.

(Lots of the boys have shoulder-length hair; that isn't an issue. The blazer really pisses me off though!)

I don't agree with the "easy" rebellion theory. I think it can cause a great deal of agro between teachers and kids for no good reason at all. So many schools have strict rules for the children and then let teachers wear whatever they like. I can remember being told off for looking scruffy (because my uniform didn't fit being made of horrible material in a fit that didn't seem to work for teenage girls) by a teacher who was wearing a t-shirt over a polo shirt. Now what is that teaching exactly?

What really scares me about this article is this line, instilling the concept of a shared identity. WTF is that all about then? Isn't it enough to be wearing the same uniform? The boys have to have a "shared identity" with their hair cut whilst the girls (presumably) can choose length and style they like (thereby preserving their individuality).

my ds (6) has hair longer than this boys, however, his school has no rule on the subject for boys or girls. He has been told that he will have to tie it back for some lessons if he is asked and also told that he may have to have it tied back all the time if it gets very long. But his hair is cut and styled to be neat and inoffensive. The length is totally his choice, I like shorter hair because of the nit thing, but my ds should be allowed to express himself IMO. WHen he changes school he will start there with long hair (assuming he still wants long hair then!) and I will defend him if asked to cut it after he has started - but if he was asked to cut it before he started then I would defend the school rules IYSWIM.

I agree with that nooka. Teachers should have a dress code if the children have a uniform code.

We do have a dress code in the school I work in.

The sixth form have a dress code too. Difference is, the staff stick to it

seems like a storm in a teacup to me i agree with freckle

at ds school they could have any kind of hair..tho all he ever had was fairly normal short gelled hair but loads of them had huge dyed bouffant elaborate multicoloured things..especially all the chinese lads..hair dying and chopping seemed to be a wekend activity

i thought it was quite funny another dull weekend chez ds school oin the middle of nowehere with nothing better to do lol

i also think the argument that you may have to conform when you go to work is bollocks...you can make that decision when it comes to it