Girl banned from school photo over hair

[Hum]

A four-year-old was left in tears after being banned from her annual school photograph because of her eye-catching coiffure.

Marcella Marino arrived to have her picture taken with fellow pupils only to be told that her long blonde hair, which was fashioned into a bow, did not adhere to the dress code.

Her hairdresser father, responsible for the updo, said he was shocked by the decision and that he was aiming for a 'simple but elegant style'.

The father-of-two, who owns Marcello?s Hair Salon in Ramsgate, Kent, said his daughter had asked him to make her hair ?like a princess? for the school photo at her reception class.

But when she arrived at the 210-pupil school she was told her hairstyle breached the dress policy, which outlaws braided hair.

Mr Marino, 42, said he was ?shocked? when his daughter returned home to tell him the news.

He said: 'Marcella asked me if I could do her hair like a princess for the school photo and I came up with a simple but elegant style, using her hair to make a bow.

'I thought it looked wonderful and Marcella loved it, but when she went for the school photo she was told she wasn?t allowed to wear her hair in that style because of the dress code.'

A spokesperson for the school confirmed that hair bands and ribbons must be ?made of dark colours? such as maroon, navy blue or black and that hair braids are ?not allowed?.

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[+pmrd Subscriber²]

That's actually a cool hairstyle (for girls). The way things are going people may have to get their head shaved before going to school. lol

[Rigby]

Zero tolerance = total stupidity.

[remixedcat]

what the hell? her hair is cute!

[ShMaunder]

The school made the right decision if "?made of dark colours? such as maroon, navy blue or black and that hair braids are ?not allowed?" is in the dress code (which needs be in writing as well). If they allowed an exception like this, everyone will want to do it next time.

Though I think its quite unique, and looks kinda OK except the girls expression in the photo :p

[Elliot B.]

It's an attention-seeking hairstyle.

I don't blame the school.

[Calum Veteran]

The school made the right decision if "?made of dark colours? such as maroon, navy blue or black and that hair braids are ?not allowed?" is in the dress code (which needs be in writing as well). If they allowed an exception like this, everyone will want to do it next time.

Though I think its quite unique, and looks kinda OK except the girls expression in the photo :p

My point is that the dress code is wrong, if it disallows such a hairstyle. It should have been changed, and she should have been allowed in the photo.

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

When I was at school the dress code was very strict as well. Hair had to be a certain way, and it wasn't allowed to be dyed or in an OTT style.

[ShMaunder]

My point is that the dress code is wrong, if it disallows such a hairstyle. It should have been changed, and she should have been allowed in the photo.

If it was in the dress code, then that is fine. Though, I'm not sure it should be - as much as I'm for individuality, this would only cause attention, jealously, and potential bullying at that very young age. Keep everyone the same, and let a person express their individuality after school (or during one of those no school uniform days).

Zero tolerance = total stupidity.

Why? I find it stupid if the school exempted one person from the rules, but nobody else. Zero tolerance = logic ?

I should add that I was talking in dress code sense when I said "keep everyone the same" - they can of course express individuality through writing, work etc. etc.

Edited May 26, 2012 by ShMaunder

[Hum]

I would have burst out loud laughing at her. :laugh:

[nominak]

Keep everyone the same

Baaaaaahhhhhhhhh

[Panda X]

This is completely idiotic. It's just hair for christ's sake. All she wanted was to look nice for a photo and she gets this nonsense. For a four year old this isn't a decent experience. Completely awful.

[ShMaunder]

Baaaaaahhhhhhhhh

Wrong choice of words, I know :pinch: ... but hopefully people can get what I'm trying to get at.

Do you remember the amount of whispering that happened when you were 4/5 at school when somebody was different. I kinda do. I also know that kids at that age can be outed very quickly because they're different. Ensuring dress code is consistent throughout will ensure this doesn't become one of those factors. Also, some kids may have (unintentionally evil) parents that send their kids in with something that is deemed as "ugly", but they find cute. Basically, how much choice does a 4 year old get to what they wear?

[Amarok]

That's actually a cool hairstyle (for girls). The way things are going people may have to get their head shaved before going to school. lol

Actually when I was in school boys weren't allowed to have shaved heads. So naturally as soon as I was out of that school that was the first thing I did. Hah.

[Rohdekill]

Zero tolerance = total stupidity.

I wonder if your opinion would have been the same if the child wanted to look atrocious for her photo. I bet you would have commented on the ugly hair style and she broke the rule and yadda yadda....

[Rigby]

I wonder if your opinion would have been the same if the child wanted to look atrocious for her photo. I bet you would have commented on the ugly hair style and she broke the rule and yadda yadda....

