Boy suspended for wearing his hair too long

[mhsjax]

It looks like the mother wants her 15 minutes of fame. Too bad it's at the expense of her son. I taught 3 and 4 year olds for years, and I never met a little boy who cared so deeply about his hair. Little boys do not want to look like little girls, and when I saw his photo, my first thought was that this little guy better be a good fighter*. Though the mother says this is what he wants, I bet he'd rather cut his hair (if he cares at all) and be with the other kids.

To the mother: your school (like society) has its norms and/or rules, good or bad, and if you want to buck the system, be prepared for the reactions of others. If that's ok with you, fine, but don't ostracize a 4 year old and set him up for constant in-school suspension so you can get attention


*sarcasm

Then you never met my kid. At 4 he did not want us to touch his hair, it is only after he started playing sports that he wanted it short, but he didn't like it, so it is long again.

I do not agree with people that say rules have to be followed, you can challenge rules and maybe this mom can get that rule changed.
Maybe the school should focus on more important things like keeping the truly delinquent kids out of school. There are so many problem kids out there, but they seem to have all the rights, yet a child with long hair, who apparently isn't doing anything wrong can get suspended. Talk about overkill. This is why the public school system is failing, They can't see the forest for the trees.

 

[JessicaR]

I saw a TV interview with the mother, and she was a bit over the top. The little boy didn't really seem to care about his hair.

If she doesn't like the rules of the school district, there are other options for the child's education, including home schooling. As things are now, the little boy is segregated from the other children, and I wonder how this affects his social development.

Or if she doesn't like it or think it is fair she can fight to change it. Especially since like I stated above others have longer hair than Taylors and have not been suspended. The little boy has been separated from his friends for a couple of days I would imagine that wont have any long term effects. Just another way of looking at things.

 

[happygirl]

My heart break for this little boy.His parents are trying to make a statement at his expense

 

[disykat]

I don't know aything about this family but it is possible this little boy likes his hair. I imagine at 4-5 it is completely likely that he does have an opinion. That aside policies change ALL the time and this could open the door for that.
Like I said without knowing his parents it would be very wrong to say the mom wants her 15 minutes of fame. Thats just pure speculation.

IF the mother quietly took her son home and left him there or at another school where he could thrive while she petitioned and fought this issue so he could return, I might agree with you. She chose to let her son sit it the library for several months on suspension and involve his picture in the press. He is four. I doesn't HAVE to be in school yet. She could have kept him out of this.

 

[Soarin08]

My son has very long hair and I'd defend his right to do that at almost any cost. We don't live in a small minded, backwards area so it's not an issue, thank good ness. The dress code here consists of 'no profanity or off color tee shirt slogans/photos- no underwear showing-clothes and shoes must be worn.' Long hair is not 'disruptive' unless you're an old fogie, lol!

Wow. So obviously you consider anyone who has rules that you think are dumb backwards? Pretty pathetic, if you ask me. To me, the parents are at fault in this story. Either they follow the rules or enroll the kid elsewhere or homeschool him and get him out of such a "backwards" school.

I think dress codes should be followed, including hair. Long hair on boys does not fly if you are a CM, so it should not be allowed in public places such as school. It just looks untidy on a young boy. Flame away if you must, but that is how I feel. I attended three schools- one private, one public, and one religious- and all three, INCLUDING PUBLIC, had rules concerning the length of boys' hair. Guess we were backwards, though.

 

[Bluestars]

It sounds like another case of parents thinking the rules don't apply to their child. If they don't want their child to follow rules, then they should home school and hope the child never works for someone else.

 

[hentob]

"I been working so hard
I'm punching my card
Eight hours. For what?
Oh, tell me what I got...."



Scary stuff going on in 2010

A boy can't have long hair in a taxpayer funded facility? Even if said hair is clean and neat

Nuts.

 

[Bluestars]

Does taxpayer funded mean they don't have the authority to create rules? I am not familiar with the rules in other taxpayer funded places, but I would not be surprised if a neat appearance and short hair for men was a requirement.

 

[EMom]

But see - that's the problem right there.. If you enroll your child in a school; a sport; girl scouts; boy scouts; - whatever - you know the "rules" upfront.. That is the time to make your decision as to whether you feel the rules are valid - and IF you want to place your child in that situation - knowing full well that you will be expected to adhere to those rules.. If the rules are not to your liking, obviously the logical choice is to not enroll your child in the "whatever" and choose an alternative that has rules that you ARE willing to abide by..

Basically this child is being punished because his mother has entitlement issues.. "She" has taken it upon herself to decide that "her" child isn't required to follow the same rules that the other boys are.. So what does that teach her child? That "rules" only apply to "others" - not him..

I see some long, ugly school years ahead - for the son - and for the school officials that have to deal with his mom and her entitlement issues..

You have hit the nail on the head. Mama knows the rules, but wants a pass because they are not to her liking. The handwriting is on the wall.....She is going to want one exception after another for her long-tressed little snowflake. But truly....it's all about HER.

Dress codes like this are extremely common in Texas. Yes, we often have "hair codes." We always have. And what's more, no matter how many times parents challenge them, they always stand. So let Mama spend her cash on a lawyer instead of a barber. Are the kid's hair follicles THAT important to her? Important enough to have him educated in the library? Well, that tells me where her priorities are....

When it is all said and done, this is about Mama and not the little boy. He probably has years ahead of him suffering for one of Mama's "causes." Poor kid.

