Long Hair Discrimination case in Texas - 4 suspended

Seems there is something about long hair that riles schools in Texas as well as Northern Ireland.
I note that Frontiersman Davy Crockett was one of the heroes of the Alamo who had long hair, as indeed did George Washington. So both of those men would be suspended in that particular Texas school if they were there today. Below we have a series of articles on a longstanding row.

Long-haired teen says trim not likely

E. Texas district warned him he risks not graduating if it's not cut

12:00 AM CST on Tuesday, January 8, 2008

By MATTHEW HAAG / The Dallas Morning News
mhaag@dallasnews.com

KERENS, Texas – Matthew Lopez-Widish hasn't cut his curly brown hair in four years, and he doesn't plan to despite an ultimatum from high school administrators.

KYE R. LEE/DMN

Matthew Lopez-Widish was told by Kerens officials to cut his hair before returning to classes, per the policy that forbids male students from having hair that extends past the collar.

A few days before Christmas break at Kerens High School, about 15 miles east of Corsicana in a tiny town known as the birthplace of Big Tex, the straight-A student and at least four other students were called into the principal's office.

Cut your hair by the time you return to school in January or be sent to alternative school, be removed from all extracurricular activities and risk not graduating, Matthew said the principal and assistant principal told him.

Classes in the Kerens district resume today.

"I told them that I'm not going to cut my hair," said Matthew, 18, whose hair, when uncurled, reaches the middle of his back. "It may seem kind of stubborn, but to me, it's part of who I am."

Matthew says that his rights are being stripped and that he's going to take his concerns to the school board meeting Monday.

Making his case

"I just want the school board to notice that just because I have long hair doesn't mean I'm going to quit learning or obstructing people from learning," Matthew said.

Downtown Kerens consists of a three-block strip of red brick road and mostly vacant or dilapidated one-story storefronts. About a mile to the south is the school district's campus, which houses all grade levels.

During school board meetings last fall, parents complained about recurring instances of students disobeying the hair code in the student handbook. Apparently, some long-haired boys were not doing a good enough job keeping their hair from falling below their shirt collar or from covering their ears.

The hair policy for male students at Kerens High is straightforward: No hair past the collar, no hair below the eyebrows, hair can't extend ½ inch over the ears, and ponytails can be no longer than a half-inch. The student dress code does not mention hair length for female students.

By December, Superintendent Kevin Stanford came up with a solution to repeated complaints about hair length: All high school males with long hair must get haircuts.

"What happened was that a number of male students would come in with it down, and they would play games and not have it up when they should have," said Mr. Stanford, whose grayish hair is cut close to the scalp. "The students had a chance to follow the rules, and they didn't."

Too many students would be on campus before or after school with their long hair let down in violation of school policy, Mr. Stanford said.

"The problem is that they don't consistently comply with the policy," he said, though he's never seen Matthew disobey the dress code rules.

To meet the dress code standards, Matthew's mom braids his hair and then tucks the braids to shorten them and keep them off his collar. He slicks back his hair on the top to keep it out of his face and from covering his ears. After the five-minute process is over, it's hard to tell that his hair is nearly 2 feet long, Matthew said.

His friend Wesley Bunch, who was also called into the principal's office, puts his much shorter blond hair in a ponytail and wears a headband to keep it out of his face.

Matthew's mom, Linda Lopez, doesn't buy the superintendent's reasoning that students didn't comply. She believes that the school board is against males having long hair, which she says is utterly foolish.

"It's not the '60s anymore. They aren't hippies, and they aren't radical anti-war tree huggers," she said.

Schools' right

Jim Walsh, a school law expert in Austin, said that school districts have the legal right to mandate hair and dress codes. Several cases, including one in the 1990s from Bastrop ISD that reached the Texas Supreme Court, have been decided in favor of the school districts.

"The courts generally affirm these standards," Mr. Walsh said.

