School punishes girl for shaving her head for charity
A 14-year-old schoolgirl has been put in isolation following her decision to shave her head for charity.
Niamh Baldwin was punished by Mounts Bay Academy in Cornwall, UK, after shaving her head for the Little Princess Trust, an organisation that makes wigs out of human hair for children undergoing cancer treatment.
However, when she returned to school after Christmas holidays Niamh was told she would be removed from classes and required to wear a headscarf until her hair grew back to a suitable length, reported Cornwall Live.
Her mother Anneka Baldwin expressed her anger on Facebook about the consequences of her “courageous” daughter’s decision.
"Niamh has always had outstanding reports and feedback from all her teachers and everyone I know she meets always say she is an amazingly polite and lovely girl!," she wrote.
"This doesn't change because of a hairstyle and to me it is discrimination!"
The school has defended its decision saying one of the rules clearly outlines students’ hair length.
"All students know this is the school policy and they also know that the consequence is to complete school work in the inclusion room until the hair grows so that it is no longer extreme," Principal Sara Davey said.
"If Niamh had asked the school about shaving her hair for charity then this would have been pointed out and an alternative fundraising idea would have been suggested."
Ms Davey said that Niamh has been accessing her classes via digital technology and the school will discuss with her mother the best way to return to her classroom as soon as possible.
"The family had every opportunity to contact the school about their actions before Niamh shaved her hair for charity but they for some reason did not do this," she added.
Niamh shared a photo of her shaved head to Facebook and wrote, “My hair does not define who I am as a person”.
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