Daily detention for boy with rat's tail
A Gold Coast mother is refusing to cut her son's rat's tail, placing him in detention every day this term.
Despite signing the Parent Information Booklet that specifically bans rat's tails, the mother of year 3 Caningeraba State School student James Pasini says she does not consider her son's hairstyle 'extreme'.
"Extreme hairstyles (e.g. Mohawks, shaved sections, extreme colours, rat's tails etc) are not permitted," the Hair and Make Up section reads.
"Females are allowed to have long hair," she told the Gold Coast Bulletin. "Why aren't males?"
"It's a part of him. He is adamant about not cutting it so I thought we'll just keep it."
James had refused to attend school for two weeks, according to his mum, because he did not want to go to detention.
"For the third week of detention he didn't want to come to school because he knew he wouldn't be allowed to play with his friends," she said.
"He is being ostracised - he's never been on detention until now, and he's not done anything wrong."
Eight-year-old James says even his friends want him to have his hair cut, but he still refuses.
"My friends want me to cut my hair so I can go back to class," he said.
"One teacher said I'll have detention until Year 12 unless I cut it."