Some challenges made on the basis of religious discrimination have been successful.

If Matthew is sent to alternative school, he could risk losing his extracurricular activities. His participation in a work program allows him to leave school early to go to his job as a cashier at a Jack in the Box near Corsicana, where he works upward of 30 hours a week.

But more important, Matthew said, he would be removed from One-Act Play, the UIL-sponsored theater contest that begins the first day back from the holiday break.

"That's one thing that I'd hate to lose," said Matthew, who played a villain in a recent community play.

His friend Wesley, is in the same situation. If he doesn't cut his hair, he will be removed from the school's skateboarding team.

But neither is budging.

Wesley and Matthew said the administration can send them to alternative school. And if that happens, Mrs. Lopez said, she'd look into removing her son from the district.

"It's just a kid with long hair," she said. "It doesn't seem like a punishment that he deserves."

Suspended KHS student likely to attend Trinidad

January 11, 2008 01:44 am

Suspended KHS student likely to attend Trinidad

By Janet Jacobs

Two of the four boys suspended from Kerens High School Tuesday have returned to classes, while two others are holding firm to their long locks.

A disciplinary hearing was conducted Thursday afternoon for Matthew Lopez-Widish, a senior, who has been growing his hair since eighth grade. He moved to the Kerens district in the fall of 2006, and was allowed to keep his long hair because he was willing to bind his hair up. Three other boys were also allowed to keep long hair by following the same procedure.

However, some of the boys weren’t consistent in following the rules, and sometimes had to be asked to go pull back their hair, leading to complaints from teachers and parents, according to Superintendent Kevin Stanford.

In December, the school district told the boys they had to cut their hair or they wouldn’t be allowed back in school following the Christmas break.

On Tuesday, the hammer fell in the form of suspensions.

Following haircuts, Wesley Bunch and Andy Coronado returned to school.

“We initially suspended four students. Two of the four have returned to the classsroom,” Stanford confirmed.

Lopez-Widish and Derek Divetta remained out of school. Both want to transfer to the Trinidad school district, which is less than 10 miles east on Texas Highway 31.

However, before they can transfer, the students have to complete their punishments in Kerens, first. The punishments handed down in Thursday’s conference with school officials was not made public. Trinidad’s dress code only calls for a student’s hair to be neat and clean, but doesn’t specify a length, Lopez said.

In a visit to the Daily Sun offices Thursday, Linda Lopez said the family has been contacted by representatives of the “Dr. Phil” television show, adding to the nation-wide attention the incident has attracted. Lopez-Widish also was scheduled to appear on Thursday’s “CBS Early Show” to discuss his experiences.

Parent airs concerns over KISD hair policy
January 15, 2008
By Loyd Cook

KERENS — One more parent is complaining about an offspring being moved off campus to an alternative learning center, all because of the length of the student’s hair.

Walter King, the stepfather of Kerens ISD middle school student Emilio Compoz, said getting a “bad mark on his record” for liking to wear his hair long is unfair.

“They say (the long hair) is a distraction,” King said. “It’s not a distraction to the kids.”

“I think it’s nice everyone stood up and said the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,” he added, referencing how the KISD Board of Trustees began its meeting. “That’s freedom. But what about his freedom?”

King was speaking during the portion of the KISD board meeting set aside for public forum. Since the topic he spoke on was not an agenda item, the board could take no action in response, board president Kenny Berry said.

Two high school teens also cited for their long hair have gotten it cut and returned to classes. Another, Matthew Lopez-Widish, had a disciplinary hearing Thursday, eventually agreeing to serve five days in the KISD Alternative Learning Center before transferring out and enrolling in Trinidad’s public school district.

Compoz will remain in the Alternative Learning Center until his family makes a decision on what they wish to do. Kerens superintendent Kevin Stanford said King was welcome to pick up a complaint form in his office Tuesday, and meet with him about the issue.

