School rules are something that we can all connect with when we reminisce about our time in school. It’s a period filled with both joyful and sorrowful memories, a rollercoaster of emotions.
It is understandable to have rules like not wearing jewelry during sports. However, it seems unnecessary to send someone home for wearing too much makeup or smuggling a certain soda drink. This wastes resources and valuable learning time for the young individuals involved.
Schools often have strict rules about how students should look, which can clash with their desire to be unique and express themselves.
These rules may have gone too far for one mother and her son, potentially resulting in an 8-year-old boy missing out on a good education.
Farouk James, hailing from London, England, has a beautiful head of hair that has impressed model scouts. He is currently working as a child model and has already done photo shoots in New York and Italy.
His looks have caused problems for him in school, leading to rejections from several schools due to his long hair.
James’s older brother was told by his mom, Bonnie Miller, that his hair was too short while he was at school.
Bonnie mentioned that Farouk’s dad is from Ghana, so they didn’t trim his hair until he turned 3 due to cultural beliefs.
“At that point he was attached — and so was I, to be honest — with his beautiful hair,” Bonnie told CBS News. “We just kept the hair.”
The family resides in the U.K. where many schools enforce a policy that permits girls to have long hair, but not boys.
Bonnie claimed that it is a violation of children’s human rights to compel them to trim their hair.
“I will not give up trying to persuade governments to put legislation in place to protect children from these outdated, punishing rules,” His mother, Bonnie, shared a photo on Instagram.
Farouk did nothing wrong, yet you refuse him! He will bid farewell to his friends while they all get into the schools he dreams of attending.
Bonnie was so moved by this situation that she decided to create a Change.org petition to end hair discrimination in the U.K.
“We’re getting a real team together and calling it the Mane Generation,” Bonnie said. “We’re going to fight this until these rules get changed. And it’s globally, not just domestically in the U.K.”
Farouk’s mom manages an Instagram account that showcases his life as a joyful boy and child model. This account has over 250,000 followers.
Despite the love and support he receives online, negative comments still come his way. Bonnie shared that after appearing on the popular U.K. TV morning show ‘This Morning’ to talk about their struggle to find a school that would accept Farouk and his hair, she received numerous negative comments.
“This week is mental health week so I’m surprised to be receiving lots of negative comments about Farouk’s hair,” Bonnie wrote during the month of May last year.
“Farouk’s hair is a God given part of him and he will not be cutting it to appease anyone, just as he does not keep it long at my request either.”
Bonnie claims that the dress codes for girls and boys in schools are outdated and, in certain instances, discriminatory, as many schools prohibit dreadlocks and braids.
The mother vows to continue advocating for Farouk and other children facing discrimination for embracing their cultural identity and expressing themselves through their hair.
