Students being denied access to school for various reasons – including the absence of PE uniforms – continues, now forcing one father to stand up, yet again, for his child.
Sports commentator Mandy Weatherhead has taken to the picket line, protesting that his son was ejected from the Glanvilles Secondary School over the length of his hair.
Weatherhead explains that a medical condition prevents his son from having his hair cut too low.
He says the school and the Ministry of Education are aware of this condition, and that permission was sought for the boy’s hair to remain a bit longer than would normally obtain.
REAL News correspondent George Wehner spoke to Weatherhead this morning, April 22, as he staged his one-man picket.
This is the 21st century, Weatherhead says, and it boggles the mind that persons are still so shallow-minded that the length of a student’s hair is an issue.
The frustrated father points out that learning is not dependent on the length of a person’s hair. He notes, too, that other education institutions permit long hairstyles on boys, once the hair is well groomed.
Accordingly, Weatherhead is calling on Education officials to revisit this policy, particularly at the Glanvilles Secondary School.
Meanwhile, Weatherhead’s placards captures his feeling. “Stop robbing the children, they have the right to an education” and “Stop the discrimination…” they read.
It was only on Thursday, April 21, that the Clare Hall Secondary School sparked outrage among the public after students were put out for not wearing their PE shirts.- REAL NEWS
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There are three sides to an argument …. Your side Mr. Weatherhead, the school’s side and the side that bears the truth…. All sides need to be heard….. !! Let’s hope that there is no political motive behind your picketing but it is one of a legitimate concern
I am always bothered by us keep going backwards.
What is the difference between a afro hair style and an Asian or Spanish with long hair going to school here?
It’s like we don’t love our own.
Sometimes it seems boys with different race with long hair is accepted in school, where the locals with long or afro hair style is rejected an education at times.
We have policies in the school but we also have discrimination.
Talk truth! I was about the comment the same thing.
It is discrimination. One child cannot sport an Afro as a descendant of an African. The Rasta can wear his dread. The white and Indians are allowed to wear hair as long as they want. It’s so nice to see our ladies sporting their natural hair. Wish the skin bleaching products could be banded off the shelves. I guess black picky head people have no rights in this country. Light moment- Adolf Hitler Mustache should not be allowed in parliament LOL 😂.
It boggles the mind that university-trained educators, especially those aware of our slavery past as Afro-West Indians, are themselves perpetuating self-hate among the Nation’s youth! They harrass neither the Amerindian nor the Indo-West Indian who flaunt his God-given shoulder-length hair. Why discriminate against your own? Inferiority complex at its best! Ironically, they ignore the long-haired group notorious for harbouring colonies of head lice! Stop and admire the creatively designed intricately braided, and exquisitely coiffeured strong black hair.This colonial ‘pencil-through-little-black-boys-hair’ test must stop! Btw, how does that hair vendetta impact the acquisition of knowledge or how does it aid in the delivery of education on the cutting edge! Telll me (Madea’s voice) !!!
@VBenta…
…say it just a little louder!
SO, the length of one’s hair discredits them? Hair, hair, HAIR? Really? Amazing!
This is absolutely ridiculous. The school is being extremely petty not letting a child attend school because of the length of his hair. Blatent sexism. Girls can have long hair, so why not boys? Just imagine how this would stand in a court of law. So the only children allowed to have long hair are Rastafarians? Or will they be sent home too?
I wonder how many commentors have read the Education Act in reference to grooming before they run in claiming all kind of bias? How many have read the school’s handbook of rules which every parent and child is aware of before enrolling? Since we fighting for male long hair let’s not forget the police officers who have to cut their hair in order to have a job. Shouldn’t they be afforded the right to have afros and get paid too? Or what about those in the food industry who can’t wear jewelry or show off their hairstyles at work? What about the no arms out or sneakers dresscode for court and government offices? What about not buying or selling alcohol on Good Friday? What about 2 years of mandatory mask wearing?
Everywhere has rules, many we don’t agree with and actions have consequences. Instead of trying to blame and shame, focus your energy into advocating for our parliamentarians who we elected to change or adjust the laws we think are outdated. Otherwise we’re all just part of the news cycle only to be back in 6 months complaining about the same thing…
It is so refreshing to read this perspective. We encourage our children to flaunt rules and regulations and then we are surprised when they can’t function in institutions.
