Whose side are you on?

[EMom]

Our son was accepted to this school for Kindergarten but we decided to put him in our public school instead. I do remember that the screening was pretty lengthy and involved many meetings with the parents. They are very upfront with the dress code and what is expected of the kids in regards to uniforms, grooming standards and behavioral standards. This is not a school that you would want to send your kid to if he just had to have a mohawk as they make it well known that any deviation from their standards are not allowed.

So from this post and your more detailed subsequent posts, you don't HAVE to send a child here, rather it is a CHOICE? They make it clear that they have fairly strict standards regarding grooming, etc. and even discussed hair to such an extent that you got the idea a mohawk would be unacceptable. So far, so good? Yet this mother CHOOSES to send her child to this school, knowing full well she will be challenging their standards from Day One instead of sending him to a school that will not blink an eye at his mohawk?

Just as I thought....The school spotted a *&%$-stirring PIA and decided to nip it in the bud, starting with the mohawk, rather than butt heads with her for years to come. The school probably has plenty of kids whose parents would love to send them there and would not get in the administration's face at every given opportunity. Again, I do not think this is about the little boy's fervent desire for a mohawk and his mom's need to support it. No, it's about mom's need to challenge authority. If this school has leeway about which children they accept or decline, in their shoes I'd be thrilled to see the screen door hit this mom's backside on her way out.

 

[Humphrey Bear]

So from this post and your more detailed subsequent posts, you don't HAVE to send a child here, rather it is a CHOICE? They make it clear that they have fairly strict standards regarding grooming, etc. and even discussed hair to such an extent that you got the idea a mohawk would be unacceptable. So far, so good? Yet this mother CHOOSES to send her child to this school, knowing full well she will be challenging their standards from Day One instead of sending him to a school that will not blink an eye at his mohawk?

Just as I thought....The school spotted a *&%$-stirring PIA and decided to nip it in the bud, starting with the mohawk, rather than butt heads with her for years to come. The school probably has plenty of kids whose parents would love to send them there and would not get in the administration's face at every given opportunity. Again, I do not think this is about the little boy's fervent desire for a mohawk and his mom's need to support it. No, it's about mom's need to challenge authority. If this school has leeway about which children they accept or decline, in their shoes I'd be thrilled to see the screen door hit this mom's backside on her way out.

Yes it is a choice to go there. You have to apply and meet their academic and behavorial standards. We just didn't feel like it was our cup of tea so to speak and chose to send our son to a public school as we have an excellent one right by us.

 

[coles1mom]

Glad my Mom never felt the need to play barber. I must admit, that is a bad haircut, not because it's a mohawk, but just an uneven mess. Poor child.
So judging from the picture, the hair is not neat and well groomed.

Judi

 

[disykat]

If it had been a first "offense," I'd be siding with the mom, but it's not - they've had three warnings. Someone called the press - hmm. That mom should be ashamed of herself - using her son that way.

Schools have a right to make rules.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Me again...

No, public school - the military is NOT a proper analogy...
We all know that our military has it's own expectations, laws, procedures... separate and different than what is applied to all other U.S. citizens... Our public schools should not.

In NO way to I think that it is appropriate for the government, or any government institution, to tell anyone in the general population how to style their hair. It is downright scary to see how many people actually would accept this. Downright scary.

Yes, of course a totally private school would have the right to set their own parameters.. But, if this school accepts government funds, does not charge tuition, and is a part of our public school system... There is NO doubt in my mind that to expell somebody due to their hairstyle is discrimination. Pure and simple. All children in the district should have equal opportunity to apply for and attend a publicly funded charter school, based on their academic acheivements, their merit, their performance, etc.. but NOT their appearance.

Frankly I find it distrurbing that it is getting to the point that we and our children are expected to check our civil rights at the public school door.

 

[Wishing on a star]

If it had been a first "offense," I'd be siding with the mom, but it's not - they've had three warnings. Someone called the press - hmm. That mom should be ashamed of herself - using her son that way.

Schools have a right to make rules.

I do agree... it is just sad that this mom is dragging her son thru this...

Unfortunately I see no way for anyone in this situation to fight for their child's civil rights, without the child being involved in some way..

Yes, all institutions have rules.. But, when a public government institution makes rules that infringe on our personal freedoms.. That IS a problem.

Clothng, as in a school dress code, can be chucked at the door.. when living ones life outside of the school building, one has the right to dress as they please.. However, you can't change your haircut at the classroom door... By trying to enforce this so called 'rule' they are infringing on this child's right to wear his hair as he wishes in his won private life outside of the school building. IMHO they are indeed treading on a slippery slope when it comes to our personal civil rights and freedoms.

