Texas students suspended for refusing haircut

[waichingliu81]

AFP - Tuesday, January 8 09:04 pm

CHICAGO (AFP) - Four Texas teens were suspended from school Tuesday for refusing to get their hair cut over the Christmas break, school officials said.

The students had been warned that the district was cracking down on dress code violators after they repeatedly let their locks loose on school grounds.

"Our policy states that the hair (on male students) cannot extend beyond the collar in the back," said Kevin Stanford, superintendent of the Kerens Independent School District.

"What we were doing is allowing the students to bind their hair, but there was very inconsistent compliance."

After several complaints from parents in the small rural town south of Dallas, school officials decided to eliminate the hair-binding loophole. Students were told to go to the barber over break or face the consequences.

"I don't know exactly what the students are going to - the ball's in their court," Stanford told AFP.

"Persistent insubordination could go as far as a disciplinary alternative school placement. That's the worst case."

Strict dress codes are common in Texas, Stanford said, and have been upheld by challenges which went as far as the Texas Supreme Court.

Students at Kerens high school are also prohibited from wearing sleeveless shirts, excessively tight or baggy pants, mismatched socks, "disruptive hair styles" and "unnatural" hair colors, according to an 86-page student handbook.

"The Kerens ISD dress code promotes the effective personal presentation skills which contribute significantly to successful living in adult society," the handbook explained. "The district's dress code is established to teach hygiene, instill discipline, prevent disruption, avoid safety hazards, and teach respect for authority."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/2008010...f62056d_1.html

[catlover79]

Ay carumba!!

[Max Whittaker]

I had long hair growing up. I cut it in 2005 but I'm growing it out again.

As long as you keep it clean, neat and respectful, there should be no problem. I work in a kitchen and half the men in there have long hair. It isn't an issue until someone makes it an issue.

So lets not make it an issue. We all have our own forms of expression. So long as it does not hurt anyone, leave us alone!

[waichingliu81]

i can understand that for health and safety reasons, it might be a risk but to suspend them for not having a haircut is ridiculous. who's next? guys with beards or women with red nails?

[TripperFan]

That's nuts - sounds like 35 years ago when my brother got sent home for having long hair. You also couldn't wear jeans or t-shirts to school then.

With business casual now in offices, I can't see what the problem is. In fast, I prefer a guy with longer hair than these "I just had a frontal lobotomy" haircuts that are popular. I don't undertstand that either. Guys are so worried about going bald, but yet when they're young and have a great head of hair, they shave it. They'll regret it!

[junecleaver]

and while they are making a huge deal out of an unnecessary thing, there is probably 10 students walking in that school with guns hidden in their pants.

School handbooks are so sexist. Boys aren't allowed to wear earrings, long hair, etc. If thats how they want to express themselves, then whats wrong with it? As long as they are doing so in a clean, safe fashion then i dont see the problem. Schools need to focus on important things, such as keeping an eye on things like guns, knives, gangs, drugs. I had a lot of that going on in my high school, there was a boy who actually did cocaine in class one time. My school though, focused on suspending students for having their shirts untucked and placed a HUGE emphasis on uniform violations and cell phones. The things my school missed due to focusing on the WRONG things.

[Dean Winchester]

I like my hair short but if someone wants to grow their hair long, who are they hurting?

[Ireneparalegal]

Having gone to Catholic school, that was the norm. So to me this story is not shocking. If the boys had their hair touching their collars, the parents were called to have the boys picked up and taken to get a haircut. Girls couldn't wear make-up and nail polish. No tennis shoes except for P.E.

If the school district makes rules, the parents and students need to abide by them. They made the rules for a reason.

[Chocoholic]

I personally wouldn't mind seeing a law passed banning guys from growing their hair long or wearing facial hair, but that's me

Seriously, I wish the school administrators would be a bit more concerned about kicking bullies out of school than worrying about the length of someone's hair.

I do agree though that rules are rules and students and parents need to learn to follow them. We had a dress code in my high school. A lot of us didn't like it, but we followed it. There's just no respect for authority anymore and parents are trying too hard to be their children's best buddies instead of their parents.

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Having gone to Catholic school, that was the norm. So to me this story is not shocking. If the boys had their hair touching their collars, the parents were called to have the boys picked up and taken to get a haircut. Girls couldn't wear make-up and nail polish. No tennis shoes except for P.E.

If the school district makes rules, the parents and students need to abide by them. They made the rules for a reason.

Those were the days, we had to wear those ugly Saddle shoes with knee high socks or regular socks

And these kids are mad over a hair cut??????

[waichingliu81]

Originally Posted by Homeriffic

I personally wouldn't mind seeing a law passed banning guys from growing their hair long or wearing facial hair, but that's me

Seriously, I wish the school administrators would be a bit more concerned about kicking bullies out of school than worrying about the length of someone's hair.

I do agree though that rules are rules and students and parents need to learn to follow them. We had a dress code in my high school. A lot of us didn't like it, but we followed it. There's just no respect for authority anymore and parents are trying too hard to be their children's best buddies instead of their parents.

exactly, there are more important issues that need to be addressed in school such as curbing bullying and maintaining discipline throughout, rather than worry about someone's hair cut

[Dean Winchester]

it reminds me of the opening of Madonna's "What It Feels Like For A Girl"

girls can wear jeans, cut their hair short, wear shirts and boots
but for a boy to look like a girl is degrading, you think being a girl is degrading
but secretly, you'd love to know what it's like, what it feels like for a girl


I quote that because it's perfectly fine if a girl decides she wants to go all out Jamie Lee Curtis on her hair, but if a guy feels like longer hair represents him better, they demand he cuts it. I personally like my hair short and could never see it growing out past three or four inches, but there are a lot of guys who love their longer hair and it's censoring by enforcing them to keep it short, when it's just fine if a girl decides to go all Grace Jones.

[TJL]

I went to an all boys Catholic High School.

We had a dress code. Jacket, tie, dress shirt, pants.
You had to keep your hair above the collar. No pinning, etc.

Those were the rules. You couldn't deal with it, you went somewhere else.

[junecleaver]

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

it reminds me of the opening of Madonna's "What It Feels Like For A Girl"

girls can wear jeans, cut their hair short, wear shirts and boots
but for a boy to look like a girl is degrading, you think being a girl is degrading
but secretly, you'd love to know what it's like, what it feels like for a girl


I quote that because it's perfectly fine if a girl decides she wants to go all out Jamie Lee Curtis on her hair, but if a guy feels like longer hair represents him better, they demand he cuts it. I personally like my hair short and could never see it growing out past three or four inches, but there are a lot of guys who love their longer hair and it's censoring by enforcing them to keep it short, when it's just fine if a girl decides to go all Grace Jones.

agreed. Makes you wonder if people's brains are going extinct?

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by junecleaver

agreed. Makes you wonder if people's brains are going extinct?

Oh, I think we're way past that point.