Ruling on 'cultural' hairstyle - don't know what I think...
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 1:09 pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13803106
Being a very ignorant middle aged white woman I had never realised that cornrowed hair was part of gang culture. I always thought it kept Afro-Caribbean hair attractively neat for school, although I have to admit, I don't think it suits fine European hair as it always looks to me as if it's about to break off at the roots.
I don't see a problem with the hair style being worn for school and would have been happy to see the school's decision judged as unlawful. Equally - I think that if you want your child to go to a particular school, and its dress code is widely available before application is made, then parents should ensure the child keeps to it - so I suppose I could have justified the court upholding the school's decision just as easily.
This judgement, however, means that schools will have to judge each case on its merits - but without giving them the criteria to do so. How is a headteacher or board of governors meant to decide what is 'cultural' and what is 'individual' - and surely some families are 'cross cultural'? And really, if children are allowed to celebrate their 'cultural identity' then why aren't they allowed to celebrate their 'individual identity'?
I think it's a judgement that is going to cause more trouble than it solves - but I'm still not sure which judgement would have been better ....
Being a very ignorant middle aged white woman I had never realised that cornrowed hair was part of gang culture. I always thought it kept Afro-Caribbean hair attractively neat for school, although I have to admit, I don't think it suits fine European hair as it always looks to me as if it's about to break off at the roots.
I don't see a problem with the hair style being worn for school and would have been happy to see the school's decision judged as unlawful. Equally - I think that if you want your child to go to a particular school, and its dress code is widely available before application is made, then parents should ensure the child keeps to it - so I suppose I could have justified the court upholding the school's decision just as easily.
This judgement, however, means that schools will have to judge each case on its merits - but without giving them the criteria to do so. How is a headteacher or board of governors meant to decide what is 'cultural' and what is 'individual' - and surely some families are 'cross cultural'? And really, if children are allowed to celebrate their 'cultural identity' then why aren't they allowed to celebrate their 'individual identity'?
I think it's a judgement that is going to cause more trouble than it solves - but I'm still not sure which judgement would have been better ....