General News
1 August, 2022
Students of African descent required to tie their hair at school argue it's unfair and painful
Two Highview College students have taken a stand against the school’s uniform policy requirements to tie their hair back, which they argue causes pain and isn’t inclusive of their African descent. Year 10 and 11 Highview students Safhira and...
Two Highview College students have taken a stand against the school’s uniform policy requirements to tie their hair back, which they argue causes pain and isn’t inclusive of their African descent.
Year 10 and 11 Highview students Safhira and Amayah Rowe have not attended school and have had their access to online learning material restricted since last Tuesday, after they were sent home for refusing to tie their hair back.
The teenagers, whose African hair is braided, argue that tying it back puts pressure on their head and causes pain.
The girls’ mother, Rebecca Rowe, said her daughters are always well presented in school uniform and the requirement for their hair to be tied back was unfair and insensitive.
“The uniform policy is certainly not inclusive of the percentage of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) students the school has,” she said.
“The principal has decided her interpretation of hair being tied back is different to how the girls are happy to tie it back — their hair is fully braided, as far as hygiene goes around head lice transmission their hair is better protected than most styles.
“They also pull the front of their hair back to create a half up, half down style which keeps hair off their face and looks really well presented. The girls wear their uniforms with pride and always have, they look neat and tidy.
“The principal wants it secure in a ponytail which puts a lot of pressure on their heads and scalp with the weight of the hair.”
Ms Rowe said the girls, who live in Avoca, have been cut off from the school until they comply with the uniform policy requirement, which she felt was undeserved.
“The girls have had their hair like this in the past without issue and for some reason it’s become so much of a problem now that the principal decided to suspend them and withdrew all their access to online learning,” she said.
“That kind of punishment should be reserved for when there are issues with violence or something that puts kids at risk, not a hairstyle that poses no threat to anyone.”
Highview College principal Melinda Scash confirmed the girls had not attended school since they were sent home last week.
She also said their mother, Ms Rowe, had been barred from the school after allegedly behaving “aggressively” on Tuesday, when Ms Scash states the issue became a point of contention.
“Neither Safhira nor Amayah are currently being excluded from school by the school — they are choosing not to seek ways to accommodate school expectations,” she said.
“At reception, Ms Rowe aggressively and repeatedly asserted that her girls would not comply with college requirements.
“Following this dramatic and unexpected exclamation, the girls most definitely were directed by me not to attend their classes and to go home and to take some time to reconsider their choices.”
Ms Scash said the school had actively listened to feedback around its uniform policy and updated it to be more accommodating and inclusive of student needs in recent years.
“Many years ago, Highview College removed ‘multiple braids’ and ‘dreadlocks’ from definitions of ‘extreme hairstyles’. The college actioned this change in recognition that these hair style choices may be culturally contextual,” she said.
“More recently, we removed the word ‘brushed’ from the requirement for ‘neatly brushed hair’, recognising, after a recent comment from Ms Rowe, that this too is culturally insensitive to many students, not just to Safhira and Amayah. As a community, we are grateful for those learnings.
“Some of the changes to Highview College uniform expectations were the direct result of consultation with Ms Rowe and her daughters. The college has clearly listened, and learned, and responded.
“Theissue is now that the Rowe family have asserted, dogmatically, that they will no longer comply with college expectations despite the fact that expectations have been substantially and repeatedly amended in consultation with the Rowe family and in consideration of cultural sensitivity.”
While Ms Rowe has contacted a number of third-party agencies, including Ecumenical Schools Australia and Independent Schools Victoria, as well as the Human Rights Commission over the issue, she said she felt like her and her daughters’ hands were tied.
“We really feel like our hands are tied unless the school is reasonable, we’re still corresponding with different agencies that are offering support and help, but there’s no resolution in sight at the moment,” she said.
Ms Rowe has since started a petition for the girls to be allowed back at school with their hair on Change.org, which has received more than 1500 signatures.
Editor's note: Highview College principal Melinda Scash has confirmed both girls have since returned to school.