Holiday hair, takkies get pupils sent home
SPIKED, peroxided or shaved – it made little difference to authorities at Bethelsdorp’s Bertram High School, who sent almost 20 pupils home yesterday to fix their hair before being allowed to resume classes for the year.
At least 16 pupils stood in single file outside the school’s reception area yesterday, waiting patiently to be inspected by principal Jerome May.
They had arrived at school and then been sent home to fix their holiday hair before being permitted to attend their first day of classes.
Grade 9 pupil Keano Swartbooi, 15, who had a shaved slit on the left side of his head, was among those sent home.
He returned later with black polish rubbed on the side of his head to camouflage the slit.
“I think it is unnecessary because I am here to learn, not to be judged by my hairstyle,” he said.
“I just went back home and my friend [Jose] and I just coloured in the shaved piece.”
Jose Adams, 16, who had a similar hairstyle, said: “I don’t see how this hairstyle will affect my studies, but the rules are the rules, so I had to go and fix my hair as the principal said I must.”
May said: “The school policies are clear. We do not allow these types of hairstyles at the school.
“So when the children arrived here with these hairstyles, and some wearing takkies, I sent them home to fix their hair and put on school shoes.
“They will be inspected now as they return, before they go back to class.”
Three police officers were also at the school to ensure that the first day of teaching ran smoothly.
They monitored late registration pupils waiting outside the school and also swiftly removed any loiterers on the premises.
Because of the constant threat of gangsterism, May also introduced metal scanners to search pupils for possible weapons as they entered the school.
“The new fencing has really helped. In the past, gangsters would just wander onto the premises to take chances – on the first day especially.
“And with gangsterism being a real problem in the area we felt it necessary to introduce the metal scanners.
“It definitely worked – some pupils turned around at the gate when they saw the metal detectors,” May said.