Academy hat rule means New Addington rastafarian boy is banned
A RASTAFARIAN boy has been pulled out of his new secondary school after they refused to let him wear his hat.
Beverley Reid, 43, will not send her son Malachi to the Quest Academy, in Farnborough Avenue, Selsdon, in a dispute over their strict uniform policy.
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Beverley Reid with son Malachi
She explained that the 11-year-old wears his hat due to the family's Rastafarian beliefs.
And she is unwilling to carry out the school's request of writing in and explaining why the hat – called a Tam – is a religious requirement.
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Beverley, who lives in New Addington, said: "I feel strongly about having to write in.
"I'm sure they haven't asked a Sikh to identify their religion or a Muslim to identify their religion.
"It's like a Freemason school and I'm not into sending my son to a place like that.
"Malachi's father works for the prison service, he works for the Queen, and he has got permission to wear his hat.
"This is my child they're talking about, they're trying to challenge his culture. It feels like we're in invisible chains."
Malachi used to attend Aerodrome Primary School, in Goodwin Road, Waddon, and Beverley says he was allowed to wear his hat there.
It was during summer school, before the start of the new term at Quest, that she discovered he would not be able to wear his Tam.
Beverley added: "We didn't apply for this school. Croydon Council gave me this school.
"At the moment, my son hasn't got a school.
"It's like everyone's looking and thinking why is your little boy not at school? I could cry for him."
This week, Beverley was trying to find Malachi a new secondary school.
Meanwhile, principal Andy Crofts has defended the academy's stance.
He said: "We have a published uniform code which we apply consistently to everyone.
"We allow head coverings that are required for religious reasons. We have asked this parent to provide us with evidence that this headwear is a religious requirement on several occasions and she has refused to do so.
"If we agreed to every parental request to modify some aspect of our uniform code, then it would cease to be a uniform."
Is Quest Academy right to ban Malachi from wearing his hat? Join the debate at www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk or e-mail your views to newsdesk@croyodnadvertiser.co.uk
Comments
by Chris_Wilcox
Friday, October 26 2012, 11:42PM
“It appears to be cultural & religious:
http://tinyurl.com/8njhtvm
So why on earth did a school ( of all places ) not just look it up?
Oh dear...”
by boneless
Saturday, September 29 2012, 8:17PM
“rodger123, Never heard of Oxbridge? Is that a degrading remake or a complement?
As I can not read your boby lanuage as you write, I'm rather in the dark, sorry.”
by CMathers
Friday, September 28 2012, 7:20PM
“If the tea-cosy is so important, why isn't his mum wearing one?”
by rodger123
Friday, September 28 2012, 5:37PM
“Boneless
With that kind of logic, you must be an Oxbridge graduate!”
by boneless
Friday, September 28 2012, 12:05AM
“Would the standard of teaching be worse for the lad with the hat or better for the lad with the hat? Myself I don't think it makes a differance. He would still be Educated the same as the kids who abide be the Uniform, It's more a case of he is used to weaing the hat, But a couple of weeks without it, HE may not want to wear it.
So Whats the Fuss all about?”
by rodger123
Thursday, September 27 2012, 9:17PM
“Does any child want to attend this academy?
She didn't want to send her son to the Quest, and due to the demand in places at her preferred schools , her son was allocated a place at the Quest by the LA because of the lack of students applying to this academy. I wonder why?”
by Polly_Ester
Thursday, September 27 2012, 10:40AM
“Despair summed that up quite nicely me thinks!!”
by in_Despair_01
Thursday, September 27 2012, 9:01AM
“Beverly wont write to the school because she has absolutely no justifiable reason for her Son to wear the Tam. A symbol of christianty is the cross, however it is not a requirement to wear one it's just that most Christians like to, this is what it boils down to with Beverly she just wants her Son to wear the Tam, he doesnt have too.
I'm also shocked that a mother refuses to write a few lines to the school so that he is able to attend but has managed to feel so strongly about this that she has taken the time to complain to the local news. I think her priorities are wrong and she is setting her Son a very bad example.”
by in_Despair_01
Thursday, September 27 2012, 8:52AM
“Beverly isn't going to write into the school because she hasn't got any justifiable reason to argue he should be wearing the TAM. A christian doesn't have to wear a cross to show they are Christian, they just like to and this is what it boils down to Beverly just wants her Son to wear the TAM, he doesnt actually have to.
I also find it shocking that she took the time to complain to the local newspaper but cannot find the time to write a couple of lines to the school so that her son can start enjoying the free education is is rightly entitled to.
Quotes from Berverly herself:
"I'm sure they haven't asked a Sikh to identify their religion or a Muslim to identify their religion" - Have you asked a Muslim parent if this is the case or are you yourself Judging/assuming like you are saying the school is doing to you?
"This is my child they're talking about, they're trying to challenge his culture. It feels like we're in invisible chains." - The opperative word here being CULTURE, not religion, Beverly herself has used the word.
Lastly, if you didnt apply to the school in the first place and are currently in the process of finding him another one why is this such an issue! Stop complaining and get on with finding your son a place at school.”
by rodger123
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 7:10PM
“Polly Ester
In some parts of Africa ... that's a classic! The spirit of Bernard Manning lives on. However, the hat still wins.”