Long hair gets boy in-school suspension

**Dakota Valkyrie** · December 16th, 2009, 01:45 PM

Taylor Pugh likes his hair long - just below his ears and along his collar in the back. He likes it longer in front.

The Mesquite school district's dress code says that is too long and told him and his mother that it would have to be cut.

[...]
"The policy says students can't go to class out of dress code," Associate Superintendent Cathy Rideout said, but added "a student will not be excluded from school" because of the dress code. She said she was not speaking about Taylor's situation, but about district policy.

Ms. Taylor said she first was told her son would be dismissed from school. Then school administrators set up the separate lessons with a teacher.
[...]

Students who violate the dress code often are placed in in-school suspension - a separate classroom where they do their work outside of their regular classroom.

http://mesquiteblog.dallasnews.com/a...te-prekin.html

Taylor is 4-years old and attends prekindergarten at Floyd Elementary School for 2 1/2 hours a day.

**battery jackson** · December 16th, 2009, 01:51 PM

sounds more like a communist re-education camp

oh wait that's what school is now

**Valasca** · December 16th, 2009, 01:54 PM

Wait... what year is this?
It's not the 50s anymore, right?

**Obsolete** · December 16th, 2009, 01:56 PM

Is anyone else singing Pink Floyd's "The Wall" in their head right now?

**Echo** · December 16th, 2009, 01:59 PM

He is so cute!

**Pene784** · December 16th, 2009, 02:01 PM

I think if the mother wants her child to get his education at that school she needs to obey the dress code. Is letting her son have long hair that important. My daughter currently wants pink hair. Too bad for her. It is not allowed according to her dress code at school. Cut the boys hair and send him back to class. He can "express" himself other ways at home and with friends. He is there to receive an education.

And he is ADORABLE! Don't you just want to pinch his little cheeks.

**battery jackson** · December 16th, 2009, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Pene784

I think if the mother wants her child to get his education at that school she needs to obey the dress code. Is letting her son have long hair that important. My daughter currently wants pink hair. Too bad for her. It is not allowed according to her dress code at school. Cut the boys hair and send him back to class. He can "express" himself other ways at home and with friends. He is there to receive an education.

the kid is 4. the way you worded that just seems ridiculous, as if he's a high schooler or something

**Coyote** · December 16th, 2009, 02:29 PM

Schools can have such stupid rules. My boy definitely would have been kicked out at that age; his hair was much longer that this boys. Now my boy’s in high school he’s protesting their rule of no facial hair. He’s in 9th grade and has a lot more that his friends, and damn proud of it. He hasn’t shaved and hasn’t got called on it yet. He’s pushing the limits but I told him it’s fine with me. I don’t understand why it’s okay to go to school with 10 facial piercings, but not sideburns.

The parents of this boy are just taking a stand for what they feel’s right. I hate to see the boy being punished for it though.

**Pene784** · December 16th, 2009, 02:32 PM

the kid is 4. the way you worded that just seems ridiculous, as if he's a high schooler or something

It clearly says that is the way he likes his hair. I clearly stated that the MOM should do something about. Reread the post! I think MOM needs to grow up and pay attention to what is really important, her sons education.

**Obsolete** · December 16th, 2009, 02:42 PM

I can understand a dress code for clothing...not for hairstyle. How is a boy having long hair any different from a girl having long hair? My son wore his hair a bit longer in the front when he was in the 6th grade and one of his teachers told him he either had to cut his hair or wear barettes while in that class. There was nothing in that school's dress code that said my son couldn't have long hair but the teacher herself had issues with it. I met with the teacher about the issue and she chastized me for letting him wear his hair however he wanted. I explained to her that hairstyles are temporary, they dont hurt anyone, and that I was more concerned with my son's character and attitude than his hair. She agreed and apologized.

I wonder....are the girls in this school required to wear their hair a certain length?

**Saffron** · December 16th, 2009, 02:58 PM

This has got to be up there as one of the stupidest school stories ever. School dress codes should be this: No sex or drug promotion, cover all naughty bits, no religious or political statements, no underwear on display and clothes must fit properly. That's it. Any hairstyle is okay as long as it isn't dangerous (aka, two foot long spikes). Ridiculous crap.

**backlash** · December 16th, 2009, 03:07 PM

Wait, isn't this happening in "The Home of the Mullet"...aka Texas? Who are they to judge bad hair?

**battery jackson** · December 16th, 2009, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by Pene784

It clearly says that is the way he likes his hair. I clearly stated that the MOM should do something about. Reread the post! I think MOM needs to grow up and pay attention to what is really important, her sons education.

the mom disagreeing with the school and telling them they're absolutely ridiculous would be the best thing in regards to her son's education. she'd be a terrible

of a parent and setting a horrible precedent for her son's future if she just said "oh ok school, your wish is my command"

**Athena** · December 16th, 2009, 03:15 PM

If you want *free education for your kid, you have to deal with the rules. I agree that this specific rule isn't particularly logical, so I don't mind this mother questioning it, but in the meantime, she needs to abide by the the rules. If she's successful in overturning it, well, the great thing about hair is that it grows back.

