My Teacher My Hairdresser
by Laura Boushnak
While going through my friends’ Facebook posts, I came across a story about a fully veiled Egyptian teacher who decided to cut the hair of two of her elementary students, simply because they were not wearing the hijab (head scarf) like the rest of their classmates. According to the article, she punished the two girls in front of the whole class and made them stand facing the wall with their hands raised in the air, before she applied her beliefs on them.
The post made me furious. Firstly, because the only action I could take right at that moment was to abstain from clicking the “like” button, and add a few words expressing my sympathy for the girls. Secondly, because it reminded me of the outdated teaching methods still being used by schools across the Arab world, where I myself had to experience some of those humiliating moments 20 years ago.
The article also reminded me of a photo I took two years ago at a school in the suburbs of Cairo. More specifically, it reminded me of a girl in the background of the picture. I snapped the subjects of the picture, Asil and Abir, as they read their books, and I saw the girl in my viewfinder. She was clearly being punished. She was being made to face the wall with her hands raised in the air. I decided not to say anything to the teacher but I should have. I might not have changed anything but at least I could say that I let my thoughts out.
I’m documenting Arab women and literacy across the Arab world and this is not the first time I see something I can’t stand.
Many educational barriers stand in the face of girls and women across the region. But as long as there are no serious educational reforms of what both girls and boys are being taught and, above all, how they are being taught, we will still be stuck in the same place for many years to come.
i.Read.i.Write 
Great shot, great subject. It’s terrifying that outdated and misguided methods still prevail. In the classroom context, they can significantly damage young girls and boys vulnerable self-esteem.
Good shot, hard to imagine , hard to accept
I think the danger in the Arab world now is mixing religion with education. Its a fine line and one I can see being easily crossed, just as you illustrated in this example with the teacher and the student. As long as you have teachers who feel they can impose their personal agenda, beliefs and ideologies on their students instead of simply introducing them to what is in the text books, then we will be treading dangerous territory. I see this happening in Egypt now where because of the new MB leadership, many subscribers to the Brotherhood’s philosophy have taken it upon themselves to impose their ideas upon the rest because they feel empowered having a MB in the hotseat. It’s all part of the post-revolution confusion and it will take a while for things to be more stable. I do think this is a very important issue to explore though and I think you’re on the right track here ==> L.
Heartbreaking. It’s almost like a scene from a horror movie. It makes me so furious and I wonder how the parents handled it.
I completely agree with you Laura T. There is absolutely a tendency of mixing religion with education and it’s on the rise, not just in Egypt, I would say. For example, when I was in Jordan few months ago, I learnt about a new trend. Basically, parents send their daughters to religious classes at mosques, instead of going to public schools, where young girls spend the first four years of their primary education memorizing the Quran, ignoring all other skills which must be developed. On the other hand, a lot of girls complained about how badly they were treated by teachers, and that was one of the main reason why a lot of them drop out of school. Improving education should be the priority.
Ghadah, apparently the father made an official complains. I can’t imagine myself in his place though.
Thank you for this thoughtful and heartfelt post. How can I follow your blog? Do you have a Twitter account? Thanks, Erin
Hi Erin, Thanks for your nice words. I really appreciate it. You can follow my blog by selecting the follow option at the bottom of the page. And my twitter account is under my name – laura boushnak.