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4-Year-Old Texas Boy Suspended For Long Hair
Pre-kindergartner Taylor Pugh likes his floppy hair just how it is: long on the front and sides, covering his earlobes and shirt collar.
But his long locks violate the dress code in his suburban Dallas school district. So Taylor again Wednesday found himself facing in-school suspension, sitting in a library with a teacher's aide while his friends played and learned together in a classroom.
"They kicked me out that place," said Taylor, 4, who prefers the nickname Tater Tot. "I miss my friends."
Taylor's parents say he plans to eventually cut his hair and donate it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients. But they're not happy with the district's rules.
It appears the school district "is more concerned about his hair than his education," said Taylor's father, Delton Pugh. "I don't think it's right to hold a child down and force him to do something ... when it's not hurting him or affecting his education."
Pugh, a tattoo artist, said he used to shave his own head but that his son "made me pinky promise I would let my hair grow long with him."
The follicle fight came to a head last month when Taylor's parents received a signed letter from Floyd Elementary School's principal, threatening to withdraw the boy from school if his hair didn't comply with district standards.
When Taylor's parents didn't budge, their son was suspended.
Elizabeth Taylor, Taylor's mother, said her son is "an individual. He wants his long hair."
When the boy returned late last month, his hair was longer than ever. But school officials decided suspension was too harsh and changed the punishment to a modified in-school suspension.
"They still have regular classroom work, but in an isolated environment," Mesquite Independent School District spokesman Ian Halperin said. "We expect students ... to adhere to the code of conduct."
According to the district dress code, boys' hair must be kept out of the eyes and cannot extend below the bottom of earlobes or over the collar of a dress shirt. Fads in hairstyles "designed to attract attention to the individual or to disrupt the orderly conduct of the classroom or campus is not permitted," the policy states.
The district is known for standing tough on its dress code. Earlier this year, a seventh-grader in the district was sent home for wearing black skinny pants. His parents chose to home-school him.
On its Web site, the district says its code is in place because "students who dress and groom themselves neatly, and in an acceptable and appropriate manner, are more likely to become constructive members of the society in which we live."
A persistent violator could face additional suspensions, but such issues are handled on a case-by-case basis, Halperin said.
"We understand it may not be for everybody," Halperin said of the policy, "but those are the rules for this district."
Pugh said the issue is about more than hair. He said his son is being singled out, and that he has seen other male students in the district with hair much longer than Taylor's.
"Nobody wants to meet in the middle. It's all or nothing," Pugh said. "He's my son. I love him. I will back him to the end."
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Posted in: News on December 23, 2009 @ 1:12 AM
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This is bullshit! That kid is 4 years old. What do they want? Should he cut his own hair? I wish whoever was in charge of that was in my town? Somebody should slap them off their damn feet!
I'm not sure who is dumber--the district or the parents. But it was pretty funny when the dad says he thinks the district might be more worried about hair than education--talk about calling the kettle black! Poor kid doesn't have a chance.
My son was much the same until he turned 12. He liked his hair long and I did not force him to cut it either. He is an individual and if he wanted his hair long...then so be it. Not to mention his hair was beautiful much like Taylors. He always kept it clean and combed, it never looked unkept..just long. The school district never said anything about my sons hair and if they would of I would of been much like Taylor's parents. When I spoke to my pediatrician, he said as long is there are no behavior issues, grades are good, friends acceptable, etc then the long hair is not a statement of rebellion,just a preference. Taylor's school to isolate him is totally unacceptable. If the school would of done this to my child, I would of home schooled him. Environmental isolation can tramatize this child. What this school is teaching this child is something I would not want my child taught. DR. Phil where are you on this one??
So they either want to force the child to have a haircut or strong-arm the parents into damaging it by repeated braiding. I agree that our school systems are sorely lacking in academics now that they put more emphasis on the way their students look. Every fashion statement is not a rebellion that will lead to violence in some way. Everyone, including adults, have personal preferences for their own appearance, as long as they're not carrying a weapon get off their back and do your job; teach. Does the teaching staff follow the same dress code? Maybe they need one as well. I certainly see a lot of teaching staff that look far worse than their students.
One more reason for NOT moving to Texas! He is 4 years old for crap's sake!He's an adorable little boy and there is nothing wrong with his hair! If mom had a little girl and the little girl wanted to have short hair, would she be forced to wear a long wig? What is wrong with people? Oh I KNOW....they equate individuality with rebellion. Let me reiterate something I had explained: HE IS a 4 YEAR OLD little CHILD! WHat are they afraid of? Baby peircings and Baby tattoos next? Afraid he is going to start passing out ciggarettes ad other contraband?
I am almost seven months pregnant with twin boys and am SO for raising them with a sense of individuality that my husband and I refuse to even dress them alike or have similar names. And if they want to have long hair and their school has an issue with it.....well then there will be a BIG problem! ITS FREAKIN HAIR! And if they want to (when they are OLD ENOUGH) get tatoos and peircings (like mom and dad) so be it.
I dealt with this same issue with my own sons...I simply approached the school board and told them what they were doing was discrimination. Unless they were going to make every girl also cut, braid or maintain their locks my sons would be treated equally. Issue arose again when they were in junior high with getting their ears pierced...again I threw out the discrimination charge...both times the issues were immediately dropped...What they are doing is sexual discrimination...if the girls don't have to keep their hair braided than the boys don't either...don't let them get away with it...our constitution protects our rights!...Today, both of my boys (twins) have hair to their butt, and ears pierced...they are also in college and have 3.0 GPA in nuclear engineering and chemistry degrees...hair has NOTHING to do with ability to excel and it is NOT a distraction...once the other kids get used to it the issue will quickly die and he will have as many friends as the next boy.
What you are missing is the idea we should be teaching children there is a time and a place for everything. Schools have become a free for all of wanton disrespect in the name of freedom of expression and individual rights. ENOUGH! for eight hours a day teach your kids he needs to sit down shut up and pay attention to what is being taught! School is not their own personal soap box and fashion show. Geeesh maybe we should take a cue from the other countries and stick all of our students in uniforms. And you parents? Why don't you pay attention to your kids instead of thinking you can win their love and respect by "siding" with them and creating an enemy where one doesn't exist.
JJ, there are so many things wrong with your comment... In no particular order:
First, you're missing the point of this site.
Second, schools are known for not teaching much of a whole lot beyond basic reading and writing, and even there their teachings are sketchy.
Third, people NEED to have a backbone these days. School used to be about growing up into a healthy person, but today it's become about beating children into submission and threatening them with things like in-school suspension (which, for a kid that young, can be devastating on their social development) if they don't comply.
I say, good on this kid and good on his parents.
im a 13 year old boy and im going to 7th grade this year... they wont let us wear hats or even COAT HOODS at our schools! i dont know why! hats arnt hurting anyone...i guess they could be a "distraction" but...HOODS!? WHY THE HELL CANT WE WEAR HOODS!? I HATE SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!
UYIUYI HJIKYUI UIYI
TRYRTY RTEY
so remember this part
The district is known for standing tough on its dress code. Earlier this year, a seventh-grader in the district was sent home for wearing black skinny pants. His parents chose to home-school him.
that, my fellow evil teachers, is how to get rid of kids
making up unfair rules
{Insert evil laugh here}
This kind of story really makes me sad. He's young, he made a promise with his father, his mother is against it... that was really unacceptable of the school.