Ohio Student Suspended for Growing Out Hair to Donate - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

retrofan05 · 10-24-2012, 10:01 AM

Zachary Aufderheide has run afoul of his Ohio high school's dress code because of his desire to grow his hair long enough to donate it to Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigs to needy children who've lost their hair because of medical problems.

Zachary, 17, of Canton is about an inch away from the 10 inches of hair he needs to donate to the organization. Faced with an ultimatum, the Canton South High School junior decided to accept an in-school suspension rather than cut his ponytail.

The minimum length of hair needed for a hairpiece is 10 inches, according the Locks of Love website.

Zachary said he is passionate about donating hair to the organization because he was picked on as a child and now wants to help sick children who might have lost their hair avoid the feelings he experienced when he was teased.

"I was picked on so I know where they're coming from, I know how they feel so I sort of sympathize with them because I've been there," he said Monday.

Zachary's mother, Robin, said she understood and respected the school's dress code, but wanted officials to make an exception in her son's case.

She said her son went to a school board meeting in September, explained what he was doing and asked them to consider allowing him to reach his goal.

She said board members came up to him after the meeting and commended his efforts, but said the board had voted to uphold the school's dress code, without giving him an explanation.

The school's principal told her son he had until Monday to get his hair cut, she said.

"And we didn't do it. We didn't do it. I measured it and he's got, oh, less than an inch to grow …," she said.

The school's principal, Todd Osborn, has not replied to requests for comment placed by ABCNews.com as of this writing.

Robin Aufderheide said she was surprised by the board's decision, but her son wasn't.

"I feel pretty disappointed with their decision because, honestly, I really put a lot of heart and soul into my demonstration, like, my presentation of the idea to them, and then when they just all unanimously voted against it … it was just kind of heartbreaking to me," he said.

According to the dress code in the Canton Local School District's student handbook, "Hair for male students shall be neat and clean and shall not be worn covering the eyes, in a ponytail, or extending beyond the bottom of the regular shirt collar."

Zachary isn't sure what will happen after the two-day suspension ends, but says if he cut his hair before reaching his goal, "then, personally, that would be admitting defeat to them. It would be meaning that I would just give up on what I view as important to myself. So this is more or less like a battle of my morals and my values, really."

After he donates his hair, he said, he'll be happy to maintain it at regulation length.

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs...opstories.html

What I find so odd about this article is that the school actually has a policy that allows girls to grow their hair out, but not boys. Didn't double standards die with disco?

catlover79 · 10-24-2012, 10:03 AM

Yup, I just saw that on the local (Cleveland) news this morning. Wow.

Marvo301 · 10-24-2012, 01:50 PM

There should be some way to make an exception to the rules when it's for such a worthy cause.

robyrob · 10-24-2012, 03:59 PM

i bet if they ACLU or some other group files a lawsuit they'll drop the whole thing and let him back in school

where's that crazy nutjob Gloria Alred when you need her?

Family Ties Forever! · 10-24-2012, 09:26 PM

I think that's nice that he is wanting to donate his hair to locks of love. My middle niece did that earlier this year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robyrob

i bet if they ACLU or some other group files a lawsuit they'll drop the whole thing and let him back in school

where's that crazy nutjob Gloria Alred when you need her?

Imagine if this teenager was black? We all know who would be shouting from the roof tops in his defense.

catlover79 · 10-25-2012, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

There should be some way to make an exception to the rules when it's for such a worthy cause.

old grouch · 10-25-2012, 02:33 AM

Good for you, Zachary!!!

OH Nuts! · 10-25-2012, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robyrob

i bet if they ACLU or some other group files a lawsuit they'll drop the whole thing and let him back in school

where's that crazy nutjob Gloria Alred when you need her?

He should sue. Dumbas* school board. Talk about classic tunnel vision. Hope the board gets picketed & hate mail big time. Sometimes you do need a Gloria to put a firecracker under a bunch of lazy butts to get things moving.

catlover79 · 10-25-2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robyrob

where's that crazy nutjob Gloria Alred when you need her?

That's what I was thinking!!

Nighthawk76 · 10-26-2012, 03:15 PM

I'm surprised that in 2012 that anyone is concerned with how long a guy's hair is!