* I use that term loosely.

**Pene784** · December 16th, 2009, 03:18 PM

If you want *free education for your kid, you have to deal with the rules. I agree that this specific rule isn't particularly logical, so I don't mind this mother questioning it, but in the meantime, she needs to abide by the the rules. If she's successful in overturning it, well, the great thing about hair is that it grows back.

That is exactly what I I meant, but did not say. Thank you Athena.

**TheDepressor** · December 16th, 2009, 03:33 PM

Both of my boys have long hair now. One is in the 3rd grade and the other is in 7th. This is so ridiculous! The school has nothing better to do than focus on hair? It's not like his hair is bright pink and causing a distraction. I would fight it too if I was the parent. I would not want my child to feel that they cannot be themselves or that there is something wrong with the way they look or what they like. While I can see the argument of the "free education," is it really free? Because I know my taxes were just raised again here in my township to expand the school budget. So, aren't I actually paying for it really?

**battery jackson** · December 16th, 2009, 03:33 PM

really it's so much bigger than just that though. this kid is fucking 4 and isnt even in full day real school yet, and they're that anal about THE LENGTH OF HAIR? i can't imagine what it's like once they become 5,6,7, and so on. when those kids grow up, they're gonna NEED rigid fascism, because the large majority will be clueless on how to do anything without being told or mandated. this is a phenomenon that is much bigger than public schools, but it really shows its ugly head there because it is the training and indoctrination facility for the future dead weight of the world. i don't understand how any individual person would not object to such a stupid, useless rule that achieves nothing except creating needless drama in a child and family's life for absolutely no good reason whatsoever. when i was 4, it was 1988. every boy in the fucking class including myself had one of those awful hick looking rat tail things that was the style for whiteboys in that day. and no it didn't affect one negatively. in fact i'd say that if there were rules against it as there seem to be today in the mental death camps they call public schools, it would be more damaging to the kid on a social development level and will certainly do no favors as far as his respect of authority is concerned.

at the rate we're going the kids who don't grow up to be compliant little medicated robots straight out of the book "the giver" will be bitter outlaws hellbent on destruction of ridiculous institutions and entities, and i will gladly take the latter group under my wing, because we will need them someday a lot more than we need all these rules and "order".

**TheDepressor** · December 16th, 2009, 03:37 PM

I almost groaned you battey because of the rat tail. Just kidding, kinda

**battery jackson** · December 16th, 2009, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Athena

If you want *free education for your kid, you have to deal with the rules. I agree that this specific rule isn't particularly logical, so I don't mind this mother questioning it, but in the meantime, she needs to abide by the the rules. If she's successful in overturning it, well, the great thing about hair is that it grows back.

* I use that term loosely.

i dont think she needs to do anything besides tell them to go fuck themselves. however, she might be better off moving because it doesnt seem like a community or school district worth raising a child in. you can go to school and maybe get the 3 R's, but the one R you're not gonna get is "reasonable"

**battery jackson** · December 16th, 2009, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by TheDepressor

I almost groaned you battey because of the rat tail. Just kidding, kinda

haha!!!! let me be, i know it was the golden age of hip-hop and shoulda been rocking a fade and listening to eric b & rakim, but i was only 4!

**battery jackson** · December 16th, 2009, 03:42 PM

one more question, how much of an education do you actually receive in pre-k for 2 1/2 hrs a day? i remember playing with tinkertoys, blocks, and other such awesome fun stuff. oh no the hair might block his eyes and he'll get hurt cuz he might not be able to see and then the school might get sued!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is THAT was this is really about???????????

**moonlilly1981** · December 16th, 2009, 03:42 PM

hes so cute.....this however is retarded. I want to see where exactly school policy states this.

**biteme** · December 16th, 2009, 05:06 PM

there are real issues out there folks, think I'll drink to that

**Dakota Valkyrie** · December 16th, 2009, 05:29 PM

Didn't put up the full article but there is bit of history with this school district from the article.

The Mesquite district is known for its conservative dress code. It was one of the first area districts with a dress code. As far back as the 1970s, the district gained national attention when it sent a 10-year-old boy home because his hair touched his collar.

And last month, Mesquite made radio talk shows again after Kimbrough Middle School told a boy wearing fashionable skinny pants to change or go home, District officials now say he was not told to go home; his mother chose to take him home.

http://mesquiteblog.dallasnews.com/a...te-prekin.html

**Athena** · December 16th, 2009, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by TheDepressor

I would fight it too if I was the parent. I would not want my child to feel that they cannot be themselves or that there is something wrong with the way they look or what they like.

If your kid's hairstyle defines them (especially at the age of 4), they've got bigger problems than ISS.

While I can see the argument of the "free education," is it really free? Because I know my taxes were just raised again here in my township to expand the school budget. So, aren't I actually paying for it really?

Did you have to neglect the asterisk? I will simply state that the cost to homeschool or send to private school significantly outweighs the percentage of annual taxation that is dedicated to education.

