"Pupil grew hair long 'to deflect racist remarks' "

[cool-dudette]

http://education.guardian.co.uk/scho...830971,00.html
(Gloucester is a city in southwestern England)

If the school dress code doesn't allow long hair then I wouldn't call this racism, but I guess I'd need to hear the story from both sides first!

Here's the article:
A 16-year-old boy has moved schools after being suspended because his hair was too long. Sam Grant, 16, was only allowed back into class when his parents took legal action against Sir Thomas Rich school in Gloucester.
The teenager, who is of mixed race, said he had grown his hair long to divert attention from the colour of his skin, which had attracted racist remarks. His father, solicitor Stephen Grant, said the school had discriminated against his son on race grounds.

He was allowed back after his parents challenged the school saying the ban had affected their son's schoolwork.

Sam said: "It's easier and friendlier for people to comment on my hair and call me 'mophead' or something like that rather than derogatory names. I'm mixed-race and I found that having longer hair ended remarks of a racist nature."

Sam's father, solicitor Stephen Grant, said the school had discriminated against him on grounds of race and that the rule was old-fashioned.

"The reaction of the school was ridiculous and we were totally shocked at its inflexibility and failure to engage in meaningful debate about the underlying issues."

He added: "I understand they have school rules but to suspend him from coming back to school unless he cut his hair was draconian. Pupils committing acts of theft and damage received less severe disciplinary sanctions."

[Julie Andrews]

If he wants to grow his hair it's his choice. Why should a school be able to determine how long his hair should be.

I went to a school where they would send guys to a 'complimentary hair cut' from the Dean of Discipline if their hair was too long. I had a problem with that- but it wasn't my battle to fight. What if someone was a Rastafarian or Sikh and they were exerting their religious independence?
Why can't a fellow grow his hair because he likes it long? So long as the hair is kept neat and clean, what's the problem.

That fellow's school where he said he was growing his hair to deflect racist comments.... it seems like they have some other underlying issues there.

[Chantelle]

i guess the problem wasn't coz of the boys religion but rather his skin colour.
of course students should be allowed to grow their hair if its a religion issue and the school should considr this but the school also has the right to say that (apart from religious reasons) u're not allowed to grow ur hair. it's then parents/boys choice.

i've been in a school before were there were sikh boys wearing turbans, np with that, however a guy was once told to shorten his hair since it was longer that the acceptable level, set by the school.

[Boo Radley]

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