After being on hold on the phone for 15 minutes, I hung up and called back. The assistant vice principal, the one who called me initially, said that they were in a meeting with the principal, and also the security guard and another teacher to decide what constitutes a "head covering". Apparently students are not allowed to wear hats, scarves, or anything else that covers the whole head. She told me that it was decided that what Lauren had on was okay. I told the asst. vp that I was ready to call every news organization I could think of, and that I also had a picture that I took of the girls this morning in their patriotic outfits and that I was going to send it to every newspaper I could think of. I am not a fighting person, but believe me, they were going to have a fight on their hands that they would not want. I was also ready to march down to that school and have them pull out every girl who had any kind of hair adornment in their hair. I am still furious. I was told that a teacher reported Lauren and that is why they called her down to the office. Also, get this, the students were told yesterday that today would be a red, white and blue day and to dress accordingly if they so wished. This is a PUBLIC school, not private. Lauren got on the phone and told me to come get her so she could get changed because now she feels stupid. I spoke to her calmly for a few minutes and I told her that I thought she looked adorable and to not cave in to ridiculous comments. I told her to stand up for her rights. She was so proud of herself and her friends, as was I. Here are three high school juniors who are doing something other than talking about boys, who spent their own money to make these outfits, and then are told to go home and get changed. I just don't get it. I see some of the outfits that some girls wear to school every day, skirts up to their butts, cleavage hanging out of their shirts, and my daughter gets sent home for wear a "hair" band!!! That is exactly what it was, approximately 2 inches in diameter, red in color, and with the letters USA on it. It was not in her eyes, covering her forehead, or covering her whole head. It was a hairband. She also had on jeans, and a shirt that covered everything, including her belly button, which I see girls flaunting every day in totally inappropriate school attire.
I am relieved that the school backed down, but can you imagine them singling this out on today of all days. I am still tempted to write a letter to the newspapers. I would love to know which teacher reported her, but the asst. vp wouldn't tell me, she said it's against policy. I told her that it was hard enough to get kids interested in school, and that teens had enough problems with every day life. I just can't believe they did this today. I am so UPSET, can you tell. Thanks for listening.