Originally Posted by battery jackson

i can't imagine what it's like once they become 5,6,7, and so on.

Um, it's a district policy, so, I'd imagine that, when he's 5, 6, 7 and so on, policy will be... the exact same.

when those kids grow up, they're gonna NEED rigid fascism, because the large majority will be clueless on how to do anything without being told or mandated. this is a phenomenon that is much bigger than public schools, but it really shows its ugly head there because it is the training and indoctrination facility for the future dead weight of the world.

Our parents went through school when rules were AT LEAST this strict, and mine didn't require rigid fascism. Did yours?

i don't understand how any individual person would not object to such a stupid, useless rule that achieves nothing except creating needless drama in a child and family's life for absolutely no good reason whatsoever. when i was 4, it was 1988. every boy in the fucking class including myself had one of those awful hick looking rat tail things that was the style for whiteboys in that day. and no it didn't affect one negatively. in fact i'd say that if there were rules against it as there seem to be today in the mental death camps they call public schools, it would be more damaging to the kid on a social development level and will certainly do no favors as far as his respect of authority is concerned. at the rate we're going the kids who don't grow up to be compliant little medicated robots straight out of the book "the giver" will be bitter outlaws hellbent on destruction of ridiculous institutions and entities, and i will gladly take the latter group under my wing, because we will need them someday a lot more than we need all these rules and "order".

LMAO @ "mental death camps". You're so melodramatic.

The drama is caused by the mother who decided to throw a fit rather than trim her kid's hair an inch. Again, whole generations of kids have been subjected to rules like this, and came out okay. It's a fuckin' hair cut. Only in America would people try to equate something this trivial with social indoctrination and mental slavery.

however, she might be better off moving because it doesnt seem like a community or school district worth raising a child in.

OMFG. Yeah, because that's totally reasonable. Uprooting your entire family and moving them out of district because the school has an especially strict dress code. Now you're just being ridiculous.

**cubby** · December 16th, 2009, 07:02 PM

It's only hair and it will grow back if you don't like it cut, but the embarrassment Mom has caused the child by blowing this up to epic proportions. Just like a child that falls down and skins their knee, they don't cry and carry on about until Mom convinces them by HER behavior that they might die from the skinned knee. This boy would have really never been the wiser if Mom had just trimmed his hair by an inch and let it go.

**TheDepressor** · December 16th, 2009, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Athena

If your kid's hairstyle defines them (especially at the age of 4), they've got bigger problems than ISS.

Did you have to neglect the asterisk? I will simply state that the cost to homeschool or send to private school significantly outweighs the percentage of annual taxation that is dedicated to education.

I wasn't quoting you directly silly, so I didn't neglect your asterisk ;) I just took the concept of the "free" education and added my own 2 cents to it because I have heard people (not on DD) make references to the free public schools when, in fact, they are not free. Sorry for the confusion. And, it's true, at the age of 4 the child's hairstyle should not define them. However, as they get older it can. And, I don't mean define them as in that's all there is to their lives or anything to that nature. However, as much as I don't like it, there's more to school than just getting an education. School teaches social order as well as social behavior. And, if a child likes their hair long or feels that's how they look best, then they should be entitled to that opinion. It is just a haircut. When I was in grade school, my abusive mother cut off all of my beautiful long hair (which I adored) and purposefully gave me an ugly short pixie like cut that was popular in the 80's. Several of the other girls in my grade had the cut but it was not what I wanted. I thought I looked like a boy and my self esteem suffered horribly from it. I would not want anything remotely similar happening with my kids, especially if it's some stupid school rule. His hair really isn't even that long! If the only "out of norm" thing that my children have, or the only trouble they get into at school is because of their hair, then I will be blessed! Plus, quite frankly, I'm quite sure that there is something more important in the school that they could be focusing their attention on! Probably more than one thing! Again, sorry about the confusion Athena. I wasn't ignoring your entire post. I just wasn't directing it at you ;)

**TheDepressor** · December 16th, 2009, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by cubby

It's only hair and it will grow back if you don't like it cut, but the embarrassment Mom has caused the child by blowing this up to epic proportions. Just like a child that falls down and skins their knee, they don't cry and carry on about until Mom convinces them by HER behavior that they might die from the skinned knee. This boy would have really never been the wiser if Mom had just trimmed his hair by an inch and let it go.

I think it would have to be more than an inch and just think of how long it took to grow! ;)

**Sister Iroz** · December 16th, 2009, 07:24 PM

If the parents are going to make it a big deal about not cutting it, then the child is going to think it's one. However, is it just me, but I don't consider that long hair.

**cubby** · December 16th, 2009, 07:33 PM

I guess what I really feel is that the Mom making an issue of having to cut his hair when I'm sure there is more things going on in the school that deserve her attention. Yeah I think his hair is acceptable as far as I'm concerned but the school has to draw the line somewhere. Trim it and send him back GEEZ everything doesn't deserve a soapbox!!
Save it for something important.