This week saw proud parents posting pictures and videos of their little ones returning to school for the new academic year.
Many schools have strict codes of conduct, including rules on uniforms and hairstyles.
For those learners who don’t abide by the regulations, there are consequences.
But for one learner, the school year didn’t get off to a smooth start.
A picture circulating on social media showed a girl neatly dressed in her school uniform having her box braids chopped off by an educator before entering the gate.
Sekunjalo✂️✂️✂️ pic.twitter.com/VvVZKUxsG9
— Tsonga King. (@NtateWilliams) January 17, 2024
The post, which was shared on X, gained more than 1.9 million views and hundreds of comments.
While it wasn’t clear which school it was, X users were taken aback by the drastic measures the teacher took to enforce school rules.
Understandably, it was mostly parents who were outraged.
“I’m having you arrested and charged if you do this to my child,” said a dad who also happens to be a lawyer.
He then proceeded to educate his fellow online users on parental consent and added, “Whether a rule was broken or not is immaterial for purposes of this discussion.
“The issue here is the teacher deciding to grab a pair of scissors to cut someone’s child’s hair without parent consent.”
Whether a rule was broken or not is immaterial for purposes of this discussion.
— Village Lawyer ⚖️🇿🇦 (@Malatjie_) January 18, 2024
The issue here is the teacher deciding to grab a pair of scissors to cut someone’s child’s hair without parent consent.
I’m cutting that teachers hair or she gets charged.
Her decision 🤷🏿♂️
Another argued that the parents are as much to blame: “Y’all this y’all that but still you are failing to account the PARENT.
“As a parent if you want your child (male or female) to have a luxury of changing hairstyles, take them to a school that embraces that. On this particular one, no braids or funny cuts, you agreed to these rules.”
Despite the outcry over the post, learners have to abide by the code of conduct as stipulated by the Department of Basic Education.
These include:
- No additions to the uniform that are not in accordance with the regulations will be allowed (e.g. beanies).
- No earrings, jewellery, accessories, coloured contact lenses or visible tattoos are allowed.
- No colouring of hair or wearing of exotic hairstyles is allowed.
- Fingernails must be kept trimmed short and clean at all times.
IOL Lifestyle