This article looks at what hair discrimination is, why it's problematic, what the guidance says and what schools should be doing in light of the guidance. across the United States. As the rest of the country plays catch-up, maybe for now that knowledge is enough. Pritzker signed legislation Friday that prevents hair discrimination in Illinois schools. There is no other way to heal the world and make it a better place for our children. Angel Boose, an elementary school teacher in New Jersey recalls seeing the video of Andrew Johnson and feeling infuriated. The problem lies in the policies, experts say, which dont necessarily take into account an increasingly diverse student body, to the detriment of mostly black and biracial schoolchildren. Andrew Johnson has his hair cut by his wrestling teams athletic trainer. New Jersey's CROWN Act amends the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination so that the term "race" includes "traits historically associated with race, including hair . If you are considering developing a policy, think about: Consider whether your schools policy on hair or hairstyles affects pupils from one racial or religious group more than others. New York became the second state to officially ban natural hair discrimination. UK schools 'discriminating against pupils with Afro hair'. Muoz is also co-creator and co-host of the podcast Too Dope Teachers and a Mic.. Participate in product testing surveys discussions etc. In no such instance, is a single incident or factor cause for dismissal, the statement read. professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of For students limited by these policies, who are told they dont fit the norm, it could open them up to bullying or make them question their self-worth, Garca said. Whilst neither of the above cases change the way in which schools should be applying the law, it is a good opportunity for schools to remind themselves of the existing guidance on this issue. Developing a policy And in some cases, that could translate into someone trying to restrict wearing a hijab, or not hiring someone who wears dreadlocks because youve been told thats wrong.. After being dismissed from the team, Asia was hurt, Calloway said. In 2018, we saw the story of a boys secondary school which placed a child in isolation for refusing to cut his dreadlocks. There is discrimination in today's workplaces, schools, and institutions when people show negative bias against hairstyles (i.e . G v Head Teacher and Governors of St Gregory's Catholic Science College [2011] EWHC 1452 (Admin) is a good place to start. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The bill prohibits any school policy deliberately discriminating against hair texture and style and enforces private schools to issue assurances on anti-discrimination . The measure approved by the Legislature this spring and signed by Pritzker on Friday aims to end discrimination based on students' hairstyles. In her final year, she even gave up soccer another sport she played to focus solely on what mattered to her the most: cheering. All Rights Reserved. Texas lawmakers could ban race-based hair discrimination in schools and work places such as dress codes that don't allow dreadlocks under a bill known as the CROWN Act, which got its first. This is often because of the way some schools' rules relating to hair or hairstyles are designed and implemented. Hair discrimination in schools stretches across the country Last month, the US House of Representatives passed the CROWN Act, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural. Most administrators, she said, are white and may not be as cognizant of how policies and practices can be biased. A young swimmer was disqualified after a race for how her swimsuit fit her body. Specifically, hair discrimination affects Black Americans and other minorities with textured natural hair that has not been straightened or chemically changed. According to author Courtney Nunley, school policies and microaggressions reinforce the idea that Black hair, as it naturally grows and as it has historically been styled, is bad because its not white enoughand that those policies are part of a nationwide anti-Blackness problem, she wrote in Hair Politics: How discrimination against black hair in schools impacts black lives.. Youre saying the way you and your family dress, the way you and your family wear your hair, is wrong.. Reviewing a policy and considering requests for policy change. In January, the Jett Hawkins Act went into effect, preventing Illinois schools from creating dress codes based on hairstyles. Pushed Out: The Injustice Black Girls Face in School Black girls make up 16% of girls in U.S. public schools, but 42% of girls expulsions. They might create confusion so it is recommended to avoid them. This is about race,"tweeted the ACLU of New Jersey. Where schools have hair or hairstyles policies, it is good practice for schools to inform all parents, carers, staff and pupils of their rationale for having the policy. Shes also a sixth-grade teacher in Utah, and she agrees with Calloway that the rules arent always inclusive. Black children face discrimination in the classroom at a disproportionate rate to their white counterparts. Our other resources include: In this tool and our guidance, hairstyles include head coverings and headgear. But with just eight games left in this years season, the 17-year-old was suddenly kicked off the team after three years at Captain Shreve High School in Louisiana. California was the first to pass its CROWN Act in 2019. Earlier this year, a Stanford University study found that teachers of all races are more likely to punish black students than white students.A 2012 Department of Education study found that black . Do your schools rules regarding hair or hairstyles have clear provisions for making, head coverings, includingreligious based head coverings and African heritage head wraps, the aim must be a real, objective consideration and not in itself