Punishment for teen for breaching school’s policy on no ‘non-natural hair colours’

The mum of a teenager with bright pink hair says Mordialloc College has discriminated against her son.

The year 10 student has been booted from class because of his dyed hair. Picture: Mark Stewart

Uniforms and hairstyles are continuing to cause friction at Victorian schools, with students pushing for more recognition of their rights as individuals.

A year 10 student at Mordialloc College has been ejected from class and isolated from his peers over his brightly coloured hair.

The student has dyed his hair bright colours in recent months to make a statement about social issues he is passionate about including alcoholism awareness and youth mental health.

“I want kids in high school to feel like their voices are heard and matter,” the student said.

The teen has dyed his hair for social issues. Picture: Mark Stewart

He has been told to leave class because of his hair colour. Picture: Supplied

“I have been told to study in the senior school office until I get my hair fixed,” he said.

“It’s really hard to study in there. I think if there is a reason for it, it should be okay to have coloured hair.”

The school has a policy stating “non-natural hair colours” are not permitted.

The boy has been asked to wear a school beanie until his hair fades – a request his mother believes is discriminatory and violates his right to support causes he supports.

The mother said despite attempts to seek formal mediation and have her son’s voice heard, there has been nothing but demands to conform from the school.

The school has a policy stating it does not permit ‘non-natural hair colours’. Picture: Mark Stewart

A number of students were also ejected from class at Officer Secondary College this week for failing to wear school-branded items. One student said up to 100 students were sent to the library; many for wearing plain black pants rather than school-logo black pants.

Year 12 student Piper, 17, said her school had been “heavy-handed” on its new uniform policy, called “RE SET” which began on Wednesday.

“There are a lot of families doing it tough and visiting food banks. It is more than reasonable to buy cheaper alternatives from shops such as Kmart as long as they are within the school colour,” she said.

A Department of Education spokesman said uniforms were a “matter for the Mordialloc College school council.”

About Officer Secondary College College, he said the school “council must be able to demonstrate it has considered the cost of school uniforms and parents’ ability to afford it. We are very confident that Officer Secondary College has met those expectations.”

Independent investigators are also undertaking a review at Highview College in Maryborough after sisters Amayah and Safhira Rowe were excluded from the school for contravening school policies by not tying their box-braided hair back.

Highview College Board Chair, Nickola Allan said: “all staff and students are entitled to work and learn in a respectful, caring, and safe environment”.

“The review has been launched to confirm whether these expectations have been or are being met,” she said.