'It's my boy's human right to have a three-inch ponytail'...

[ZOLLAR]

Really?, what about his right to an education and your responsibility as a parent to teach your child that in society there a rules, rules that can't be broken just because you don't like them?.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2039967/It...

[Greenwich Ross]

Sorry son, but your ol' dad is a fking clown.

[Frankeh]

Yeah, all kids should be taught that they should obey arbitrary rules and not ask questions.

[jdw1234]

Another fine example of the ferral underclass that plague this fair Isle.

[SC7]

That kid's hairstyle says a lot about him/his family.

I bet the school are well pleased - I wouldn't want him in my classes.

[Stu R]

Scumbag parents making statements through their kids, always lovely to see.

Still, I'm sure he's not a promising young footballer and this stupidity on the part of his dad won't hamper him on his quest to become a pioneering research scientist...

[Jasandjules]

Send him to my old school, he'd have the s**t kicked out of him daily for such a stupid haircut and would soon decide he'd rather change it............

I can't see how a "haircut style" is a human right..... I can however see force in an argument if girls are allowed to have little ponytails......

[V100]

I remember at school there was a guy with a right egghead and short dark hair. Seems normal, until you see him from behind and notice his five inch bleached ponytail.

[XJ40]

I've mixed feelings about this. As a member of society everyone has to accept some amount of conformity, I don't think that the appearance of a persons body should be regulated though.

A certain hairstyle is okay for girls, religous/ethnic minorities but not for boys? Says who? The rules on uniform should be uniform I think.

[rhinochopig]

Frankeh said:

Yeah, all kids should be taught that they should obey arbitrary rules and not ask questions.

I don't see your point. The school has a set of rules that ALL kids have to abide by; just as in society. Part of the learning process of being a child is learning that you can't just do what the hell you want. A model which is carried through into schools. The father is clearly a clown for taking such a ridiculous stance as it his costing his son his education. In addition, how is the child going to cope when - and that's a big assumption on my part - enters the world of work when he's told how to dress, what to do, etc.

Both the father and the son need a firm kick in the arse and to be told to stop being so bloody precious.

[rpguk]

They all come out looking like idiots for being stubborn. And the boy comes out looking an idiot for having such a stupid haircut.

But since when did schools dictate what haircut you can have? Silly pettiness on their part.

[aizvara]

Moronic haircut, but why does the school care?

I'm not sure why UK schools seem to have this fascination for uniforms and style codes in general. Is it because they are run by a bunch of petty-minded authoritarians? (My secondary school had at least one of those types, hell bent on enforcing tie and shirt discipline, all the while calling for the adoption of a blazer; presumably to get us beaten up by the other local schools' general populations).

Having said that, this seems incredibly petty on both sides, and its only the boy's education that will suffer.

[mondeoman]

rpguk said:

They all come out looking like idiots for being stubborn. And the boy comes out looking an idiot for having such a stupid haircut.

But since when did schools dictate what haircut you can have? Silly pettiness on their part.

bunsen burner, lathe, grinder, food mixer - bring on the ponytailed little scamp ....

[Frankeh]

Buggles said:

Frankeh said:

Yeah, all kids should be taught that they should obey arbitrary rules and not ask questions.

I get the gist of what you are getting at, but I really don't think secondary school is the appropriate place for youngsters to start questioning authority.
Do you think he should be taught that he doesn't have to do what he is told, and that rules are optional? Genuine question btw, not trying to provoke an argument.

An I get what you're saying. It's hard to draw the line but it seems to me that the kids had the st haircut for years and it's part of him.
I don't see why the school should make it their job to enforce a rule to limit individuality. It seems counter productive given that society by and large values individuality hugely.

I think the lesson the kid should take away from this is that some rules are stupid, and they're the ones you shouldn't mindlessly follow. That's probably not the lesson he'll take away, mind.

[Greenwich Ross]

aizvara said:

Moronic haircut, but why does the school care?

I'm not sure why UK schools seem to have this fascination for uniforms and style codes in general. Is it because they are run by a bunch of petty-minded authoritarians? (My secondary school had at least one of those types, hell bent on enforcing tie and shirt discipline, all the while calling for the adoption of a blazer; presumably to get us beaten up by the other local schools' general populations).

Having said that, this seems incredibly petty on both sides, and its only the boy's education that will suffer.

For some schools it's for the pride of the school. Feeling part of something. For others it's arguably to avoid bullying if you rock up in the wrong pair of trainers. I'd be interested to know what the old man does for a living.

[Gargamel]

rhinochopig said:

I don't see your point. The school has a set of rules that ALL kids have to abide by; just as in society. Part of the learning process of being a child is learning that you can't just do what the hell you want. A model which is carried through into schools. The father is clearly a clown for taking such a ridiculous stance as it his costing his son his education. In addition, how is the child going to cope when - and that's a big assumption on my part - enters the world of work when he's told how to dress, what to do, etc.

Both the father and the son need a firm kick in the arse and to be told to stop being so bloody precious.

Rhinochopig at school earlier....

[rhinochopig]

aizvara said:

Moronic haircut, but why does the school care?

I'm not sure why UK schools seem to have this fascination for uniforms and style codes in general. Is it because they are run by a bunch of petty-minded authoritarians? (My secondary school had at least one of those types, hell bent on enforcing tie and shirt discipline, all the while calling for the adoption of a blazer; presumably to get us beaten up by the other local schools' general populations).

Having said that, this seems incredibly petty on both sides, and its only the boy's education that will suffer.

Having been a teacher for a very very short time many years ago, and having taught in myriad schools in Brum - from the very worst to some very good - I can tell you from my own personal experience that the schools that had a strong set of rules and rigorously enforced them, and also had a formal uniform had far better behaved children and had far better exam results - the kids seemed happier too.

One classic reason for uniforms is that they tend to reduce the obvious differences in wealth between kids. Without uniforms you get the richer kids turning up in designer gear and the poorer kids in had-me-downs. And in both instances this can lead to bullying.

[Frankeh]

Buggles said:

Frankeh said:

An I get what you're saying. It's hard to draw the line but it seems to me that the kids had the st haircut for years and it's part of him.
I don't see why the school should make it their job to enforce a rule to limit individuality. It seems counter productive given that society by and large values individuality hugely.

I think the lesson the kid should take away from this is that some rules are stupid, and they're the ones you shouldn't mindlessly follow. That's probably not the lesson he'll take away, mind.

Fair one.

I think the important point about this is, the boy (and his Dad) need to learn, that even if they don't agree with a rule, sometimes you just have to, because it's the way that st is.

I agree that individuality is important, but I also think that schools are like fking jungles, and to be an individual at school is marking yourself out as an easy candidate for bullying.

Yeah, I guess.

Besides, 'life's unfair' is a lesson everyone needs to learn at some point.

[Gargamel]

By that logic though buggles - the bullies already win. What sort of message is that ? Don't be an individual you might get in trouble.

FFS, if he wants a pony tail and he can live with the pisstaking then it is up to him. Christ imagine what might happen if a 16 year old schooldchild wants to come "out"

[Alfa numeric]

Frankeh said:

I think the lesson the kid should take away from this is that some rules are stupid, and they're the ones you shouldn't mindlessly follow. That's probably not the lesson he'll take away, mind.

That's the lesson I certainly took away. My school had the same rule and most of us had long hair by the time we left by way of rebellion. It's a stupid rule but I wouldn't risk my childs education to prove a point.

mondeoman said:

bunsen burner, lathe, grinder, food mixer - bring on the ponytailed little scamp ....

When I was at school all of the above were done by girls with ponytails, so why not boys? Plus it's not that long...