School Bars Teen Over Racial Hair Row -

The Mirror - UK ^ | June 21, 2004 | Tom Parry

[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."

[Oztrich Boy]

The restriction was waived for the two Afro-Caribbean students in the name of cultural integration.

That sentence makes no sense.

[Riverman94610]

Whats next?A white girl named Tenisha?

[Oztrich Boy]

Private school, their own rules.

So religion validates racism? The Church of the Creator will be delighted.

[netmilsmom]

>>That would be African/Brit, this story is from England. Besides it was Afro-Carribean, mon.<<

Ooooops! You are so right!!

[headsonpikes]

That sentence makes no sense.

Citizen O. Boy, please report immediately to your public social health unit.

You have another free conditioning and servicing scheduled.

Don't be late - you know how they hate that!

[Condor51]

Everyone in England is now insane.

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[BenLurkin]

I remember.

[sheik yerbouty]

Yeah, mon! Dem effa get a beatin'...

[TwoSue]

I know one.

[freebilly]

I shall studiously refrain from commenting on the 'toe.

Well, there do be a high cameltoesity factor....

[Psycho_Bunny]

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.

Ummmmmm.

If it's waivable, the policy cannot - by definition - be one of "zero-tolerance".

[Chewbacca]

These people should claim that they have Swiss background and that they should be allowed to have their hair in braids because the Swiss Miss is shown as having them.

[Mears]

A beautiful hairdo,I wish I could do it!

[Xenalyte]

That elaborate braid in the linked photo took the woman all of 10 minutes. She's GOOD.

[burlfire]

I was disgusted to read your comment, the ignorance on this page astounds me. FYI TO ALL. Afro hair is different from white hair, and braiding is an essential part of taking care of Afro hair. I can assure you it is not done for fun (as it can be painful). The issue in this case isn't to do with black people being allowed extra privileges, but to do with the fact that there are differences between white and black people. For the girl in question braiding her hair is a FASHION choice and not out of necessity but for black people it is a NECESSITY. That is why the 2 Afro/Caribbean pupils were allowed to braid their hair. They are not being given preferential treatment. If anyone is upset by braiding being banned they should question why the school banned it and not turn it in to a race issue

[bvw]

Well, if they are of swiss background, culutral heritage includes bringing machine guns to school and shooting the apples off of schoolmates heads.

[bvw]

So, you are a medical or scinetific researcher that has thoroughly investigated over many years the handling of very curly hair?

[burlfire]

its probably nothing to do with political correctness, but is to do with that, had the Afro/Caribbean pupils been banned from braiding their, they could have sued the school, and they would have quite rightly won, it is not their fault that braiding/plaiting, is one of they few ways of managing their hair, the question should be why did the school ban it for the rest of the pupils and whether their reason is valid, there are too many comments on this page attacking black people, they did not impose the ban on braiding. the school did.

[burlfire]

No I have 26 years of dealing with afro hair, as does all my family and every other black person I know, if you like I can provide you with web address for sites which have carried out scientific research on afro hair, besides you dont need to be a geniuos to know this, if you have ever felt black hair the texture is different for starters, afro hair is difficult and painful to brush/comb when dry and easier to handle when wet, so you can imagine how impractical it would be for a black person to keep their hair constantly wet.