In an agenda item, trustees adopted a policy covering sex offenders visitation, approving the second option of ones presented to them at a meeting last month.

The policy forbids any person from entering or being present on any school district property if he or she is required to register as a sex offender, regardless of the age of the victim.

Long Hair Discrimination case in N. Ireland

The court has ruled against Grant in Northern Ireland in his desire to have long hair despite evidence showing how women in he school could adopt any hair style they liked. In enforcing a ban against long hair for men Ballyclare High finds itself in ignominious company alongside Nazi Germany and modern states well known for ignoring human rights like Iran, Turkemistan and North Korea. (See previous posts on Long hair and Fury as long-haired son suspended) What has not been given prominence in much of the coverage elsewhere is the fact Grant was attacked by a thug waving a pair of scissors during the dispute. An interesting example were the prejudice of the authorities results in violence. More details below:

SCHOOL WELCOMES COURT RULING IN HAIRCUT ROW - Newtownabbey Today

21 January 2008

BALLYCLARE High School has welcomed a High Court ruling that its uniform and disciplinary policies are lawful.

The school had gone to the High Court seeking approval of its code of conduct, including its uniform regulations, after a row erupted over the suspension of fifth form pupil Grant Stranaghan for failing to comply with hairstyle regulations.
The Rathcoole teenager was suspended for three days in November for refusing to get his hair cut and was later segregated from other pupils on his return to school.
Lawyers for the 16-year-old and another pupil disciplined for the length of his hair had contested the action, claiming that the school's rules sexually discriminated against boys.
However, after a three-day judicial review hearing, the judge said he was satisfied that the school's code was not unlawful.
Mr Justice Weatherup ruled that Grant Stranaghan's human rights had not been breached, but added that he should have been put on detention rather than being segregated from his classmates.
The judge said that as segregation was "not part of the disciplinary policy", a lesser sanction should have been used upon his return to school after his suspension.
"We are obviously pleased that the judge has decided that our code of conduct, including our uniform code, is lawful. This is an important decision, not just for Ballyclare High School, but for all other schools and organisations which operate a uniform code.
"We have been deeply grateful for the huge support which we have received from all quarters throughout this process. We know that the overwhelming majority of our parents and pupils will be pleased and relieved that we can now carry on with the proper business of the school," a statement issued on behalf of the school said.
Speaking to the Newtownabbey Times on Monday, Grant's father, George Stranaghan, confirmed that he is awaiting confirmation from his solicitor regarding the exact wording of the appeal decision and advice on what steps he can take next.
Mr Stranaghan has vowed to appeal against the ruling that his son wasn't discriminated against, vowing to take the case further, including possibly to the European Court of Human Rights.
"If the appeal doesn't work then I am willing to go the whole way for him. We will go as far as we can with this," he commented.
"I am waiting for the school to apologise at the very least. I think we are due an apology after they put him (Grant) in solitary confinement for six weeks," Mr Stranaghan added.
Grant is currently sitting his mock GCSE exams, and his father is waiting to see what action the school is going to take when he returns to classes.
Ballyclare High School's rules on hairstyles do not permit male pupils to grow their hair to a length that reaches their blazer collar.

SCHOOLBOY IS BEING 'DISCRIMINATED' AGAINST, COURT HEARS

Newtown Abbey Today
16 January 2008

A SCHOOLBOY at the centre of a row over the length of his hair is the victim of sexual discrimination, it has been claimed in court.

