Posted on 06/21/2004 11:13:17 AM PDT by UnklGene
SCHOOL BARS TEEN OVER RACIAL HAIR ROW -
Jun 21 2004
By Tom Parry
A TEENAGER was sent home from school for wearing her hair in braids, even though other pupils are allowed the style for cultural reasons.
Jade Fitzjohn, 14, had the trendy plaits done while on holiday in Spain. But back at school, she was told to take them out or be barred.
Jade refused so staff excluded her from lessons, saying she could not return until she was braid-free. When she pointed out that two black girls had an identical style, she was told they were allowed to wear them for cultural reasons.
Jade's two younger sisters removed their braids after a warning from staff at St Edmonds Catholic School, Southsea, Hants. But Jade refused to back down.
Her mother, Amanda Fitzjohn, supports her, saying the ruling was racist unless it applied to everyone.
She added: "I was stunned when I heard Jade was being excluded for her braids because two other girls wear them. But apparently it is fine for them to sport them because of their culture.
"If a school is going to have a rule, it should apply across the board, not be discriminatory towards my daughter because she is white rather than black.
"Jade's hair is tied back and is neat and tidy. It does not interfere with her schoolwork. She gets good grades and is a good student. The hairdo was done as a treat as Jade had been having a hard time. It was expensive, too."
But headteacher Neil Brett said there was a zero-tolerance policy towards flouting school rules.
The restriction was waived for the two Afro-Caribbean students in the name of cultural integration.
He added: "Jade's mother says it will take six weeks to get her money's worth out of the braids. She is obviously more interested in getting her money's worth than her daughter's education."
But Mrs Fitzjohn, of Southsea, said: "The braids did cost £46 but that's irrelevant. All that matters is that my daughter is missing out on vital lessons because of a silly, discriminatory rule.
"I won't send her back unless she can wear the braids as she feels very strongly about this matter."
All kids are equal. Some kids are more equal than others.
diversity only works one way doncha know.
Good multiculturalists doing their part to perpetuate the cycle of racism for yet another generation.
Color of the skin does matter as to privileges rec'd.
Sounds series!
I'd like to see the way that rule reads, that would be funny, only blacks have culture?
Private school, their own rules.
So, it's Zero-Tolerance, unless you are black, then it's exemption city. OK, gotcha. This multicultural diversity thing is gonna work out real well ....
Culture Minister Joeseph Goebbels could not be reached for comment.
I live in a fairly affluent community(I'm not one of the lucky ones) and lots if kids go to warm Islands with their families for February vacation.
The girls all come back with their hair in braids,it's fun for them.
This case is disrimination,pure and simple. When on earth did hair styles become the exclusive use of some groups?
P.O.'d Bo Derek bump!!!
That, say my high-school kids, is exactly the case.
some...more equal than others. :o(
Don't mention Bo with out a pix.
The girl should ask for a list of restrictions on black students that whites are exempted from because of "white" culture.....
Zero-tolerance - another term for zero-thought employed in our government schools.
I can think of much more important issues for a school headmaster to go to war over than this. This is just stupid!!
Thanks for the ray of common sense,Gene.
Bottom line-is the young woman perfoming well academically and behaving in the classroom with respect for the teachers and her fellow students?If so,who CARES whether she has braids or not?
Much ado about nothing.I teach part time in one very notorious ghetto school in California and would love it if non traditional hair styles were my major problem!
Riverman
>>Private school, their own rules.<<
I don't agree with this rule for all non-African/American students however, YOU are right. It is a private school and the mother has a right to pull her child if she doesn't like it.
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