Pupil, 12, taken out of school after returning with 'tiny patch' of red hair
A YOUNG boy was taken out of school after he turned up with remnants of dye left in his hair.
Nathan Hall, 12, dyed his hair at the start of the summer holidays, but with the start of term looming, his parents took him to get it cut out.
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12-year-old Nathan Hall.
However, Nathan was left with a tiny patch of red in the front of his hair.
On arriving for the first day term at Priory Witham Academy in Shannon Avenue, he was taken out of line and told he had to be segregated from all the other pupils or go home.
Nathan's mother, Lilian Hall, 55, of Usher Avenue, said: "My husband told him they were depriving Nathan of an education. They said he could stay in school, but would be segregated.
"I have seen some older children this morning and they have coloured hair.
"He has had most of it cut out and it's a little bit at the front.
"A deputy head took him to one side and rang my husband and said he had to go home.
"We do not want to deprive him of school, but to have to segregate him from other children is totally unacceptable."
The Priory Federation of Academies is largely autonomous and is not controlled by Lincolnshire County Council's education services. It sets its own policies.
Lincolnshire County Council said each school decides its own uniform policy.
Deputy head teacher Andrew Madge said he was unable to discuss individuals, but said: "We have a very high standard for uniform and both parents and pupils are aware of this."
Nathan said he did not think being taken away from his friends was a fair reaction to so little colour.
He said: "I felt I was being treated as if I had done something really, really bad and not just having a bit of colour left in my hair.
"It was like being punished without doing anything wrong. We had tried to get the colour out and not all the teachers seemed to mind.
"There are other children going in who had hair that was worse than mine. I don't think it was really fair."
Nathan's father Michael Hall, 58, said he would not have sent his son to school with hair he thought was inappropriate.
He said: "They seem to have double standards because he had more highlights in year six and it was fine then.
"We told him if anyone said anything, he should apologise and say we would get it sorted at the weekend, but apparently that wasn't good enough."
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by Tommy, Lincoln
Wednesday, September 15 2010, 12:16AM
“I think that excluding a child for having coloured hair is pathetic. I wonder if the strict policies and very prescriptive uniform policy is to deter less able and poorer students from applying to their school. Discrimination through the back door. I wonder if this is a form of selection so the school only has to educate the more middle class pupils and the SEN children who have a right to attend and can't avoid.”
by D Lincs, Lincoln
Tuesday, September 14 2010, 12:13PM
“Michael....I really don't think you have the right to have a go at other people about their grammar and punctuation here. The word 'teacher' does not have a capital letter when used in the middle of a sentence and lets is supposed to be written as let's. You've put commas in the wrong places, eg. after the word appalling, which is the word you use to describe someone's grammar and punctuation. It really bugs me when people have a go when they can't even get it right in the first place.
And as for this story, rules are rules. Get over it.”
by Son of Sam, Slovenia
Saturday, September 11 2010, 12:49PM
“I do not say burkers shud be band as it is a wummans rite to eqwalitee and freedum to be moddest and respectible like her mum will hav told her and if she is not her husbanned wud giv her a slap probly. My problum with burkers is more that I like ladies' bottomz an u canot see much wen thay ware burkers so du not ban them that wud be raceist neway their is a weigh round it Burkers shud be transparrunt not only wud yu b abul to c ne thing witch mite expload but u cud allso grow tomartoes or other salid crops wile shoping and praying and so on allso it wud cheer up our solders if a pritty girl in a burker went bye praps waring sum sexxy undees mabe stockins and saspendurs with a pickchur of Justin Timburlake on or nickers that sey hello boyz u no the sort of thng, neway this wud help us 2 reelize we r all hooman even if ur spelin upsets sum ppl honnestly I dunno if u dont like it y r u livin in a parleementry democrissy ware thik ppl hav the same amount of control over witch identickle party has control over them if u dont like it moov to a countree ware inteligent ppl r in control sutch as, erm...er...well enneway the reporta hu rote this artickle shud b sent home urly he has not menshund the red arros or the vulcan or affghanisatn evun once it is an insult all artickles shud inclood words like dfence and surving utherwise how will ppl hu dnt bye the Daley Mail reseev the rite opinnions in
a fare and ballenced weigh?”
by Missouri Marten, Lincoln
Friday, September 10 2010, 9:06PM
“"Oh and you know the rules from experience do you? I know of parents who have refused to sign agreements!"
Actually, yes I do. The rules are clearly laid out as early as the open evening for parents who are considering sending their children to L.S.S.T. schools. The Head at The Priory gave a presentation to those present that made it crystal clear. He also acknowledged that there would be parents who would find the policies of the school over the top, but he made no apologies and recommended that they send their children to another school. If you know of parents who have refused to sign agreements, then I presume that their kids are being educated elsewhere.
It really isn't rocket science. If you don't like it then you have complete freedom to go elsewhere. So why all the wailing, hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth?”
by Sid, Sleaford
Friday, September 10 2010, 7:41PM
“"...and sam i actually cant understand a word of that lol..anyone who can please translate.x "
Basically, 'sam' is someone that has an opinion on everything but got a bit upset because the word burkha was mentioned. So therefore types like a 5 year old to try and upset us all,best ignore it,although it won't ever go away. It wasn't funny the first time and now on the 30th time still isn't funny.
Can anybody tell me where on your first day of school you sign an agreement not to dye your hair.”