Should This Boy's Long Hair Keep Him Out of School?

aw, he's too precious, but that's texas for you. in my hometown, facial hair used to be against the law and is still strictly prohibited in schools and any workplace.

He's got the right to an education. Period.

If having long hair is in his heritage,then why shouldn't that adorable boy have the right to have an education like the other children.I love his beautiful long hair.

IMO, a school has the right to dictate students' appearances only if it is directly related to the safety and ability to learn of the other students. I don't see how hair applies. I'm sure there are girls with longer hair.

That is ridiculous. Let the poor kid alone.

I voted no just cuz he's a native american and we have to respect them.

Ummmm if I remember correctly...isn't the US like a democracy???

Where cultural practices come in, the school has no right to interfere. Long hair is more than just a tradition among native peoples, it's an identity.

Are they serious? Come on now - it's his culture. And even if it wasn't, what's that got to do with being able to attend school? So stupid.

I dont believe he should be kept out of school. But if it were tradition for him to have long PINK hair, would that be acceptable? I just dont know where the line is drawn.

What's worse? The school keeping him out of school because of a dress code or the parents who keep him out of school to make a statement?
Donate it to Locks of Love and go get your learn on.

I can see where both sides are coming from. The school board doesnt want him to be a "distraction" and the parents see it as an infringement on thier religion.

I think it's stupid--and while I can see why some of you would think it's also the parents' fault...well, I don't know, I don't really think they are trying to "make a statement". It's what they believe and as far as beliefs go I think having long hair is pretty tame. Stupid and racist, IMO. And, uh, don't you think it's hard enough for this kid to be a total minority as it is, and then to be discriminated against for his hair? Just thinking about that Chris Rock routine..."When was the last time you saw 2 Native Americans? I have seen a polar bear ride a tricycle in my life, but I ain't never seen 2 Native Americans together". Yeah, I always revert to Chris Rock...

Also that kid is ridiculously adorable. Seriously.

I can see why the kid might be teased--I thought he was a girl.
If the parents can comfortably send their kid to another school, I'm sure the school board wins.
Do I think any *public* school should be allowed to make such strict hairstyle regulations? No.

So I've been thinking about this post all morning and thought it might be helpful for other people to have some quick background. As someone who spent part of their childhood on a reservation, I have had some experience with why this is such a sore spot for many native families.

A generation ago, most native kids were sent to "Indian Schools" designed to integrate them into the white American way of life. While at these boarding schools, native kids were forbidden to dress traditionally, speak their native languages, or grow their hair long. Many native people grow their hair as a sign of who they are, and I would think of it as no different than a muslim person wanting to wear a headscarf.

Here's an interesting, althought admittedly one-sided argument about it: http://www.kporterfield.com/aicttw/articles/boardingschool.html

Sorry this comment is so long, but I think it's important for people to get the whole picture. Thanks for listening!

That's Texas for you.

Since this is a public school, I don't think they have the right to tell the kids how to wear their hair. Unless he has lice or something, but then it's a health concern. I think school dress codes are out of control, as long as the kids aren't wearing sexually suggestive clothing or curse words or something, let them wear what they want. Long hair, pink hair, whatever.
Also, I want to know whether the little girls are allowed to have long hair at this school.

liltandweave, thanks for that comment and article. Very informative!

No wonder the American education system is a joke to most other countries. The time we waste trying to villafy folks for their cultural background could easily be spent teaching children to read and do math. This school is system must be full of doo-doo head dummies to think hair on a guy is a distraction.

Not only is this a question of cultural identity (racism?) but also sexism.

It's offensive to both men and women, honestly, and reinforces traditional gender roles (it's okay for and expected for women to have long hair but men cannot).

In my senior year of high school, the school tried to change the dress code to help combat gang violence that was happening not on school grounds. Most of the changes were targeted towards women and ethnic minorities. And in my opinion, that's exactly where most school dress codes in public schools are targeted at.

As a part of his culture that is absolutely discrimination. that is the problem with schools, they will focus on anything before education. Unless he is disrupting the class and causing trouble, let the kid be!

This is ridiculous. Just let the kid have long hair. Little girls can have long hair. I think my biggest problem with them not letting him have long hair is that it's his cultural heritage. I don't think he should have to cut it. Maybe they could compromise and have him braid it or pull it back to go to school, but not actually cut it.

I agree with Pretty Warrior! Public schools should not have the right to be so discriminatory. If it were a private school, they would have the right to set their own standards, but public schools owe education to everyone as long as they're not interfering with the learning of the other students!

Thank you for your insightful and heartfelt comments, liltandweave.

how will having long hair affect his learning and the learning of others?
So stupid. Everyone has the right to education, no ifs, ands, or buts.

This is public school, and all students have a right to attend. For me (a teacher in a public school system), that's as far as it goes. It is our PRIVILEGE as much as our duty to serve all children equally.

Unless the tradition in question has some significant affect on this or other students' ability to learn (it does not, and I assume that girls are allowed to wear their hair as long as they like), or poses a hazard somehow (health concerns? How about a braid? And again, what about the girls?), then there are no grounds for keeping him out of school.

Blagh. THIS is why the education system is such a joke. My district spends thousands of dollars a year on legal defense. Meanwhile, my textbooks are twelve years old...

Would they make a Sikh boy remove his turban and cut his hair?

Methinks the answer to that is a definite "no."

So they shouldn't make this kid cut his hair. It doesn't hurt anyone, and it poses no hazard other than that of being "different." Shame on Texas.

