TEACHER FORCED DYING 11-YEAR-OLD WITH ALOPECIA TO REMOVE HER WIG

The mother of a terminally ill 11-year-old with alopecia said her daughter was forced to remove a  wig she wore to school as it might encourage others to dye their hair.

Ashanti Elliott-Smith suffers from a rare disease which causes her body to age eight times faster than normal and means she is not expected to live past the age of 15.

The pupil at Oakmeeds Community College, West Sussex, was told to take the wig off by a teacher because it was 'not cold in the school' and she felt so humiliated that she has not wanted return.

Ashanti & Mum, -nothing compares to a Mother's love

Her mother, Phoebe Smith, said: 'She was devastated when they told her to take it off. Her little heart was broken. It's disgusting. It is bright but she should have the right to wear whatever colour hair she wants.'

'She was so proud of her hair but this has put her on a downer.

'When I took her into school three teachers by the office said she looked glamorous and beautiful and said how lovely her wig was.

'But as soon as I turned my back they told her to remove it. It was so embarrassing for her.

'It was the first time she wore the wig into school and she has not been back in since last Thursday.

'It's a pink wig, come on, other children would have understood. I have only got a few years left with her so we want her to live it to the full.'

Ashanti's rare condition, Hutchinson Gilford Progeria, causes symptoms including stunted growth, hair loss, weight loss, wrinkled skin, stiff joints, and heart disease.

The pink wig was donated by friends as Ashanti's family struggles to afford human hair wigs.

Ms Smith said: 'There is no rule about terminally ill children not being able to wear wigs.

'She looks a lot different to other children. We get a lot of bad comments about Ashanti and this knocked her right back.' 

A student, Kate Boyd, commenting on Facebook, said: 'She suffers with alopecia and I think she should be allowed to wear a wig to school if it makes her confident and... makes her feel like anyone else at school.' 

Colin Taylor, Headteacher Oakmeeds Community College, said: 'Ashanti attended school in a large purple wig which was the first time she had appeared in school wearing a wig or any form of head wear.

'Her Learning Mentor, who meets her every morning and supports her throughout the day along with a Learning Support Assistant, spoke to the Head of Year about it.

'It was agreed by the Director of Inclusion and Head of Year that Ashanti would wear the wig home but not in lessons because it was not cold in the school and she had never wanted to wear one before.

 culled from dailymail.uk