discriminatory (for example, ensuring the health and safety of pupils would be a legitimate aim). Sign now + join us in ending these unjust and racist practices: https://t.co/Xby6cMpq4R pic.twitter.com/EpLPyVdH6Z, ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) September 15, 2019. Are there health and safety implications? Schools may also want to consult with organisations that have expertise on this issue, for example, trade unions. Sure, she said. New York and New Jersey soon followed suit . The pupil in this case was an African-Caribbean boy who hadnt cut his hair since birth and wore it in cornrows. Hair discrimination guidance: what senior leaders need to know New guidance has been introduced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on preventing hair discrimination in schools. Asias story is part of a larger trend across the US, where more and more black students say they are being penalized for their hair. On one hand, it has been heartening to see that there are students around the world with bold and strong enough convictions about their sense of justice that they simply refuse to be victimized. While only two states now ban racial discrimination based on natural hair, educators dont have to wait for legislatures to pass laws that address hair discrimination in schools. To understand the idea of hair discrimination, let's start by looking at the broader concept of discrimination. Known as the CROWN Act, this law will prohibit discrimination based on hair style and hair texture. New guidelines announced today will prevent hair discrimination in UK schools. But theyre also not made with students of color in mind, said Tehia Glass, an associate professor of educational psychology and elementary education at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. As opposed to, Wow, lets take a step back, lets look, help me see where you think the bias is.. Extracurricular activities are governed by constitutions reviewed annually by a diverse team with feedback from students, said Caddo Parish Public Schools the district Captain Shreve High School is a part of in a statement to CNN. Hair, Discipline, and Race: A Call to Cut Discrimination Out of School Dress Codes Schools should be a welcoming, safe place for all students - where students can be themselves, learn, and thrive. What is hair discrimination? If not, it may be more difficult to show the policy is proportionate. Is this what we want our own kids to endure? Previously, each school in the district set its own code, allowing for individual discretion and space for bias. The song was . Our engagement with key stakeholders, research and court cases indicate discrimination related to hair or hairstyles disproportionately affects pupils with Afro-textured hair or hairstyles. What happened to talking to the parents? Are the rules reasonably necessary to achieve those aims? This could and should come from an explicit national policy against hair-based discrimination in schools and workplaces. Pushed Out: The Injustice Black Girls Face in School. Sign up to stay informed. Their rules are the only things that are extreme, and I can only imagine the impact that such a notion would have on my own six-year-old daughter. The disregard of federal discrimination law around "dealing with" black people's hair epitomizes why the federal government periodically issues Dear Colleague or guidance letters to help schools avoid violating the law. January 28, 2022. Instead of that, however, it is coming from students demanding a culture . Theres been movement legally, too. New Jersey currently has a bill in the works, too. According to the Equality Act 2010 - the metric by which discrimination is measured - the "protected characteristics". That, I think, gives me some hope and some optimism.. A new Illinois law banning hair discrimination is named after a 4-year-old Black boy named Gus "Jett" Hawkins. Will the rules regarding hair or hairstyles affect some groups of pupils more than others: for example, because of their race, religion or belief, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender reassignment? And they include hair often in. For example, has your school consulted on the policy? Did you encounter any technical issues? One in six children with Afro-textured hair are having a bad experience at school, according to a new study. How do the rules affect pupils? Discovery Company. The act protects certain hairstyles, too, such as afros, braids, twists, cornrows, and locs. This practice is a form of social injustice that can be observed worldwide. NEA has Join our email newsletter mailing list to stay up to date with campaigns, news and guidance. Still, she knows discrimination toward students of color persists. "This is not about hair. It wasnt a style that was accommodating for all of the girls., If this Texas student doesn't cut his dreadlocks, he won't get to walk at graduation. Hairstyles, are not distracting for todays kids. To ensure an informed, inclusive and transparent decision-making process when drafting or reviewing your policies, as per the Department for Education Advice to schools in relation to the Equality Act, schools may want to consult with those who will be affected. Students should be able to dress and style their hair for school in a manner that expresses their individuality without fear of unnecessary discipline or body shaming; students have the right to be treated equitably [and] dress code enforcement will not create disparities, reinforce or increase marginalization of any group, nor will it be more strictly enforced against students because of racial identity, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, gender nonconformity, sexual orientation, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size/type, or body maturity.. Since then, 13 states, as well as 29 municipalities, have passed laws prohibiting hair discrimination, notes Jackson. Hair-based discrimination implicates many areas of the NYCHRL, including prohibitions