UK -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."
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."
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