I have been fined because SCHOOL has placed my child in isolation because he has had his ears pierced
A mother has been ordered to appear in court after refusing to pay a fine she received because her daughter had her ears pierced.
Helen Gent’s 14-year-old daughter Lucille returned to Magnus Church of England Academy in Newark, Notts, after the summer holidays in May with ‘tiny’ stud earrings.
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But the Year 10 student was told they were going against uniform policy due to ‘health and safety concerns’ and was placed in isolation.
Helen said the school still refused to allow her back into the classroom even after she explained they would have to stay indoors for six to eight weeks to heal and avoid the risk of infection.
The 45-year-old took her daughter out of class for five days to homeschool her, but the teen returned the following week wearing plastic studs.
Helen claims no one carried out a uniform check on the student and there were no further problems until the new school year started.
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She then received a letter from the school stating that Lucille was absent for five days and that they could take legal action, which would jeopardize Helen’s work.
The academy followed up by sending a letter fining Helen £60 if paid within 28 days, or £120 if not paid within that period for “unauthorized absence”.
Taxi driver Helen, from Newark, said: “I said I’m not going to pay because I didn’t take her out of lessons, that was the school’s choice and I have now received a court summons for criminal action.
“I took her to school every day of those five days to register for classes, but they refused to let her into the classroom.
“It wasn’t like I took her on holiday, I took her and they turned her away. How can that be an unauthorized absence?
‘It’s just a huge overreaction: I could get a criminal record here because of a pair of earrings.
“My daughter loves school, is a straight A student and, apart from these days, has 100 percent attendance. I just can’t ignore it.
“It’s just bizarre to get a letter from CPS asking whether I plead guilty or not guilty for sending my daughter to school with earrings.”
Helen had to hire a lawyer as the case is currently in the hands of the Nottinghamshire County Council Prosecution Service and she will be taken to court.
She added: “If I win the case, obviously no action will be taken, but if I lose the case and the court decides that I disabled her due to unauthorized absence, then I lose and I get a criminal. file.
Why do schools have such strict rules about appearance?
WHY are students not allowed to have dyed hair, painted nails, tattoos or piercings at school? Surely they should be given the opportunity to express their individuality?
Well, according to Quorathere are five important reasons why such changes in appearance are prohibited at school.
1. Maintain a professional appearance
Students are required to adhere to the uniform policy in order to present themselves professionally. This creates a sense of discipline and respect for the learning environment.
2. Safety issues
In some situations there may be safety concerns due to a change in appearance. For example, this could apply if someone has extremely long hair that is not tied back, as it can get caught in equipment during gym classes or while playing with friends.
3. Minimizing disruption
Many schools have strict policies regarding student appearance to keep disruption to a minimum. Some educational centers believe that someone with brightly colored, dyed hair or a large piercing ultimately becomes a distraction to other students and detracts from the learning process.
4. Workplace preparation
Many jobs – especially corporate or medical professions – have strict rules regarding appearance, with piercings, tattoos and dyed hair all on the banned list. Preventing students from making these changes at school sets them up for not having these changes when they get a job.
5. Cultural/social norms
Schools can try to reflect the norms of what is considered appropriate or acceptable in different cultures and communities in their policies.
“I’m just outraged that the fact that I have a criminal record could prevent me from getting a job in the future and it may even affect the work I am currently doing.
“I am a taxi driver, I work with vulnerable children and adults. I have had a clear DBS check due to working with children and adults.
“But it is required as part of my taxi license so if I have a criminal record I would have to apply to Newark and Sherwood District Council for permission to set that aside so I can continue my work as a taxi driver.
“If they decide not to do that, I would be unemployed. This is absolutely ridiculous.”
Helen says she is waiting to hear back from her lawyer and the date for her trial.
The furious mother previously slammed the “Victorian-style authoritarian policies” as most schools and workplaces allow the wearing of simple stud earrings.
She criticized the uniform policy and branded the state school as ‘sexist, archaic and irrelevant’.
Helen said: ‘I couldn’t believe they were happy that her education was suffering just because she was only wearing one pair of tiny stud earrings.
“Prohibiting a girl from accessing education because of ear piercings is indirect sexism.
“They make the policy incompatible with human rights and anti-sexism laws. The headteacher said she could be taught in her own office.
‘But I think this is also a safety issue. I don’t know of any school that allows a student to be taught by any teacher behind closed doors.
“A single pair of small stud earrings should not be a problem. It is part of British culture and has no relevance to a child’s ability to learn.
‘It basically means that piercing her ears is a shame and should be punished by depriving her of her valuable education.
“Other schools have the common sense to realize that having ear piercings does not affect a child’s ability to learn.
“Even the NHS has revised its policy to allow stud earrings, recognizing that this does not prevent their staff from doing their jobs and is not an obstacle to health and safety.
“A Victorian-style dictatorial, authoritarian policy, applying strict military discipline in a standard state school, that reinforces ‘do as I say and not as I do’ is not the best way to get the most out of children.”
Magnus Academy’s jewelry policy states: “Students may wear a watch, but due to health and safety issues and concerns regarding the loss of valuables, students are not permitted to wear jewelry, including earrings and piercings of any kind , during their stay at the museum.”
A Magnus Academy spokesperson said: “Our uniform standards are clear and available on our website.
“These have not changed over the last six years and regular reminders are sent home throughout the year.
‘On rare occasions, and when people arrive at school having not followed our uniform policy, we always give them the opportunity to correct this.
“If they are unable or unwilling to correct their uniform, we provide work, together with full teacher support, that they can complete elsewhere within the school.
“We are not ruling out uniform violations and are working with families to resolve these quickly.”