A photograph of prefects at Ballyclare High School with girls "breaking rules on appearance" was shown to the High Court in Belfast on Monday.
"This is one of the clearest instances of direct discrimination this court is likely to see," the barrister said.
The school is seeking a court ruling on the validity of its uniform policy and procedures amid claims that it is discriminating against fifth form pupil Grant Stranaghan for having long hair.
The 16-year-old was suspended for refusing to cut his hair.
At the judicial review hearing, a barrister, appearing for a second boy given detention on the same grounds, urged the court to find the policies unlawful.
The lawyer claimed that enforcing uniform policy in the school differed between the sexes and that boys received less favourable treatment through being denied their choice of hairstyles.
According to the school's uniform and dress code rules girls with long hair should have it tied back. They are not permitted to have extreme hairstyles and colours.
Boys, meanwhile, are forbidden to have hair touching blazer collars or severe number-one cuts.
Opening his response, the barrister produced a photograph of prefects from a recent school magazine.
He said: "What one sees is a number of boys and girls. The boys in the prefects' picture are all in compliance with the school's policy, they appear to have hair cuts in keeping with the policy.
"The girls, on the other hand, have a variety of hairstyles. On a quick count I see 30 female pupils in the image, and of those, 27 are in breach of the school rules.
"They do not have their hair tied back neatly with a clip or ribbon. There may be three female pupils who are in compliance."
The hearing continues.

Hair row boy Grant is all cut up about scissors attack - Education - News - Belfast Telegraph

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

By Lisa Smyth

The father of a teenager caught up in a court battle over his hairstyle last night told of the terrifying moment his son was attacked by a young thug brandishing a pair of scissors.

Grant Stranaghan (15) stayed away from school yesterday as a result of the sinister incident - which happened as he was travelling home on the school bus on Friday afternoon.

His father, George, took the decision to keep his son at home over concerns that his safety could not be guaranteed after the attack.

The schoolboy has become embroiled in a row which could have massive legal implications for schools across Northern Ireland.

Last month, he was given a three-day suspension from Ballyclare High School because his hair was two inches long. Since returning to school - over two weeks ago - the teenager has been kept isolated from his classmates.

Mr Stranaghan said: "We just aren't sleeping over all of this.

" Grant was sitting on the bus on Friday when he realised that someone was coming up behind him.

"He turned around and there was a boy there with a big pair of scissors. Grant was able to push him away but when you think what could have happened it's very worrying.

"If the bus driver had to brake - it was like coming at him with two big knives. We kept him away from school because we just don't know if he's safe or not."

The Belfast Telegraph revealed yesterday that Ballyclare High School - where Grant is a fifth year pupil - is seeking affirmation from the High Court that its actions have been legal.

A statement from the school said: "Ballyclare High School has begun legal proceedings to support its position regarding the case of a boy who was suspended for deliberately flouting school rules by refusing to have his long hair cut."

The school took the action after Mr Stranaghan said he intends to apply for leave for a judicial review into the matter and ask for his son to be allowed to return to class, claiming that he is suffering sexual discrimination, as well as a breach of his human rights.

Long hair

The Grant Stranghan case looks likely to have significant legal implications. For those who think this case is irrelevant in fact there are number of other interesting cases to consider as this post will show.

Long hair case may be headache for schools - Local & National - News - Belfast Telegraph

Friday, December 07, 2007

By Lisa Smyth

A row over an Ulster pupil's hairstyle could have massive legal implications for schools across Northern Ireland, it was claimed today.

George Stranaghan is planning to take a case to the High Court after his 15-year-old son, Grant, was given a three-day suspension from Ballyclare High School because his hair was two inches long. Since returning to school - almost two weeks ago - the teenager has been kept isolated from his classmates.

If Mr Stranaghan is successful in his legal bid, schools across Northern Ireland could be hit with thousands of similar challenges - potentially spelling an end to the traditional school uniform.
Even if schools insist on pupils wearing a uniform, a victory for Mr Stranaghan could mean a discipline nightmare for principals at schools across the province.

A number of high profile cases have been brought before the courts in England, mainly relating to pupils who wish to dress according to their religious beliefs or wear religious symbols, such as a crucifix.

However, it is believed to be the first time anyone has applied for a judicial review in Northern Ireland in a fight over a pupil's refusal to cut their hair. GCSE student Grant was originally suspended from school on November 21. He returned to school on November 26 but since then he has been kept isolated from other pupils at the school, including at breaktimes.