Respectfully, Randy was an ABBA referee, I have seen him refuse to let players on the court because their pant was out of their shirt. Does the shirt diminish the player’s skills? We may not agree with all the rules, but we advocate until we get change, and observe until we do.
Mr. Weatherhead, if your son has a LIGITIMATE medical problem, submit a Doctor’s letter to the school and Ministry.
Having read the story, read the comments, I am moved to ask the question: What are we doing to our children? Put aside the politics; what is the real issue here? In a previous post one child was sent home because the child was not wearing the PE uniform, now this child is being sent home because of the ‘length’ of his hair. Is the child to be blamed in either scenario?
Has the school reached out to the parents to initiate any kind of discussion regarding their concerns? Everybody and their cousin owns a cell phone. Do the school offices keep records of parents’ or guardians information? If not then they should. If they do then they should be utilized. Children ought not to be punished nor their education curtailed over policies.
Now, if the child’s hair is unkempt, or unclean, and I am NOT suggesting it is, let us for argument’s sake say it is thought to be a health hazard. The thing to do is to call the parents in and have a discussion.
The father says that there is a health issue which the school is aware of. If that be the case why is the child being made to suffer over that. Think also of how this will impact the child’s mental state, how the child begins to perceive himself.
We can do better than this.
This is so ridiculous and I can relate also because my nephew was told that if his hair isn’t cut he cannot return to school and he attends a primary school. He doesn’t have any hair condition but I want to know if these teachers put money in our pockets to keep.
The hair-length of male secondary students is a troubling matter. If, as one commentor suggested, hair-length is addressed in the Education Act, then said Act is not being applied evenly across the board.
I see male PMS students with afro hairstyles; pony tails; braids etc. Meanwhile, my son who attends AGS would not be allowed at school sporting one of the above-mentioned hairstyles.
They are all secondary students in A&B, and the rules should be evenly applied – what goes for one should go for all.
The same applies to earings.
REPEAT AFTER ME….WE ARE BACKWARDS, MENTALLY LOST, STUCK IN COLONIAL TIMES….It was always a ridiculous rule.. should be changed immediately.
…#Indoctrinations!
…#Initiations!
…#Emasculations!
THE CHARIOTS HAVE LEFT ZION!
IESUS! YESUS! GEESUS!
IS ARRIVING ON THE WHITE WING EXPRESS!
NO MELANATED SKIN WILL BE ALLOWED TO BOARD THE RETURN FLIGHT TO ZION!
WHITE JESUS CHARIOT EXPRESS
ALL ABOARD!! All ABOARD!!
REPEAT AFTER ME….WE ARE BACKWARDS, MENTALLY LOST, STUCK IN COLONIAL TIMES….It was always a ridiculous rule.. should be changed immediately.
I don’t think our backwardness, in this regard, has anything to do with colonial times. My son attended a Catholic school in NY before we returned to A&B. He was allowed to attend the Catholic school with his hair braided. He was also able to attend Sunnyside School with his hair braided. However, he had to cut his hair to attend AGS.
It’s all ignorance that falls squarely on our shoulders
@Dadliman…it goes beyond “ignorance,” regarding the premise which created policies and laws, to govern the #n^ggers hair.
The recently passed CROWN ACT by the US Congress came about after Centuries of discrimination from the cradle to the grave for the n^gger, from the church to government to private/public businesses.
Catholicism did not get up one bright morning, in New York specifically, and changed its educational institutions policies. It was because of dozens of lawsuits all the way to the Federal Courts which forced the Catholic Church, to revise their policies regarding the n^ggers hair.
It’s also not a white on black issue, since, many black institutions had similar discriminatory policies. Hampton Institute a historically black university – School of Business had such a policy regarding braids, locks.
I do agree, that the Ministry of Education policies must be applied equally. However, before doing so, these policies must not and should not infringe on anyone Natural HUEman Right.
#Da-Kruttee is trending amongst black youths! We’re just to versatile and it keeps phucking with those who wish and pray that we weren’t present in this dispensation!
I’m curious to know what the medical condition is.
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