Courtenay Gardens Primary School student Alysha Oehms is upset at being excluded from school activities and excursions because of blonde highlights in her hair.By Alison Noonan
A CRANBOURNE mother is outraged that her daughter was banned from school activities because of the colour of her hair.
Vicky Oehms says 11yearold Alysha was excluded from taking part in school sports and excursions at Courtenay Gardens Primary School after adding blonde highlights to her light brown fringe.
Ms Oehms said the school labelled her daughter’s hair colour an “extreme hairstyle” that was in breach of school policy.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
“I was just shocked that they would call the two lightened bits of her fringe an ‘extreme hairstyle’.
“She has light brown hair, which used to be blonde, and these are natural coloured highlights.
“If I wanted an extreme hairstyle I would have dyed her whole hair or put different colours through it but you can hardly notice this.”
Ms Oehms said she was only made aware of the drama after Alysha returned home from school complaining she had been prohibited from participating in a sports afternoon.
“She came home from school upset because the teachers wouldn’t let her join in sport,” Ms Oehms said.
“She said she asked if she could ring home to let me know and they wouldn’t let her use the phone.
“There is nothing in the policy that says she can’t participate in school activities because of the colour of her hair.
“It’s so wrong.
“And the teachers know it’s wrong because when I complained to the assistant principal he said the teachers involved had been spoken to.”
Despite numerous complaints, Ms Oehms said the school continued to forbid Alysha to travel on outofschool excursions, demanding she remove the colour from her hair.
“They want me to go back and take it out, but why should I when it will grow out in a few weeks?” Ms Oehms said.
“Now I have had to keep her home from school because she missed out on going to Werribee Zoo and she will also miss out on a whole school excursion to the park that we have paid for through fundraising activities during the year.
“They are discriminating against her and there is no way they should be allowed to get away with this.
“The assistant principal told me to either abide by the policy or take her out of school.
“But they should get their policy fixed because this is not good enough,” she said.
Ms Oehms said she refused to back down, claiming she would take the issue further with the Department of Education and Training.
A department spokesperson said all school policies relating to uniforms and accessories were determined by school councils.
“This is no exception at Courtenay Gardens Primary School, which has widespread support amongst parents and the school community for its policies,” she said.
Courtenay Gardens Primary School declined to comment.
