A mother recently shared an incredibly insensitive note she received from her daughter’s teacher regarding her hair care routine. The note implied that her daughter was being teased by classmates due to the scent of coconut oil in her hair. The mother, Jessica Smith, decided to take to social media to express her frustration, and her post quickly gained traction.
Jessica posted the note from her daughter Mia’s teacher, which read:
“Dear Jessica,
I understand the necessity of coconut oil for Mia’s hair, but please use it more sparingly. The other kids have mentioned that her hair ‘smells.’ If you must apply it daily, please do so lightly so that the kids don’t tease her.
Thank you for your understanding,
Sincerely, Sarah.”
Firstly, Sarah needs a grammar refresher, as this note is poorly written and lacks proper structure. Additionally, she should be aware that using hair products is a common practice for many Black children. In fact, as Jessica and several commenters pointed out, coconut oil is often odorless. I use it myself for both hair and skin care, and it hardly leaves any scent. This teacher’s comments are not only offensive but also misguided.
Jessica’s response to the note shows she’s not backing down. She made it clear that she has no intention of reducing the coconut oil she uses for her daughter’s beautiful, natural curls. In the comments of her post, she stated that she plans to meet with school officials, questioning, “Why does the school send ME a letter instead of addressing the teasing?”
Indeed, it makes no sense. Even if there was an issue with the oil (which there isn’t), the responsibility falls on the bullies—not the child or her mother. It would be more appropriate for Sarah to address the students who were making fun of Mia rather than suggesting the family change their hair care routine.
After meeting with school administrators, Jessica learned that it was only Sarah who had a problem with Mia’s hair products. She shared, “The kids never said anything; this had everything to do with the teacher’s personal feelings about Mia’s hair. If someone is teasing my child, you should teach those children! Even if there was an odor (which there isn’t), you have no right to dictate how a Black mother cares for her daughter’s hair.”
Jessica is absolutely right to be outraged. Sadly, due to the teacher’s insensitivity, Mia has had to leave the school. It’s disheartening that a child has to start anew because of such thoughtless comments. Hopefully, by sharing her story, Jessica can help raise awareness and educate others, perhaps even Sarah.
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In summary, a teacher’s note to a mother about her Black daughter’s hair sparked significant backlash, highlighting issues of racial insensitivity and the importance of addressing bullying behavior in schools.