Grade 8 pupil Jaedan Lotz didn't violate his high school's code of conduct, according to the Western Cape Education Department.
|||Cape Town - The Western Cape Education Department has said that Grade 8 pupil Jaedan Lotz, 13, had not in fact contravened his school’s code of conduct after he was told his hair was too short.
Table View High School’s code of conduct stated that boys’ hair may not be completely shaved off and this rule was apparently in place because “bald white boys would look like convicts”, said Jaedan’s mother, Penny Lotz.
She said it was obvious Jaedan was not bald as his hair was clearly visible.
Millicent Merton, spokeswoman for the department, said: “In light of this incident, the school will reassess this rule - it will consult other schools on their code of conduct and will again consult the representative council of pupils before making any final decision.”
She said after investigating the incident it had been found that Jaedan had not contravened the school’s code of conduct.
“The pupil has also never been denied access to the school, suspended or prevented from attending any classes. The principal has also determined that the pupil was not in contravention of the code of conduct.”
Merton said Jaedan had never been made to sit in detention, despite being told he would have to.
Chairwoman of the school’s governing body, Kristin Engelbrecht, said all pupils were required to abide by the same rules, which parents were made aware of when they enrolled their children.
She said the school governing board would re-assess its rules for boys’ hair cuts. “Our haircut and hairstyle rules apply to all children at the school and are the same for all of the children. One set of rules for the boys and one set for the girls.
“These rules are clarified to the parents.”
Lotz raised her unhappiness about the rule with the school earlier this year after being told pupils’ hair could not be cut short.
The Cape Times had received an email from another parent who had experienced the same when their child had been at the school a few years ago. - Cape Times