Baldness is no disability

Published on Wednesday 16 April 2008 21:05

SOMETIMES men who sport a Yul Brynner haircut not of their own choice are made to suffer from misguided insults by ignorant folk. In the Old Testament, the prophet Elisha was mocked for his baldness by no fewer than 42 "little children". Rather than get an Asbo, he cursed his tormentors in the name of the Lord. Immediately two hungry bears appeared and ate the offending youths.

Unfortunately, teacher James Campbell did not have access to the influence Elisha possessed. Instead, he took Falkirk Council to an employment tribunal, pleading that he was subject to harassment by his pupils on account of his bald pate; that his lack of hair merited him being classified medically "impaired" under the Disability Discrimination Act; and claiming compensation for constructive dismissal when he could no longer cope with the insults.

While there is evidence that bald people suffer discrimination in job interviews, the tribunal was correct not to include baldness as a physical disability. Mr Campbell's anguish may have been genuine and deserves our sympathy, but to have accepted his plea would have taken political correctness to new heights of fancy.

Mr Campbell might content himself by remembering that Julius Caesar, Winston Churchill and Pablo Picasso were all bald and that did not stop them making a mark on the world.