Should he be allowed to go to school with this hairstyle?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....lishment-mohican.html

/// I would feel ridiculous without it, it makes me an individual. All my mates like it and some want it too.' ///

Yes a ridiculous individual it would seem.

[Kromovaracun]

"All I know is that when I see the kids from the good schools walking down the road they look smart and the kids from the new "academy" look less so. That says something to me. It says something about standards. The standards of education and discipline. "

With greatest respect, I don't see why it should. From the appearance of these respective children you have no idea how intelligent, well-rounded, or happy they are. I'd put it to you that those things are more important than impressing people with your uniforms when you walk past them in the street.

[Kromovaracun]

"However you cannot have a society which is continually questioning the rules, if that's the case it's simply easier to do away with the rules/laws and have anarchy instead."

What absolute nonsense. Questioning the rules is the very essence of democracy. It's also the foundation of any kind of progress I can imagine.

[237SJ]

But I do know which schools get the best results...

[B00]

oh pfffft.

<blows raspberry @ Kromo >

;-)

[B00]

Just a quick question though...

Kromo- suppose he school caves in? Then the next child comes in with an even odder hair cut and says "its staying, parrot boy's allowed to keep his hair...." Then what?

[joggerjayne]

"How many kids -really- care about school pride or image"?

Any kid who wants to represent the school.

"I think that's a horrifying attitude."

"Horrifying" ???

Crikey ... is it so bad to want kids to be proud of their school, rather than proud of their haircut?

[Sqad]

Well Kromo, if your theory is correct and it may well be and i do understand your point, then in future we will see dress regulation relaxed.

I just have the feeling that parents would still be choosing the school with the rigid dress discipline.

[boxtops]

IMO the school rules should be adhered to. It's not even a well done mohican, and if he doesn't wear it like that to school, what does he wear, a sort of flopped over mohican? i reckon it's not him who wants his hair like that, it's his parents. I feel sorry for the kid, he's obviously bright to have got into that school - stupid to ruin his chances of doing well, just because of a stupid hairstyle.

[pastafreak]

Hmmm...not sure if it's due to our similar ages....but I tend to agree with lottie.
While I tend to support the uniform policies held by the majority of schools,I do despair at the cloning of kids. If they are neat,clean and in appropriate uniform,there should be some leeway whereby they can express themselves. I see it as a necessary part of development-and not something they are 'allowed' to do later-when it's all but been stifled out of them. If children can be expressive in some ways-it may go a long way to helping them learn to accept differences...at an age when refusing to conform can be painful for some. I really think hairstyles should be the least of the school's worries-or concerns.

[Kromovaracun]

:P

"But I do know which schools get the best results... "

See, I know I'm opening another can of worms here entirely, but I personally question the validity of the League Table system for actually benefiting or educating -children- (not schools, not parents, children). Do you have full faith in it?

[boxtops]

Let's not digress - the question is about a haircut, and discipline, not about whether one stream of school is better than another :-)

[Kromovaracun]

"Kromo- suppose he school caves in? Then the next child comes in with an even odder hair cut and says "its staying, parrot boy's allowed to keep his hair...." Then what? "

Then nothing. I mean, drawing the line at total obscenity, I don't really see the problem. I expose myself to ridicule here but I really don't see how this scenario is anything like as apocalyptic as some people seem to think - you have to sit at a table and learn/discuss with people of all variety of hairstyles and fashions at most sixth forms and nearly all universities. I don't see it hampering on the experience in either of those cases.

"Well Kromo, if your theory is correct and it may well be and i do understand your point, then in future we will see dress regulation relaxed. "

I do hope so :).

[roslyn251254]

All 3 look ridiculous, so what chance does the boy have?!

[sara3]

Kromo, it's a big decision, choosing a school for your child. I did look at the league tables, as it does matter. the school they're at is on 81% (and rising each year) for the "5+ GCSEs, grade A-C", whereas the nearest school is on 31% (and dropping).

it's a bit of a no-brainer.

[boxtops]

I think it's important to learn in life that sometimes you HAVE to conform, or you do yourself no favours - there are times for conformity, and times for individuality. School's not the place to be non-conformist.

[Kromovaracun]

"School's not the place to be non-conformist."

Why?

[cazzz1975]

he should follow the rules whilst he is in school, I wouldnt allow the haircut because it looks awful, Im all for individuality but in the real world there will always be jobs and responsibilities that crop up that will challenge our wish to "do as we please"

I think there was a simpsons episode about it :)

[pastafreak]

School may not be seen as the place to be non-conformist....but the teenage years are the ideal time to spread wings,and try. Surely schools can accommodate some non-conformity without loosing control?

[boxtops]

I suppose I look back to my own schooling, when what we could wear - and we had a uniform, too - was quite closely controlled, down to knicker colour. The school wanted to be proud of the way its pupils were turned out in public, when the pupils were representing the school, and we had rules about how to behave when in uniform. Making someone stand out like this doesn't (IMO) encourage conformity or team spirit, if he's saying that he can do it but nobody else can.

[Prudie]

As he's had the haircut since he was 5 this is clearly the parent's choice not the boy's. He looks like a potential thug and his parents look as common as muck - just making the point that people do make judgements on appearance.
At only 11 he shouldn't be in the news at all.