Hair Straighteners At School?

A school in West Dunbartonshire has apparently invested £800 in hair straighteners because some of the pupils did not want to do PE because it messed up their hair.
The local authority were concerned about the falling numbers of female participents in sport and this action was taken to try to encourage more girls to take part in sports activities.

I can understand they might not like their hair getting messed up. I didn’t like being required to freeze my bits off because we were required to play football and do all sorts of other activities but I never knew I had the option to say that I didn’t like it so I wouldn’t do it.

The way I remember my schooldays and PE was of being given about two minutes to shower and get changed and ready for the next lesson so I can’t begin to understand how there can be enough spare time to enjoy the benefits of hair straighteners.

I am all for treating children with respect and taking account of their views but this seems to a step in the wrong direction. Childhood is such a special time and to encourage children to worry about adult concerns like appearance seems to be damaging something that is very special and that’s a pity.