 

[hentob]

Frankly I find it distrurbing that it is getting to the point that we and our children are expected to check our civil rights at the public school door.

I find that haircut disturbing. Ewww.

It should not be legal to do that to a child

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

WOW... Just incredible...

It is in no way acceptable for a public government agency (or any individual within a public government agency) to dictate how one styles their hair!!!! (A private school/institution where the parent has made the choice to enroll is, of course, a different matter.)

How quick we are to give away the freedoms and rights, and the so called 'acceptance' and freedom of discrimination that so many Americans have given their lives for...

This is a charter school. As stated by a PP there is quite an application process to go through to get in. I believe (I may be wrong, don't know much about Charter schools) that charter schools write their own guidelines and rules as opposed to the school districts? Like I said, I may be wrong.

Our son was accepted to this school for Kindergarten but we decided to put him in our public school instead. I do remember that the screening was pretty lengthy and involved many meetings with the parents. They are very upfront with the dress code and what is expected of the kids in regards to uniforms, grooming standards and behavioral standards. This is not a school that you would want to send your kid to if he just had to have a mohawk as they make it well known that any deviation from their standards are not allowed.

So the mom can take her kid to another school in her district, which may or may not have the same policy.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Charter school or not... they are a public school... part of the public school system.. they should offer ALL children the opportunity to attend, based on academic performance, acheivement, etc.. without discrimination based on appearance. Why would being a charter school give them the right to discriminate?

 

[Wishing on a star]

I find that haircut disturbing. Ewww.

It should not be legal to do that to a child

I know that you are just being funny!!!

But, in all seriousness, any adult who would find a little kid's haircut so 'disturbing' has some heavy issues... It is not like they had a swastika cut into his hair.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I voted for the school.

He is 6. 6 years old. That means Kindergarten or 1st grade.

I understand letting the kids express themselves in different hair styles as they get older. But he is 6. If that is what this kid is doing now, what kind of hair is he going to have a 12 when just a Mohawk is too common?

And yes I think it would be distracting in my DD's class.

I also think the school has asked him 3 times before not to get the cut again. It was blatant "I am going to do what I want, screw you." from the mom.

I really doubt the kid would mind at all if he was told to save the shaved cuts for the summer time.

oh and I think it looks really bad too.

 

[MM27]

We had a kid last year in one of our 3rd grades that came to school toward the end of the year with a mohawk. Really high, pointy one in fact. The kid got a lot of attention for the day and came in the next day with the thing shaved off completely.

I don't know who I side with. One side of me says the school shouldn't be telling the parent what to do with the kids hair. The other side is saying, who gives a 6 year old a mohawk?

 

[poohandwendy]

Charter school or not... they are a public school... part of the public school system.. they should offer ALL children the opportunity to attend, based on academic performance, acheivement, etc.. without discrimination based on appearance. Why would being a charter school give them the right to discriminate?

They offer it to qualifying students and they have rules regarding appearance. (most public schools have rules regarding appearance)

Not sure if you read the entire thread but many times the courts have upheld the schools rights to regulate hairstyle. It's not considered discrimination.

This court held in Ferrell v. Dallas Independent School District [citation omitted] * * * that it was proper for school authorities to establish rules and regulations in the interest of school management and this included a hairstyle regulation. We have not denied school authorities in this circuit the right to promulgate reasonable regulations concerning hairstyles. Such regulations and regulations which deal generally with dress and the like are a part of the disciplinary process which is necessary in maintaining a balance as between the rights of individual students and the rights of the whole in the functioning of schools. The touchstone for sustaining such regulations is the demonstration that they are necessary to alleviate interference with the educational process. Ferrell v. Dallas Independent School System, supra, at p. 703. That such regulations may be necessary and, if so, that they may be promulgated and enforced, is also clear from the tenor of Tinker v. Des Moines [Independent] Community School District, 1969, 393 U.S. 503, 89 S. Ct. 733, 21 L. Ed. 2d 731. Griffin v. Tatum, 425 F.2d 201, 203 (5th Cir. 1970).

 

[poohandwendy]

As an aside, I think it's interesting how many people seem to think that because a school is public that students are free to do whatever they want (protected by our constitutional rights in every way). That couldn't be further from the truth. There are many, many rules that public schools have in place because they have to provide ALL students with a non-disruptive educational environment.

Truth is, if you do something to your appearance to 'get noticed', chances are people are going to notice you. And when that happens, there is possibly someone who may be distracted by your appearance. Especially in an educational environment.

Anyone here been in a kindergarten classroom? Any idea how hard it can be to keep a whole room full of 5-6 yo focused on their work instead of any minor distraction? These rules are in place, not to make some sort of Stepford society and squash the individual expression of youth, but to nurture the best educational environment possible for a diverse group of students.