 

[MichelleVW]

My heart break for this little boy.His parents are trying to make a statement at his expense

I agree...I've seen this story a few times since it's local and I think the parents are whackos looking for attention.

 

[hentob]

Long hair on boys does not fly if you are a CM, so it should not be allowed in public places such as school.

Huh? I don't understand this What are you saying? The rules that apply to WDW must apply to real life? Strange.

It just looks untidy on a young boy.

I have witnessed MANY little girls with untidy long hair. Your argument is weak.

 

[JessicaR]

. Long hair on boys does not fly if you are a CM, so it should not be allowed in public places such as school. It just looks untidy on a young boy. Flame away if you must, but that is how I feel. I attended three schools- one private, one public, and one religious- and all three, INCLUDING PUBLIC, had rules concerning the length of boys' hair. Guess we were backwards, though.

CM meaning what, a Disney employee? This is the real world and Disney doesn't set the standards. So because Disney CM's aren't allowed to have long hair it shouldn't be allowed in ANY public spaces anywhere including schools? Really?

 

[Soarin08]

Huh? I don't understand this What are you saying? The rules that apply to WDW must apply to real life? Strange.

What I am saying is that long hair on boys in public places that have rules against it is ridiculous. I was just using my experiences at WDW to illustrate my point. Call me weak, but I find 90% of the other arguments here equally so.

Not only that, but this mother of the child is an idiot. Is she going to fight the school system when the curriculum, homework, or some other district standard isn't what SHE thinks it needs to be? She needs to get her fifteen minutes of fame and get lost. Seriously, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill...

 

[hentob]

Does taxpayer funded mean they don't have the authority to create rules? I am not familiar with the rules in other taxpayer funded places, but I would not be surprised if a neat appearance and short hair for men was a requirement.

I just can't see how it is legal to allow a girl to have long hair and force a boy to have short hair in order to receive a public education WHY? WHY is that rule in place?


There are men with long hair that are doctors, lawyers, engineers, IT Managers, dentists, etc. It is not for me (DH has short hair, as do my sons), but as long as it is neat and clean WHY can't boys have long hair?

Yes rules are rules. At one time, women couldn't vote. Should they have just sat back and said "Oh well. It is a rule. It must be correct!"

There is NO good reason why a boy can't have long hair. Not-a-One. It is a very strange rule that SHOULD be questioned.

 

[Briarmom]

I think dress codes should be followed, including hair. Long hair on boys does not fly if you are a CM, so it should not be allowed in public places such as school. It just looks untidy on a young boy. Flame away if you must, but that is how I feel. I attended three schools- one private, one public, and one religious- and all three, INCLUDING PUBLIC, had rules concerning the length of boys' hair. Guess we were backwards, though.

What the hell? If employees of a theme park can't do something, it shouldn't be allowed in public? Sorry folks, if you have a tattoo, don't bother going to Target.

 

[KirstenB]

I have to wonder if this poor child is this mother's firstborn and only child If Mom thinks this grooming requirement is just too much--I can't wait for her to start critiqueing curriculum, PTA/PTO fund raising efforts and the amount of homework that junior gets. This kid just doesn't have a chance since he'll always be "the kid whose mother went toe to toe with the schoolboard over long hair on a BOY!!". She should let junior focus on learning, insure he goes to an excellent university, get that advanced degree in rocket science, win the Nobel Peace prize and THEN he can grow his hair any old way he wants.

This is what I was thinking. Seriously, she chose an issue of grooming to be her hill to die on? Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!

 

[JessicaR]

Some of you believe that the Mom is doing this to get attention. Attention is exactly what should be brought to this ridiculous rule. I asked many posts ago why it is OK for a girl but not a boy. Hasnt been answered yet. Very close minded. A little diversity goes a long way. Maybe he should be made to ride the back of the bus too, sound familiar.

 

[KristaTX]

I just caught the story about this on the local news. It was the first I'd heard about it.

The little boy had his hair up in a super tight pony tail right on top of his head. It looked ridiculously uncomfortable, and totally reminded me of that hideous hairstyle all the girls get at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique .

 

[MichelleVW]

I just can't see how it is legal to allow a girl to have long hair and force a boy to have short hair in order to receive a public education WHY? WHY is that rule in place?


.

Tons of Texas schools are going to school uniforms...my guess is that's the same thing as requiring boys to cut their hair.

 

[Bluestars]

I just can't see how it is legal to allow a girl to have long hair and force a boy to have short hair in order to receive a public education WHY? WHY is that rule in place?


There are men with long hair that are doctors, lawyers, engineers, IT Managers, dentists, etc. It is not for me (DH has short hair, as do my sons), but as long as it is neat and clean WHY can't boys have long hair?

Yes rules are rules. At one time, women couldn't vote. Should they have just sat back and said "Oh well. It is a rule. It must be correct!"

There is NO good reason why a boy can't have long hair. Not-a-One. It is a very strange rule that SHOULD be questioned.

Long hair on men is not permitted where I work. In fact, it has not been permitted in any job I have ever had. Just like a guy wearing a dress wouldn't go over too well either. It's part of the culture. There are some careers where things like that might not matter, but they are in the minority.

A school needs to set standards. If one of the standards is no long hair on boys, then the parents should obey that rule. You can't pick and choose which rules you want to follow if you want to attend a school or work at a certain place.

I think some parents just like to fight authority. I feel sorry for people who work at public schools and have to deal with these types of people. Bless them all.