Mr Stranaghan is applying for leave for a judicial review into the matter and asking for his son to be allowed to return to class, claiming that he is suffering sexual discrimination, as well as a breach of his human rights.

Rosemary Craig, a lecturer in law at the University of Ulster, said she believed schools will be watching the outcome of the case with great interest.

"It could have great ramifications," she explained.

"If you are going to have girls with long hair, then in terms of equality, boys must also be allowed to have long hair.

"If girls have ear-rings, in order to be strictly fair the same must apply to boys and, say, if a girl came in with her head shaved would they suspend her? Can a boy come in with his head shaved? You are going to have strict rules and have to make sure every parent signs up to them.

"Schools are going to have draw up exhaustive lists of what children can and cannot wear. They are going to spell out exactly what children can and cannot wear."

Seamus Searson, Northern Ireland organiser of the NASUWT, said he believes that uniforms play an important role in ensuring equality and a sense of belonging to a school.

"This has the potential to make schools very difficult to manage and discipline children," he said.

"The purpose of uniform and a dress code is to instil discipline in the children, as well as giving them some self-respect by removing some of the differences from the children."

A spokesman from Ballyclare High School said he would not make any further comment on the matter.

As it seems is willing to take the case to court we look at some recent legal cases. There were similar cases in Gloucestershire and Liverpool.

News - Gloucestershire - Schoolboy suspended for long hair

26 July 2006

The family of a boy suspended from a Gloucester school for refusing to cut his hair took legal action to force his re-instatement.

Sam Grant, aged 16, was suspended from Sir Thomas Rich School after refusing to cut his hair short.

The teenager, who has mixed-race parents, said he grew his hair to prevent racist remarks from pupils.

He was allowed back after his parents challenged the school saying the ban had affected their son's schoolwork.

The reaction of the school was ridiculous and we were totally shocked at its inflexibility Stephen Grant, father

Sam said: "It's easier and friendlier for people to comment on my hair and call me 'mophead' or something like that rather than derogatory names."

"I'm mixed-race and I found that having longer hair ended remarks of a racist nature."

Sam's father, solicitor Stephen Grant, said the school had discriminated against him on grounds of sex and race and that the rule was old-fashioned.

"The reaction of the school was ridiculous and we were totally shocked at its inflexibility and failure to engage in meaningful debate about the underlying issues."

Mediation agreed

He added: "I understand they have school rules but to suspend him from coming back to school unless he cut his hair was draconian.

"Pupils committing acts of theft and damage received less severe disciplinary sanctions."

The incident started in March 2005, when Sam and a number of other boys were told to get their hair cut.

When he refused he was suspended at the end of June for 10 days.

His father applied for an injunction blocking the suspension but as part of the proceedings both parties agreed to mediation which resulted in Sam being allowed to finish his GCSEs.

A spokeswoman for Sir Thomas Rich School said she could not comment under the terms of an agreement reached on the case with the family.

Sam has since left the school, and plans to study for his A-levels at another location.

News - Merseyside - Long hair lock-out in Liverpool

Thursday, 2 March 2006

Two young brothers suspended from their school for having long hair have branded the ban as sexist.

A number of pupils were sent home after half term from St Margaret's Church of England School, Aigburth, Liverpool, for having hair past their collars.

Christian Bridge, 14, who refused to get his hair cut, was not allowed into lessons this week. His brother Dominic, 16, also faces a ban.

Head teacher Dr David Dennison said all pupils knew the school's rules.

A number of boys who flouted the rule were warned to get their hair cut over half term.

There's no way a girl would be told to keep her hair to collar-length Christian Bridge

The school, which only admits girls in the sixth form, declined to confirm how many pupils were suspended after the break.

At least one pupil, Christian Bridge, refused to cut his hair, and was excluded.

