Much easier to stick to schools rules?

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/6kal9cc

Is it racist to ban this boys hair style, or is it just another case of certain groups demanding special treatment?

If this hair style is allowed should skin-heads be allowed also, or even this style from another case?

http://tinyurl.com/6c9sawp

Incidentally how can some people afford to take their grievances all the way to the High Courts?

[Gladeian]

Presumably the pupils and their parents are aware of any rules the schools to which their children attend may have about hair, dress etc.
Simple here I would have thought - if you dont lke the rules and feel unable to keep to them find another school to attend.

[anotheoldgit]

Exactly Gladeian, but according to the article, the excuse that the mother gave, was they were 10 minutes late for a school meeting a couple of months earlier, when potential new pupils were told orally that cornrows were banned.

Seems to me rather a limp excuse, and no excuse whatsoever for not altering his hair style as soon as they were told it was not allowed.

[boxtops]

I think that's a feeble excuse that she missed the meeting - rules are rules, we had a sheet of written rules about what was acceptable in terms of hair and clothing.

Equally, it's unfair though if girls can wear them, but boys can't.

[Oneeyedvic]

is it fair that girls are treated different to boys? Eg earings, skirts etc.

Another interesting story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/...mbridgeshire-13362586

[boxtops]

I don't know many boys who'd want to wear skirts to school, OEV!

[anotheoldgit]

triggerhippy

/// "Girls at the school, identified by the government as one of the best performing in the country, are allowed to wear cornrows" ///

I did read the article but what has that got to do with the ruling, unless you are saying that boys might also preform better in cornrows?

He was not discriminated against just because the girls can wear cornrows, the schools rules are that boy's cannot.

The only discrimination that can be queried, is sexual discrimination, but then the same could be said if he was refused to attend school in a skirt.

[anotheoldgit]

triggerhippy

/// looks like this family has more about them than meekly agreeing to dumb rules like sheep AOG.///

So I suppose that you T. H. go through life only obeying rules that you agree with?

[pa___ul3]

AOG, you're tying yourself up a bit there. I personally don't see the benefit in any school banning any hair style, I think it's just pathetic, and to stop educating a chile because of their choise of hair style is absurd.
Fair play to this family for spotting a clear double standard set by the school and using that to act upon.
I'm not convinced of the 'importance to cultural and racial identity' of the hairstyle though!

[anotheoldgit]

triggerhippy

/// Come on, it is simple.///

So simple that even you don't understand it.

Sorry I will no longer be trying to explain it to you.

[NOX]

I would personally not allow any of my children to be educated by people who feel it's okay to dictate what someone else wears or how they choose to wear their hair. If a group of adults are so terrified of a child's desire to be diferent then they are in my opinion unsuited to teach- this is not a popular viewpoint I'm well aware ( hence all of our kids have been home educated).

[anotheoldgit]

pa___ul3

So you would even have no objections against the second example then?

[pa___ul3]

none at all, I'm of the opinion that self expression is a healthy thing. I think most would agree the prime source of bullying in schools is down to intolerance of those perceived as different.

[Old_Geezer]

Unless it is a style banned for one race at the school, but allowed for another, then it isn't racist.

Rules are rules sure, but life would go a lot easier if the unnecessary ones weren't enacted. If a hairstyle isn't going to be a distraction to the education process, then why try to control it?

[anotheoldgit]

pa___ul3

/// I think most would agree the prime source of bullying in schools is down to intolerance of those perceived as different. ///

You have come up with a very good reason for not allowing school pupils to make themselves different from their fellow pupils.

Stick to school rules on uniform and hairstyles, a simple solution if it prevents bullying.

[Kromovaracun]

Not really - it just draws attention to other differences.

You don't seem to have much respect for children. Bear in mind these kids are very young, have been made to go to school their entire lives where people like you expect rigid uniformity from them all the time ('for their own good'), while simultaneously having to try and fit into a vicious and highly judgemental society amongst their peers, go through puberty (a pretty crappy time of life for a lot of people) and also be expected to work out what they want to do with their lives. And then you're surprised and horrified when they go to extreme lengths to act like individuals.

Does enforcing uniformity from children really help them develop? Or does it just feed the egos of adults? Does it help our ability to teach them? Or their ability to learn? Personally, I'm unconvinced. If you let kids relax and be different, then gradually they might begin to stand out less as 'bully-me' targets.