National School Grooming Policy Ensures Uniform Standards for Students - Ministry of Educational Transformation

Gevariah Young, a fifth former who is president of Queen’s College Student Council and a candidate for president of the National School Council, spoke on the 2023 school grooming policy, on STARCOM’s Down to Brass Tacks last Tuesday. His contribution was reported in the news.

He was mature, thoughtful, cogent, respectful and articulate in his views and those of his peers. A credit to his family and school. He spoke of the need for better enforcement of the existing grooming policy.

‘A little child shall lead them!’

A takeaway from this public discussion: We need to give our children the confidence, and more opportunities, to present their perspectives, especially on matters affecting them! Sometimes we might not agree – that doesn’t mean we muzzle them. Gone are the days where children must ‘be seen and not heard’. Thank God!

The activation of the school councils in each secondary school, which is not the norm in CARICOM, is an important element in developing both the individual and collective character and voice of our nation’s children. It is noted that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has, as a fundamental right, that of the right of the child ‘to be heard’.

We adults are supposed to be parenting and mentoring our children to be our nation’s future leaders. That doesn’t start when they are 18. Sometimes, that training requires that we give them the space to present themselves, and express themselves, via their personal style – always within reasonable boundaries – even when we don’t always agree. I have learned that, as our children mature, we must pick our battles and emphasise less a total obedience from them in all matters. Some of the hairstyles (and fashion outside of school) are not my personal taste. But once they, and the overall student appearance, are ‘neat and tidy’, I’m good!

The students are not in the armed forces or the police force. They are children, so I find puzzling the comparison by some of a child’s grooming for school to the regimentation of these forces.

We can focus too much on conformity and passivity in our culture, which can manifest in a conviction that hair must also be policed. Often our black boys are victims of rigorous policing, to the exclusion of other more important attributes. It is more difficult to parent, guide and mentor a child by allowing them age-appropriate and situation-appropriate freedom to express themselves, always within the context of good boundaries and standards of behaviour, but often you build a more confident, innovative, less passive adult that way too.

In order for our children to not just survive, but thrive, we need to arm them with enhanced core attributes, especially critical thinking, beyond focusing on conformity, as tools to compete globally in the 21st century.

Additionally, teachers and principals always had the power to enforce the grooming policy on the school compound.

Therefore, contrary to popular belief, there is a school grooming policy with guidelines. But public feedback is clear: there has been a breakdown in its implementation and enforcement. The solution lies in the education leadership going back to the drawing board and clarifying the school grooming guidelines, communicating and regularly reinforcing expectations better with all school stakeholders, and ensuring that the grooming policy is better enforced.

Collectively, we can right this ship!

Paula-Anne Moore heads the Group of Concerned Parents, Barbados, and the Regional Coalition for CXC Exam Redress.