Burnham: Video uploaded to YouTube as school hairstyles row rumbles on (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

As a local employer I'd like to say I hope I never have to interview anyone who was involved in this, as I'm not sure I could risk my companies reputation employing someone who, when faced with simple rules and regulations is 1. unable to adhere to these guidelines and 2. then starts a campaign trying to besmirch my organisations character due to their "personal choices".

Now while I can see they may be well versed in the use of modern media, and this could be seen as an asset, they made such a p!ss poor job of executing the YouTube video, showing no real flair or technical ability, lack of branding, inconsistent use of colour and fonts, and using a backing track which gets you reaching for the mute button, this I feel won't be what I'm looking for in a marketeer.

They then choose different names for each of their social media outlets, come on guys, have you learned nothing there? If you want to start a campaign, use a consistent brand across channels, make it easy for your target audience to find you....you have remembered that the target audience isn't you and your wild haired brethren haven't you?...you haven't forgotten that you are trying to get people who don't really appreciate your plight to feel empathy have you?

So in conclusion, while your hair colour maybe the most important decision in life at the moment, remember, you live in a rural backwater, your employment options these days are limited, so unless you can *really* sing as well as the no-bodies you bow down to in your video, you're either going to have to clean up your act and make an effort to make you're way in life and leave childish things behind...alternative
ly, repeat after me "Would you like fries with that"

Hi "Alternative view",
I would imagine the people in question would not like to work for your company anyway. For the simple reason that a boss who takes everything on face value would not be a very good one and one that doesn't wait until all the evidence is in before making a snap judgement is rather foolish.
Now maybe you would like to take a look at the video again and you will realise that it was made by children, presumably for children. Hence the music that you did not like and the simplicity. I've no doubt that a marketing executive could do a far better job, but this is isn't about marketing. It is about the little people speaking out against injustice in the only way they know how. Personally I think it is great to see them sticking up for what they believe in. Sadly some school staff are people that like to wield power over others. Bullies, not simply there to teach but to indulge in their appetite for power and maybe a little glory. Sadly these are often the ones that rise to the top. It would be better if worthier teachers that have a passion for teaching and wish to help students, instead of squishing them under their metaphorical jackboots, were the ones in charge. In some schools they are and children are sure to be happier and learn more about respect in this benevolent environment.

Hear, hear. Kids'll only learn if you practice what ya preach. I tell my kids not to swear, and do you think they f****ng listen? Like bo****ks they do!

Seriously though, I think the school has no cause for complaint. If they have broken the law then their rules are invalid. Instead of trying to discourage students from expressing themselves they should fix the problem by changing the rules to be in line with current law. Otherwise, what are laws for? How can children be taught to respect laws if their teaching establishment openly breaks them?

Back in the early 80s Sir John Harvey-Jones, the then chairman of ICI, brought in a new employment policy to his company. He realised that due to small minded pettiness, media indoctrination and the general conservative attitude of british employers there was a vast untapped pool of talent out there being wasted. The people he was talking about were the punks of the day who had been seen as nihilists and general troublemakers. He saw their potential, he saw that their creativity in one area was an indication that they would be creative in other areas. He was a creative, forward thinking employer who benefited from appreciating the creativity of others.

"Alternative view", your name is a misnomer as you have the narrow, myopic, small 'c' conservative view of the majority of british employers. As Sir John realised, so should you and your ilk and maybe, just maybe, this country will be able to pull it's way out of a recession by utilising the creativity of our young adults.

And, as an aside, anyone who uses the term 'Brand' that isn't marking cattle deserves to be metaphorically shot!

Just a few points if I may…
the great British institution that is ICI…where is that now?….obviously the timing of the great and liberal (small L) Sir Harvey’s employment policy would have very little to do with the people who made their way to the top in the 90s and lead ICI to continue to be the British institution it is now?

The only punk I can recall who is still active in public life and displaying his punkish tendencies (at the age of 56....."oh Granddaaaddd you're soooo embarrassing") …has eeked out an great brand for himself selling British Anchor Butter…made by Arla foods….which great British company owns that now?

Do you feel that the great Sir Harvey - who would obviously have had bright orange hair while in the Navy and MI6, as he’d never allow himself to be constrained by petty rules - didn’t understand the importance of Branding, with all the books and TV programs he sold?

As this is about the little people, maybe those who don't fit the norm and as I appear to be one of the "jackbooted bullies" If I decide that I'd like to go to school, maybe with blue contact lenses and dyed blonde hair and ...maybe I'd like to have a black swastika dyed in the back...would that be OK with you guys...or do you have some limits of what's acceptable, maybe I want to turn up to teach kids in a ManKini...it's my choice after all....you'd be Ok with that? you don't feel any limits are needed?

And all these points made without any wish of shootings or name calling...I'm so proud to be "conservative"

Just a question for Alternative View

If conforming to the status quo and following the rules obediently is such a good philosophy then why is it that the country been financially trashed by these very same besuited, smart haircutted gentleman of good standing and respectable viewpoints?

The sight of a man in a suit no longer engenders feelings of trust and respectability to a lot of people nowadays. Maybe it is time to stand aside and let others with a different view take the reins.

They can't do any worse can they!

Ok, so I take it that's a yes from you to my Mankini and "Bootjacked" hair then...

Maybe, just maybe it's not only me that's judging people by their choice of appearance?

If you are going to pigeon hole people by your perception of their appearance... you seem to dislike suits and smart hair and assume that those who wears a suit is a greedy banker (did Sir John gawd bless him wear a suit???)....I will play along with you.....I can therefore only extrapolate from recent events that anyone with dyed hair is likely to be a mass murdering gun toting maniac?

My argument is not with appearance, my argument is that school is there to guide the young on how society expects them to behave, inform them that there are rules, like them or not. But while bohemian step-parents may well not want to guide their children in the formative years and let their little darlings have whatever their little obese heart’s desire as they fear the N word (That’s “No” - I’m not that much of a conservative) and would maybe be quite happy for little Tamara to further the pop career she has the hair colour for by making a sex tape, maybe, just maybe the jackbooted bully teachers will always be fighting a losing battle?