against race, religion, disability, age, or gender based discrimination. The film will premiere at JxJ Film Festival in Washington D.C. on March 6 and will play at the fifth annual Los Angeles Black Film Festival. . A group of campaigners wants discrimination towards people with afro-textured hair to be officially classed as a form of racism. For example, stating that your school is banning the hairstyles listed above, without exception, to uphold a positive image of the school or because the school perceives only certain hairstyles as being smart, is unlikely to amount to objective justification. Its still too early to tell if other states will join California and New York. We need to name racism when we see it, call it out, and discuss it. While it's not mandatory for schools to have rules on hair or hairstyles, if your school does have these rules, make sure your policy does not unlawfully discriminate against pupils with protected characteristics such as: disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. I know I have more things ahead of me, she told CNN. India Arie's captivating song "I am not my hair" was a song that always resonated with me as a teenager struggling with unruly curls. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 817 into law, prohibiting schools from issuing policies on hairstyles historically associated with race or ethnicity. Any request for exemption must be considered on its own merits. For a while, she didnt even want to cheerlead anymore. Developing a Policy. Policies that prohibit natural hairstyles, like afros, braids, bantu knots, and locs, have been used to justify the removal of Black children from classrooms, and Black adults from their employment. Monique Morris, author of "Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools", discusses the forces that have made these students targets. The reason? Im seeing more small steps, Glass said. Some school districts have banned certain hairstyles, like locs and afros, while other districts have prevented students from attending school eventsfor example promfor refusing to remove their braids. The CROWN Act bill, which would prohibit discrimination against Black men, women and children who . Gavin Newsom signed into law Wednesday a bill making California the first state to ban workplace and school discrimination against black people for wearing hairstyles such as braids, twists . This caused both him and his family a lot of distress in the first few weeks of Fulham Boys School. [This issue] is played out in workplaces, played out in schools,said Newsom during the signing ceremony. The responsibility to ensure policies are not discriminatory lies with the school and not contributors to the consultation process. New York's new guidelines against racial discrimination based on hair comes after a viral video of N.J. high school wrestler Andrew Johnson getting his dreadlocks cut at a match. Black girls make up 16% of girls in U.S. public schools, but 42% of girls expulsions. All of the pretensions and disguises must be stripped away and the issue must be faced and addressed for what is it. July 3, 2019 marked an important turning point for racial and social justice when Californias Gov. The High Court did not accept that argument; whilst it accepted what the school was trying to achieve, it did not agree that this was a proportionate way of doing so and it found the school to have indirectly discriminated against the boy on the ground of race. The issue was highlighted again in February this year when The Urswick School hit the news for sending home a pupil for her afro hairstyle. CROWN stands for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, and is legislation that prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture by extending protection for both . Yet many administrators and school boards maintain their rules arent meant to be discriminatory. While I have no idea of how widespread this practice is, it is one that has the potential to derail someones life as well as future prospects. When asked about how these rules come about, she said it comes down to a misconception about whats normal and whats not. Schools are required to have policies which promote good behaviour and discipline. Glass mentioned shes seen more people become aware of race and racism who may not have paid attention before. However, the CROWN Coalition, an alliance that includes the National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Color of Change, and Dove, is planning to pursue legislation similar to the California measure in other states. Advocating for Hair Equality. Hair Discrimination in Schools. State Sen. Mike . Within the UK context however, the Equality Act 2010 has created a grey legal landscape, a cultural blind spot, where hair is concerned. In March 2014, the U.S. Army issued a new policy that banned traditional black . That's why we're fighting for federal protections nationwide to end hair discrimination. 1. Similar bills are making their way through Colorado, Washington and Minnesota. This comes as a coalition of cross-party politicians, campaigners and organisations have today launched a new national scoping exercise on hair discrimination, the responses to which will be. It really is that simple. This was discrimination, and it's not okay.". Students are coming to school to learn and participate in activities so they can become well-rounded individuals. The term "hair discrimination" refers to unjust social and economic treatment given to a marginalized culture because of their hair. These grooming policies make it difficult for students to simply feel comfortable and be their own authentic selves, Boose says, and they create another barrier particularly for African American students because clearly these rules dont affect people of all races.. Having previously published a case study on bullying and boys with long hair, parents started contacting us with accounts of their sons being barred from attending school, made to cut their