That's pretty ridiculous. I can kindof see where the school is coming from, but I think as long as it's kept clean and out of the way it shouldn't be a problem. I would understand the argument that if it's dirty and all over the place it might be a distraction, but since that doesn't seem to be the problem, I think the school board should just get over it.

To answer the question of whether or not we are a democracy:

No, we are a republic and "democracy" is a buzz word and mostly marketing hype, so the people feel as though power is derived from them. Please refer to PoliSci 101, if you still think otherwise.

The school district has a right to come up with all sorts of asinine rules. There are avenues and things taxpayers can do to protest said rules. A religious exception loophole may work, but it will take some effort on the parents' part.

The kid has a right to an education (if he follows the rules) and a right to home school, the right to find a new school district, and the right to find an attorney.

I haven't heard of this little town, but the best part about little towns is you can find the school board members easily and chat them up.

I wish the kid luck and I hope he isn't teased mercilessly about this controversy or his hair. His hair is pretty cool.

Somebody SOMEWHERE has to disagree with this and I'd like to see what their reasons are... otherwise, he'd be in school right now.

i want to know why the people who said YES chose that answer.

just because he has long hair doesn't mean he shouldn't get an education.if he wants long hair let him have long hair.

oh gees.....this is ridiculous. Hope this kind of thing doesn't happen in Canada anytime soon

any argument the school gave wouldn't stand up in court...there are strict anti-discrimination laws when it comes to presentation and appearance in a public school. a certain hair length, etc, cannot be dictated unless it is imposed upon everyone equally (boys AND girls)

Do they also not let African American children not wear afros or cornrows? If they do not, then they are really uptight about their school. If so, then the kid should be allowed to celebrate his heritage via his hair style as well.

That definitely seems unconstitutional to me!! I can understand that the school district might not want the kid to be psychologically scarred if he were to get picked on because of his long hair..but to require him to cut his hair to attend school is a bit much! There are plenty of other schools and school districts out there that would probably take him in with open arms.. I hope he and his family find a way for him to obtain an education in the most peaceful way possible.

I think this actually has more to do with gender roles and expectations than with cultural bias. If a girl had long hair, she wouldn't be told to cut it (I assume) and so it is questioning our expectations of what a boy should look like, act like, dress like and what a girl should.

Perhaps as a compromise, there should be a rule stating that ANY child with long hair has to have it pulled back from thier face or something so that if it's a safety concern, at least the hair is somewhat controlled.

My son has to shave any facial hair and have his side burns short and the top of his hair short. I understand this and go along with it because even though we do not like the rules there will always be rules you have to follow in the world.

With this case though it is different. If the child is Native American and following the Native American religion then I do not think they should make him cut his head. We bend the rules for other religions and beliefs why not the Native American.

I guess i fail to understand why his hair is an issue at all. I could understand if they said that he would have to put it up, or keep it out of his face and such for safety reasons, but to make him cut it off is absurd. I really don't see any valid argument that would require a young child to cut his hair, especially if its not hurting anyone. Would they require girls to have long hair, or not have too short hair? i think its just a form of discrimination.

@CYL - although not directly related, a Canadian woman in Ontario was fired from her job for shaving her head for a cancer research charity.
Also, we have the debate in Toronto over there being a separate school system from African-Americans (as willed for by African Americans).
Le sigh. can't we all just get along?

"No. He has the right to have long hair and get an education."

One of my very good friends is married to a Native American and I understand that there is quite a lot of discrimination towards her children in school. It filters down from the teachers and bleeds into the kids to the point where her son is picked on, sometimes in very violent ways.

I can't help but think that it would be far more beneficial to teach tolerance by way of understanding rather than debate about the length of his hair and attempt to bar him from school. In fact I think a lot of issues could be solved this way. Tolerance is the issue. That and his human rights.

how the heck does his hair have ANYTHING to do with his education?!

ONE WORD LICE

"ONE WORD LICE"

Kids with all lengths of hair get lice. This boy's hair is a non-issue. It appears to be a matter of bigotry instead.

Y'all please stop with the "Omg. That's Texas for you." mess.

It's a big state, lots of it is rural, but lots of it isn't. Not everywhere is conservative, and not all Texans are Bible beaters who want all children to conform to a certain appearance.

I could understand it if it were a private school, but it is not. The kid has the right to attend school regardless of how his hair looks. If I were that kid's parents, I would retain a lawyer and fight the school board. I am sure there are plenty of lawyers who would take this case pro bono.

I'm a public school teacher and we DO have a dress code that's described in our student handbook. However, it's very reasonable and "common sense" in a lot of ways...and it has nothing in it about how a student should or shouldn't wear his/her hair.

I think this is crossing the line.

I watched a video snippet on this and saw that the mother braids his hair everyday, so it's not in his face or in the way. It's not disruptive, it's just the board trying to discriminate. If he can't have long hair, neither can the girls as far as I'm concerned. I'm glad that most people agree on here, i think it's sad that some people don't try to understand other culture and just want to them to conform and "move on". Anyway, this article was on LilSugar a while ago and I wanted to contact someone to let my opinion be know so If you wanted to contact someone about this, you could e-mail the school district Superintendent Curtis Rhodes. He was pushing for them to Not allow the boy in.
rhodesc@needvilleisd.com
I e-mailed him a week ago and never heard back

I can see both points of view, but since it is long for a religious/cultural reason, he should not be barred from school.

it is PUBLIC SCHOOL