The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) is setting the record straight, insisting it isn’t pushing to abolish the national grooming policy. It simply wants the policy revised.
“This is not about rejecting progress or denying culture,” Rudy Lovell, president of the BUT, told Barbados TODAY on Monday. “I must clarify that the Barbados Union of Teachers is not calling for the grooming policy to be rescinded. We are advocating for it to be revised with clearer, more practical guidelines that ensure consistency and order in our schools.”
Lovell sought to clarify the union’s position on the heels of comments by parent advocate Paula-Anne Moore, spokesperson for the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados, who strongly defended the policy last week. Moore argued that it represents a progressive shift towards cultural self-acceptance.
She also dismissed claims that hairstyles and deportment alone were responsible for rising indiscipline, contending that broader systemic issues should be prioritised. She said: “These are children. We should be encouraging age-appropriate self-expression, critical thinking, and confidence. If students in the UK and US can wear diverse hairstyles without compromising their education, why should it be different in Barbados?” she asked last week, after an announcement that the policy would be re-examined, in response to growing public concerns over some students’ hairstyles.
Lovell stressed that at the heart of the union’s concerns is the increasing difficulty teachers and principals face in managing a growing array of grooming issues that extend far beyond hairstyles.
He said: “This is not just about hair. Teachers and principals are dealing with a wide range of grooming issues: long artificial nails, exaggerated eyelashes, overly tight trousers in boys, and braided hair lengths in girls that rival Rapunzel. These trends are creating distractions in the classroom and raising valid concerns around hygiene, deportment, safety, and discipline.”
According to the union, the current grooming policy lacks specificity, leading to inconsistent enforcement across schools. This inconsistency has fuelled confusion, conflict, and, in some cases, community backlash.
“We need well-defined, enforceable standards that support both student self-expression and the smooth functioning of our schools,” Lovell explained. “Grooming should not become a battleground. It should be a shared responsibility between home and school, guided by reasonable expectations.”
The union also pushed back against suggestions that its stance is anti-cultural or discriminatory. Lovell affirmed the BUT’s strong support for students expressing their Afrocentric identity but cautioned that education must also prepare young people for life beyond the classroom.
“We absolutely support our students embracing their Afrocentric identity,” he said. “But we must also prepare them for life beyond school, where presentation and deportment still matter.”
Lovell emphasised that the call for clearer grooming standards is not a distraction from more pressing educational concerns. Rather, it is part of a broader effort to foster a school environment where deeper systemic challenges—such as literacy gaps, behavioural issues, and chronic absenteeism—can be addressed more effectively.
“A clear, consistent grooming policy creates a baseline of order and respect,” Lovell noted. “From there, we are better positioned to tackle the bigger issues that are holding our education system back.”
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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