This week, a peaceful protest was held outside Fulham Boys School after the 12-year-old student was told his hair breaches the school’s uniform and appearance policy.
Protestors carried placards stating:
‘The Fulham Boys School Uniform and Appearance Policy Must Be Changed To Include ALL Regions, Faiths and Cultures.’
On his first day of secondary school, Chikayzea Flanders was told by his school to cut off his locs or face suspension. Also, he was taught in isolation simply for having locs.
As a result, his parents moved Chikayzea from Fulham Boys School to Hurlingham Academy.
Tuesday Flanders, his mother set up a petition urging the school to change its hair policy, saying Chikayzea has had the lock since he was a child because he is a Rastafarian, and these locs are part of his religion.
Tuesday said she was devastated when her son was told to cut his hair. She said:
“All my kids have had this hair since the day they were born. To hear someone telling you to change the way of life to attend a school is heartbreaking.”
Almost five thousand people have supported Chikayzea Flanders by signing a petition against Fulham Boys School hair policy.
The headteacher Alun Ebenezer of Fulham Boys School told the Evening Standard:
“We are a strict academic boys’ school and have a strict uniform and appearance policy.
“We are a strict academic boys’ school and have a strict uniform and appearance policy.
I would stress that everyone is welcome to the school. We are not a racist school in any way, shape or form. But we have a distinct culture and when boys come to the school we expect them to respect that culture. We are strict and no-nonsense which is why we are ridiculously oversubscribed.”
Protester Vivian Mills said:
“I’m completely appalled that in so-called modern times the school would implement such a policy.
Its leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It’s absolutely disgraceful.”
CURLYTREATS fully supports the Flanders family fight against hair discrimination at Fulhams Boys School.