hair, forced into ISS (in school . There has been a great deal criticism of the report not long ago released by the Uk government's Fee on Ethnic and Racial Disparities, chaired by Tony Sewell. CHICAGO Gov. The school argued that if it permitted one pupil to have cornrows then it would effectively open the floodgates for others. I have seen two little black girls who have never met before run up to each other and hug like best friends, because of the mere fact that they were so happy to see someone else who looked like them. It really is an attack on the culture that these children bring into their schools, she said. These steps, she said, would help ensure the rules are more inclusive and positive, as opposed to punitive. From formal school policies that ban hairstyles inherent to Black culture, to microaggressions from teachers and classmates, Black children are unfairly targeted every day. 2. 3:51 PM EDT, Sun March 8, 2020, through Colorado, Washington and Minnesota. What happened to the idea of compromise? If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Now you have read this guidance, we recommend you review any relevant uniform, appearance or behaviour policies in line with this decision-making tool. New Jerseys Angel Boose says laws that protect natural hair styles are necessary. Late last year, a video of a black high school wrestler in New Jersey hit a public nerve when he was given an ultimatum by the referee: cut your hair or forfeit the match. If its not hair, then its clothes, language or body types. Hair discrimination is often included in dress code policies. if less discriminatory alternative steps could have been taken to achieve the same objective, the policy is unlikely to be considered proportionate. High school senior Asia Simo loves being a cheerleader. Durham, N.C. Following a hair discrimination incident involving a sophomore softball player at Hillside High School in Durham, North Carolina, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice calls on the Durham Public Schools (DPS) and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association to pass . PHOTO COURTESY OF VALERIE BARRY - GETTY IMAGES. Her hair, her family says, which was too thick for the half up, half down standard the team required for a number of games. If passed, SB 286 would protect people who have braids, locks, twists and other textured styles typically associated with African Americans. Lily Eskelsen Garca is the president of the National Education Association, the largest teacher union in the country. public education. They have now agreed with the school that he can wear his Afro, but he is not allowed to wear braids to school. However, the school had a policy which required all boys to have a short back and sides and it refused the boy admission unless he conformed to the policy. Just this year, high school senior DeAndre Arnold was told he couldnt walk at graduation unless he cut his dreadlocks. Officials at Hawkins' school told him his braids violated the school's dress code. I can only imagine how traumatic such an experience could be for some individuals. Back in the early 2000s there were various news stories about schools excluding pupils for having the same hairstyle as David Beckham (who can forget the mini-mohawk or the Beckham braids?). disability (for example, pupils undergoing cancer treatment who wear wigs, scarves or hats). Similar incidents have happened across the country: in Kentucky; in Louisiana; in New Jersey; in Texas. Andrew Johnson a high school wrestler in New Jersey who cut his dreadlocks during a match and inspired three states to pass laws on hair discrimination was depressed after the incident, he told the ESPNs The Undefeated. Black people should not be discriminated against in the workplace or in school because of their hair. 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Told he couldnt walk at graduation unless he cut his dreadlocks associated with African Americans black people should not hypothetical! Guidelines announced today will prevent hair discrimination affects black Americans and other minorities textured... On the culture that these children bring into their schools, she said, are white may! Into effect, preventing Illinois schools the second state to officially ban hair. Of discrimination attack on the policy is unlikely to be considered proportionate similar bills making... Against black men, women and children who this year, high school senior Asia Simo being... Observed worldwide fighting for federal protections nationwide to end hair discrimination hairstyles are designed and.... Confusion so it is recommended to avoid them of Fulham boys school against. Trade unions are more inclusive and positive, as opposed to hair discrimination in schools which placed child. I can only imagine how traumatic such an experience could be for some.... Her of her individuality and why her natural hair type is beautiful should not be hypothetical but evidence-based activities they... Act protects certain hairstyles, too more things ahead of me, she knows toward! Racism who may not be as cognizant of how policies and practices can be biased newsletter mailing list stay! And why her natural hair type is beautiful disability, age, or gender based discrimination come about, said... Has your school consulted on the culture that these children bring into their schools, she told CNN our,! Which discrimination is measured - the metric by which discrimination is measured - the & quot ; even... Group of campaigners wants discrimination towards people with Afro-textured hair to be discriminatory too such! Hair-Based discrimination in uk schools of campaigners wants discrimination towards people with Afro-textured hair are a! The rules reasonably necessary to achieve the same objective, the largest teacher union in the district its! New policy that banned traditional black distress in the district set its own code, allowing for individual and!
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