Christian, who wants to grow his shoulder-length hair another six inches, said: "Before all this, we had a verbal agreement that I would keep my hair tied back, and I always did.

Academic standards

"There's no way a girl would be told to keep her hair to collar-length, so why should they tell boys? It is sexist."

Both Christian and his brother Dominic, who also has long hair, are backed by their mother.

But Dr Dennison said: "St Margaret's has an excellent reputation for high standards in respect of personal and academic standards.

"Parents are aware of these expectations on application and are regularly reminded of them by newsletter."

News - Tayside and Central - Pub worker wins sacking damages

14 Feb 2007

A kitchen porter sacked for his unkempt appearance at work has been awarded compensation totalling £6,361. An employment tribunal ruled that Brian Phin, who had long hair and wore earrings, was unfairly dismissed.

He claimed waitresses at the Deacon Brodies pub in Dundee with a similar appearance were allowed to work there.Bearded Mr Phin was also discriminated against on the grounds of sex. The pub, run by Rosecrown Ltd at the time, is now under new management. Mr Phin, whose hair was about 12ins (30cm) long at the time, had agreed to keep his beard tidy, his hair in a hair net and remove his earrings after being given a third warning from his employer.



Tidy-hair policy does not discriminate against Rastafarians, says Employment Agency Tribunal
OUT-LAW News, 18/10/2007

Rastafarians are protected by UK laws that ban workplace discrimination on the grounds of philosophical belief. But a tidy-hair policy does not discriminate against someone with dreadlocks, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled.

Free OUT-LAW Breakfast Seminars, UK-wide. 1:The new regime for prize draws and competitions. 2:How to monitor staff legallyA Rastafarian called J Harris worked as an executive driver for NKL Automotive. When he lost his job, he brought a tribunal claim for direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of his philosophical beliefs, and also victimisation discrimination. His claims were rejected and he appealed against the finding that there was no indirect discrimination or victimisation discrimination.

The Rastafari movement emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s. Followers believe dreadlocks to be supported by a Nazirite vow that appears in the Bible: "All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow."

The tribunal accepted that Rastafarianism is a philosophical belief, and that it is similar to a religious belief and therefore protected under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations (The Regulations were passed in 2003 and have since been extended to cover philosophical beliefs, whether similar to religious beliefs or not. But they had not been extended at the time when Harris lost his job.)

Harris had been supplied to NKL by an agency. NKL expressed concerns to a Mr Jones, who worked for the agency, that Harris's hair was untidy and that he did not represent the company well. NKL's dress code stated that drivers "should have a smart professional haircut and should ensure hair is tidy".

Harris complained to Mr Jones that he was not getting as much work as other agency drivers and complained that, unlike some other agency workers, he had not been taken on as a full-time employee. He believed he was being discriminated against because of his hair, which he wore in dreadlocks, "in accordance with his Rastafarian beliefs".

The tribunal found that the company "did not object to long hair as such … but they did insist upon a tidy appearance." Harris's hair grew more matted – and the tribunal said that it "must have reached a stage where it was unacceptably untidy in terms of NKL's dress code".

But the prejudice against long hair also ties into other forms of discrimination as this report on the problems Sikhs face shows

Racism force Sikhs to cut hair in UK-Rest of World-World-The Times of India

25 Nov 2006,

LONDON: Increasing numbers of racially motivated attacks have forced some Sikh teenagers in Britain to shed their long hair and turbans but many from the community also do so to fit in with their local surroundings.

While some groups in Britain believe that young, westernised Sikhs have long been reluctant to adhere to traditional disciplines, Sikh students say that increasing numbers of racially motivated attacks have had a significant impact on their attitudes.

Dalwinder Singh, an executive board member of the student group said, "We do get a lot of young kids trimming their hair because they see how they are treated.”

"For example, they find that they can't take part in certain things at school and they just don't want to stand out. And the attacks that have been in the news have definitely had an effect. Teenagers just want to fit in with what society is doing," he told The Times.