Nice strawman argument, try again. Overly strict dress codes for 4 year olds is ridiculous. No braids, wtf? This school is stupid..

[Southern Patriot]

Since when is a bow (even if it is made of hair) considered a braid? Idiotic school administrators need to pick up a ****ing dictionary.

[Ambroos]

We didn't have a dresscode at school (school as in the thing for 12-18 year olds), it was great! Diversity ftw!

We had teachers with dreadlocks, students who wore two pairs of ripped and broken stockings (red and black) held together by safety pins, ...

Classes always used to do something special for the school pics too. One class came to school all dressed in suits with sunglasses, another one came dressed as (slightly sexy) builders, another class looked like they came right from Jersey Shore, was always real good fun :D

[Davo]

No braids? I can understand not wearing shirts that say "Eat A Dick" on them but braids?

[Calum Veteran]

If it was in the dress code, then that is fine. Though, I'm not sure it should be - as much as I'm for individuality, this would only cause attention, jealously, and potential bullying at that very young age. Keep everyone the same, and let a person express their individuality after school (or during one of those no school uniform days).

[. . .]

I understand your point. But that is the same point people make when arguing against allowing same-sex couples to adopt or when arguing against allowing children who have gender identity disorder to be themselves. It's a dangerous view because it harms progress. People are worried that children seen as "different" will be bullied, so they try to ensure children aren't themselves, instead of attempting to solve the problem of bullying itself. Preventing bullying by harming progress is not good. Some bullying will always occur, anyway, even if children are stopped from having their hair the way they want. The problem of bullying should be dealt with in ways that don't harm anyone else (the children being prevented from expressing themselves or the same-sex couples looking to adopt).

[tiagosilva29]

Everyone should shave their heads.

[mudslag]

If it was in the dress code, then that is fine. Though, I'm not sure it should be - as much as I'm for individuality, this would only cause attention, jealously, and potential bullying at that very young age. Keep everyone the same, and let a person express their individuality after school (or during one of those no school uniform days).

Why? I find it stupid if the school exempted one person from the rules, but nobody else. Zero tolerance = logic ?

I should add that I was talking in dress code sense when I said "keep everyone the same" - they can of course express individuality through writing, work etc. etc.

No zero tolerance does not equate logic. Common sense is usually left out of that equation.

[curme]

I work at a K-8 school being the IT guy. I remember a couple of months ago, this 2nd grader showed-up to class in an oversized sleeveless t-shirt, with 'spaghetti' straps. The straps were cut with scissors, super thin. The damned thing kept slipping off and eventually the teachers found the girl a hoodie to wear.

The point being, parents are idiots. They should become familiar with there school's dress code before they send them to school. Not after, when there is a controversy. And since parents are idots, you need a zero tolerance so parents don't say, "Why was little Suzie or little Johnny allowed to do this, but my child isn't".

[Sir Topham Hatt]

I can think of styles a lot worse :rolleyes:

[ShMaunder]

I understand your point. But that is the same point people make when arguing against allowing same-sex couples to adopt or when arguing against allowing children who have gender identity disorder to be themselves. It's a dangerous view because it harms progress. People are worried that children seen as "different" will be bullied, so they try to ensure children aren't themselves, instead of attempting to solve the problem of bullying itself. Preventing bullying by harming progress is not good. Some bullying will always occur, anyway, even if children are stopped from having their hair the way they want. The problem of bullying should be dealt with in ways that don't harm anyone else (the children being prevented from expressing themselves or the same-sex couples looking to adopt).

My subsequent post was what I was trying to get at, but couldn't find the words at the time. The kids at this age have no choice. In this case, did the kid even want that hair style - by the look of her face expression, I would say no. Children aren't themselves when a parent dresses them into something that is deemed as seriously uncool. When we start talking about older people (i.e. teens+), then I would agree with you as they generally make a lot of choices for themselves.

No zero tolerance does not equate logic. Common sense is usually left out of that equation.

Common sense should be in the policy. Some policies even state that "if something is deemed offensive, or is deemed inappropriate... etc" where a person's discretion (aka common sense) is used to judge if its acceptable. But then you get the problem where one person may find its common sense, but others do not.

The point being, parents are idiots. They should become familiar with there school's dress code before they send them to school. Not after, when there is a controversy. And since parents are idots, you need a zero tolerance so parents don't say, "Why was little Suzie or little Johnny allowed to do this, but my child isn't".

I agree. I've seen this happen when I worked in a school a few years back as well. If a policy is not enforced for just a second, it will spread like wildfire and out of control.