> If its a decent fake tan then they shouldnt notice it is fake ;-)

maybe it is the smell of the fake tan with 15 girls stinking of fake tan that gives people a headache which is why it is banned ;)

At my children's school girls and boys may have long hair but once it reaches the shoulders it must be worn up due to headlice. Fair enough.

At the last school I worked in we had one yr6 lad who had his name shaved into the back of his head. I thought it looked awful, made him look like a thug, and I hoped the school would ask him to grow it out, but they didn't. I just didn't think it was appropriate for school.

My eldest has just dyed her fringe bright pink but I'll make sure it's back to normal when she returns to school (her last year!) in September.

>That is so not what I said, ,Religious diversity, yes, but their own laws ?

The point is that the rules (laws) are already in place and those coming to this country are expected to abide by them or else be punished for breaking them.  In the same way that schools have rules that children should comply with or else be punished.

If people don't like the laws of this country they shouldn't come here.  If children don't like the rules of their schools they should take it up with their parents for choosing that school

Totally agree thats why it isnt sex descrimination its just rules. Schools make rules and unless something has changed in the last three years I had to sign and say my two would abide by those rules, which I was happy to do. Didn't make my boys clones, or goody two shoes just respectful.
Bit like banning things in doors, the boys did what they wanted when they got to 18 until then they showed us repect as we were picking up their tabs. Little things like no tattoo's, no BB gun in doors. During the holidays they had longer hair, wash in dyes, often stayed in bed all day. But come school, back in uniform and get on with it.
My OH is in a full suit in central London today and we would not be able to attract work if he turned up scruffy. Thats life not sex descrimination, this subject has been done to death now.

My girls liked hair braids (remember them?) but the school didn't like them so they had to come out before going back to school.

> But I think if this is on about primary school children (rather than teenagers) then there is no argumant - ban it.

Age discrimination! :-)

sorry, i got the impression that this was a new rule.

Perhaps Lea could confirm - was the letter from your son's current school, reminding everyone of the existing rules, or does he start a new school in September, and this is a letter from there, telling 'new' parents and pupils the existing rules?

no it is reminding us of the school rules!!!! Not changing rules LOL
The school is a very good school, and I will not do anything to have a detrimental effect on my sons schooling, as he is very clever and very discaplined :)
I do feel a bit hurt that alot of replys make it look like I am a parent that lets their kids do anything they want, and he is a thug LOL There are several people on here, and on this thread  that will vouch for the fact My kids are good kids and dont run riot :)
Its just one issue that has only come up because of James' hair now, up to 6 months ago he had number 2 back and sides, and short scissor cut on top LOL
1 ponder ffrom me has turned into a very interesting, well thought out, well manored Debate :) :) :)
Its good to see us all disagree with each other, without fur flying LOL :) :)
Lea :) :)

>I do feel a bit hurt that alot of replys make it look like I am a parent that lets their kids do anything they want, and he is a thug LOL

I don't think anyone meant to give that imprssion at all, Lea! {{{{{hug}}}}} It's just that we read so much in the papers about children and their parents complaining about school uniforms and what they can and can't wear, and trying to turn the rules upside down just to suit them, rather than going with the established order which has done no harm to children, that it seemed almost as if you were going down that road! I'm very glad you're not. :-)

I don't really understand why a boy would *want* to have long hair in the first place. When I was in school, there was a boy that started with long hair and everyone told him he looked like a girl. Aside from that, long hair on a boy was banned in my school and he was suspended until it was cut...

We had many rules about clothing, hair, jewellery etc - even our socks and hair ribbon (no bobbles allowed!) had to be a certain shade but the school was extremely high achieveing and the children I was in school with are all well-brought up high flyers (apart from me, I'm a kept woman :D )

I don't really understand why a boy would *want* to have long hair in the first place.

Probably for the same reason that some girls want to have short hair - they like the style :) Personally I do think that rules about hair length should apply equally to both boys and girls but I also agree that school rules should be adhered to whether we like them or not. I would ask the school if they could explain the reason behind the rules you  disagree with and explain why you are querying the rule but, unless the rule is changed, I would have to abide by those rules. There are many times in life that we come across a rule, regulation or law that we disagree with but have to abide by - we can't pick and choose the ones that suit us :)

>I do feel a bit hurt that alot of replys make it look like I am a parent that lets their kids do anything they want, and he is a thug LOL

Ignore any replies that have made you feel like that Lea ..I am one who KNOWS what sort of parent you are and what your boys are like :)

As far as I am concerned, it has been an interesting debate :)

Are you running at Heckington Show on Sat?? I am actually entering some of my photos for the first time (in the photo section not the race LOL)

> I don't really understand why a boy would *want* to have long hair in the first place.

My 8 yr old is growing his hair - he's desparate to have it longer, at least to his shoulders. I think it quite suits him - he looks like a rufty tufty surfer boy :-)

> I do feel a bit hurt that alot of replys make it look like I am a parent that lets their kids do anything they want, and he is a thug LOL

Try not to worry what other people think. I'm currently in negotiations with my eldest over a piercing. My MIL is horrified I'm even considering letting her have it done. She thinks it will make my daughter look common. She doesn't seem to realise how times have changed and I'm trying to balance what I want with what my daughter wants. I don't want her to end up piercing herself behind my back and getting nasty infections.

Life would be so much easier if children would just do what we want all the time and had no opinions on anything :-D :-D Whatever happened to 'children should be seen and not heard ' Bring it back I say :-D :-D

Seriously we all do everything we can to make sure our children can express their individuality whilst keeping them within the rules, its like walking a tightrope, and I have terrible balance!! My daughter had her fringe streaked with red today, she is 14 and it looks fab! its semi - permanent so will wash out but she is so chuffed!

> Life would be so much easier if children would just do what we want all the time and had no opinions on anything :-D :-D Whatever happened to 'children should be seen and not heard ' Bring it back I say :-D :-D
>

Absolutely! Lol :-)

There must be something in the air - my 14yr old has just dyed her fringe too!

> people have no respect for the law

> Don't you think kids need to learn to respect authority these days?

> Society would break down without the law of the land

> School rules are there for a purpose. Just like the law

sexual discrimination is against the law, seems to me this school has no respect for equality

> Waffling I know, but long hair on a boy just says they have no authority figures, can't explain why????  Just does

not to me.

i'm at work now and my extremely intellegent and well mannered law student friend has long hair (v. close to his family etc to so not rebelling), been doing more training and my trainer has long hair, my now very successful x boyfriend had long dredlocks... i could go on and on.

i don;t know where people have got this idea from. the majority of long haired guys i know fit the skater/mosher type of group to which i used to belong. generally you find that these guys are well educated, well employed/undertaking training, polite and generally excellent members of society.

also religious equality as what would they do if a sikh pupil joined? or a rastafarian?

Thanks everyone :)
He had his hair thinned and trimmed today and they took a bit more off than he would like LOL
So it wont have grown over his eyes until way after the holiday is over :) So will see if I can speak to someone about it casually before it becomes an issue :)
And Yes Mel, I amn running the 10 miler, which is bad as I have hardly run since my marathon at the end of April LOL
Where are your photos going to be and will try and get to see them :)
Lea :)

Good luck Lea :) :)

The pics are in a side shoot of the horticulture tent ...where the big ,marrows etc are :) Went and put them there tonight (the pics, not the marrows LOL)