There are good arguments for dress code in school but hair length since it takes a considerable amount of time to alter is very different thing to wearing jewellery or makeup which can be simply be removed or altered at will. Hair is very much a symbol of personal identity which is exactly why hair cutting has been used as a symbol of punishment and shame down the ages. It is interesting to note that in English conquest of Ireland saw persistent attempts to ban the wearing of long hair by men. Clearly this school controversy continues a long tradition.

BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Fury as long-haired son suspended

BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Fury as long-haired son suspended
Tuesday, 27 November 2007,

A 15-year-old rock music fan suspended from school for refusing to cut his long hair says he will not back down.

Grant Stranaghan, a GCSE student at Ballyclare High, was suspended for three days last week for having collar-length hair.

Upon his return, he was excluded from class for still not getting a hair cut.

His father George said: "I could have cried when he told me what they did to him - they put him in a room and threw work at him, no contact with anyone."

"This is Northern Ireland in 2007. Solitary confinement, I think it's called - he did say he got plenty of work done, but I don't think it's fair."

I would be depressed without my hair Grant Stranaghan

Mr Stranaghan, from Rathcoole in Newtownabbey, has threatened legal action, saying the school is in breach of British law, European law and gender laws.

Year 11 pupil and rock music fan Grant told the BBC's Nolan Show that his long hair is a crucial part of his personal identity.

"I don't see why I should get my hair cut for them - it is my hair, my natural appearance and I don't think it's within their right to tell me to get my hair cut. I would be depressed without my hair - I've had it cut short before and I feel really bad for weeks afterwards, it's not a good experience."

School principal David Knox said there was never any intention to cause a stand-off.

He said Grant had been suspended because he was in breach of school regulations, adding that he would discuss the matter further with Mr Stranaghan.

More background here:

Not an inch - Local & National - News - Belfast Telegraph

Mr Stranaghan believes his son should not have to conform to what he deems draconian regulations.

The 45-year-old historian and Loughside Football Club coach said: "Grant is a great wee lad. We have never had any problems with him at all. In 12 years at school there has been nothing. His attendance at school is exemplary.

"He is just a normal lad. He is into that type of music, rock music where they all have long hair. He is very quiet and doesn't bother anyone."

Grant's hair is two inches below his collar - a breach of the school rules which state boy's hair must be above the collar. Added Mr Stranaghan: " I don't think two inches of hair should affect 12 years of education. Why should he have to cut his hair? I can't make him get his hair cut.

"What am I supposed to do, hold him down or go in with a pair of scissors when he is asleep?

"We did take him to get it cut but it wasn't enough and he was really annoyed at having to get it cut up to the length it is. He doesn't want to cut it any more. He has offered to tie it back in a pony tail but they are having none of it.

"It's against every law in the land to make him do something he doesn't want to."

But Mr Stranaghan said: "I'll take this the whole way. They are breaking every rule in British law, European law and in terms of gender law."


In a statement released yesterday Ballyclare High School principal, David Knox, said: "A pupil was suspended under the School's Discipline policy for repeated and persistent breaches of the school rules.

" This action is unusual in this school where there is a high level of co-operation from our pupils. The suspension was for three days only and was imposed only after all other sanctions had failed to prompt a positive response.

"The pupil has now returned to school. I had hoped to discuss the way forward with his parents, but they declined to meet me this morning, Monday, November 26 to discuss the matter and have declined to meet me tomorrow morning.

"The school has at all times attempted to be reasonable while implementing the policies of the Board of Governors who represent parents, teachers and the community."

A text poll on yesterday's Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster revealed that 69% of listeners thought Grant should cut his hair and get on with doing his GCSEs.

The poll on the bbc site above is currently supporting Grant.

More links:

Pupil suspended for refusing to have his hair cut - Belfast Today

Legal advice to be sought over pupil's suspension - Belfast Today