Can teachers groom students' hair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this practice can be unintentionally unfair. The (probably mostly white) teachers will groom and dote on the (probably entirely white) little girls with the straight easy-to-manage hair, making them all look cute and giving them extra attention. When you are a black girl in this situation watching this, it can make you feel like the teachers are making special efforts for their favorite kids and that you’re not in that favored category.

Sorry to get all woke about this, but I was that black girl and remember feeling this way. Doing little kids’ hair is a maternal/parental/intimate thing. Think about what message spending that kind of energy on some kids sends.

Sounds like a you problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this practice can be unintentionally unfair. The (probably mostly white) teachers will groom and dote on the (probably entirely white) little girls with the straight easy-to-manage hair, making them all look cute and giving them extra attention. When you are a black girl in this situation watching this, it can make you feel like the teachers are making special efforts for their favorite kids and that you’re not in that favored category.

Sorry to get all woke about this, but I was that black girl and remember feeling this way. Doing little kids’ hair is a maternal/parental/intimate thing. Think about what message spending that kind of energy on some kids sends.

Sounds like a you problem.

Do you think teachers want to play favorites? This willingness to share her experience is an gift. Why do you see it as a criticism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For example, female students comes to school w/ messy hair. The child is upset and trying to fix her hair. The teacher steps in, combs her hair & does two braids. Is this okay given the circumstance?

I work with special needs 3 and 4 year olds in PEP (preschool education program). Totally normal/acceptable, as many of them (male and female) won't let their parents brush their hair, but allow us too.

We work with the children and the parents on this, and we haven't had one yet where we haven't been able to change this behavior by the end of the year, to have the kids allow mom or dad to do it.

[Anonymous]

Pathologizing human kindnesa and connection is sad and tragic. Why are we trying to turn ourselves into a society of miserable robots? Meanwhile our robots are learning how to show affection

[Anonymous]

When you spend time with people who have real (non self-created) problems, people being nice is never on their list of complaints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure. My DD's teacher has a package of elastics for the kids who are constantly pushing hair out of their faces when trying to work. After that I always pulled my little girls' hair back for school so it wasn't a distraction. Plus I don't like them looking ratty anyway.

This is a great idea. Sounds like a really smart teacher.

Would you rather have your child come home with paint in their hair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is even a question boggles my mind!

+1000 I just don't get the high anxiety about every, little, thing...

Same. Can teachers do anything right?

Nope

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would schedule a conference with the parent first. You know parents these days try and spazz out over every little thing.

I also would insist on written permission for assisting your child, even if they are choking or dying. I don't think teachers should ever touch any child. They should write incident reports in triplicates though!

Sounds like a plan, DCUM?

A child having messy hair is NOT a life or death situation. Not even the same thing, try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pathologizing human kind and connection is sad and tragic. Why are we trying to turn ourselves into a society of miserable robots? Meanwhile our robots are learning how to show affection

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For example, female students comes to school w/ messy hair. The child is upset and trying to fix her hair. The teacher steps in, combs her hair & does two braids. Is this okay given the circumstance?

I work with special needs 3 and 4 year olds in PEP (preschool education program). Totally normal/acceptable, as many of them (male and female) won't let their parents brush their hair, but allow us too.

We work with the children and the parents on this, and we haven't had one yet where we haven't been able to change this behavior by the end of the year, to have the kids allow mom or dad to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this practice can be unintentionally unfair. The (probably mostly white) teachers will groom and dote on the (probably entirely white) little girls with the straight easy-to-manage hair, making them all look cute and giving them extra attention. When you are a black girl in this situation watching this, it can make you feel like the teachers are making special efforts for their favorite kids and that you’re not in that favored category.

Sorry to get all woke about this, but I was that black girl and remember feeling this way. Doing little kids’ hair is a maternal/parental/intimate thing. Think about what message spending that kind of energy on some kids sends.

Sounds like a you problem.

Maybe, but I matter.