MrCleveland · 10-26-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shine

I'm surprised that in 2012 that anyone is concerned with how long a guy's hair is!

Yeah...today many people actually shave their hair! But then again...long hair is returning.

Furienna · 11-05-2012, 05:56 AM

Yeah, it's weird that a school still has rules about how long a guy's hair should be.

OH Nuts! · 11-05-2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furienna

Yeah, it's weird that a school still has rules about how long a guy's hair should be.

It sure is. Talk about misplaced priorities.

Furienna · 11-05-2012, 09:21 AM

I wonder if they have rules about what girls should look like as well.

Tubehead · 11-05-2012, 03:43 PM

he must be in pravite shcool when i was in high shcool i see lots of guys with pony tails.

10-24-2012, 10:01 AM	#1
retrofan05 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,111	Ohio Student Suspended for Growing Out Hair to Donate Zachary Aufderheide has run afoul of his Ohio high school's dress code because of his desire to grow his hair long enough to donate it to Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigs to needy children who've lost their hair because of medical problems. Zachary, 17, of Canton is about an inch away from the 10 inches of hair he needs to donate to the organization. Faced with an ultimatum, the Canton South High School junior decided to accept an in-school suspension rather than cut his ponytail. The minimum length of hair needed for a hairpiece is 10 inches, according the Locks of Love website. Zachary said he is passionate about donating hair to the organization because he was picked on as a child and now wants to help sick children who might have lost their hair avoid the feelings he experienced when he was teased. "I was picked on so I know where they're coming from, I know how they feel so I sort of sympathize with them because I've been there," he said Monday. Zachary's mother, Robin, said she understood and respected the school's dress code, but wanted officials to make an exception in her son's case. She said her son went to a school board meeting in September, explained what he was doing and asked them to consider allowing him to reach his goal. She said board members came up to him after the meeting and commended his efforts, but said the board had voted to uphold the school's dress code, without giving him an explanation. The school's principal told her son he had until Monday to get his hair cut, she said. "And we didn't do it. We didn't do it. I measured it and he's got, oh, less than an inch to grow …," she said. The school's principal, Todd Osborn, has not replied to requests for comment placed by ABCNews.com as of this writing. Robin Aufderheide said she was surprised by the board's decision, but her son wasn't. "I feel pretty disappointed with their decision because, honestly, I really put a lot of heart and soul into my demonstration, like, my presentation of the idea to them, and then when they just all unanimously voted against it … it was just kind of heartbreaking to me," he said. According to the dress code in the Canton Local School District's student handbook, "Hair for male students shall be neat and clean and shall not be worn covering the eyes, in a ponytail, or extending beyond the bottom of the regular shirt collar." Zachary isn't sure what will happen after the two-day suspension ends, but says if he cut his hair before reaching his goal, "then, personally, that would be admitting defeat to them. It would be meaning that I would just give up on what I view as important to myself. So this is more or less like a battle of my morals and my values, really." After he donates his hair, he said, he'll be happy to maintain it at regulation length. http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs...opstories.html What I find so odd about this article is that the school actually has a policy that allows girls to grow their hair out, but not boys. Didn't double standards die with disco?

10-24-2012, 10:03 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Yup, I just saw that on the local (Cleveland) news this morning. Wow.
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10-24-2012, 01:50 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	There should be some way to make an exception to the rules when it's for such a worthy cause.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

10-24-2012, 03:59 PM	#4
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,194	i bet if they ACLU or some other group files a lawsuit they'll drop the whole thing and let him back in school where's that crazy nutjob Gloria Alred when you need her?
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11-05-2012, 03:43 PM	#15
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	hair he must be in pravite shcool when i was in high shcool i see lots of guys with pony tails.

10-25-2012, 02:33 AM	#7
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Good for you, Zachary!!!

10-26-2012, 03:15 PM	#10
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	I'm surprised that in 2012 that anyone is concerned with how long a guy's hair is!

11-05-2012, 05:56 AM	#12
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	Yeah, it's weird that a school still has rules about how long a guy's hair should be.

11-05-2012, 09:21 AM	#14
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	I wonder if they have rules about what girls should look like as well.