Four year old Texas boy suspended due to long hair
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Look, you make some good points, but the parents are not in the wrong here, nor is the child. I would agree with you, had this not garnered national attention.superkenalmighty said:I thought the 60s was the hippy-era when everybody did have long hair, Gonzo?Beatles comes to mind.
Here's how I see it. The school asked the parents to cut the kids hair, because it didn't fit their standard and the parents refused. The school didn't have time for some 'moral' battle and kicked the kid out.
The parents are stupid. Why? Because they felt it was right to put their child's education at stake FOR HAIR. Because a hair cut would make their kid less individual? It's a 4 year old kid.
Now the school. The school isn't stupid, so much as they're bastards - as in, their priorities are whack. Seriously, the only person really hurt from this is the kid; is hair really more important than a kid's education? If you're entire argument is: the hair will distract him and impede on his education, then how do you justify kicking the kid out of school (because that kind of hurts education, too)? You can't, at least not in a way that makes you look like a hypocrite.
Solution: give the kid a haircut, because he's four and will get over it (and the parents need to get over it, too), and send him back to school. Who really loses is this situation? The kid's individuality? Because hair is like, the only thing that makes a person individual, amirite?
Also, in reference to some posts, schools are NOT trying to control the world by dumb dress codes. Repeat, they are not.
But because this HAS garnered national attention, this must be taken extremely seriously and approached with caution. You may say "It's just a freakin haircut, chill out.", but no. This is much, much more now than it was. Once a story like this breaks into national news, the outcome can have a severe affect on the nation. If the school wins this battle, you are setting a precedent - then things like this will take affect all over the nation. We don't want that, because when it starts with dress codes, it ends with liberties.
The schools aren't trying to "take over the world", as you bluntly put it, but they have a very large influence on our nation, as they are educating our youth, soon to become our leaders and workers.
For example, if you were to teach, from a very young age, that individualism is wrong, and everyone needs to be like everyone else, then that is what will happen. Conformity is our greatest enemy, as it turns us into sheep - we no longer have the will to fight against injustices. That's what is wrong with society right now - we've all turned into sheep.
I'm not some rebellion-crazed non-conformist nutjob here, I'm a normal, hardworking member of society (hell, I even work for the government), but what is happening is very wrong, and you know it. If a precedent is set, then it only means trouble for us. ALL of us, present and future.
Take heed of this warning.
If this is a private school I think that it is something that is just expected. It is something that just comes with being at a private school. If it is a public school, then I have some concerns about the rule.
At most schools, you get suspended if you are doing something that can potentially hurt you or yourself. I do not see how longhair could cause harm to him or others at school. It is not something provocative. It is not worn in a way that is meant to offend people. It is just natural hair. Maybe if you are really conservative it might be offensive, but you cannot bring those beliefs into a place, like school, where things are meant to neutral in the sense that you are free from persecution or segregation based on things like behavior, thoughts, or looks. The only time someone should be penalized based on behavior, thoughts, or looks is if it is damaging and harmful. I do not see how this boy?s hair can be damaging or harmful to anyone.
I think that school is meant to be a safe place to learn. It should be a place of education, where you do not have to worry about bad things happening to you. I think that your hair does not really effect your education, and I think that the school is not making itself a nice place for the boy to go. They should not punish him for his hair, and defiantly should not segregate him for it.
I think that sets a bad example of segregation, because it is kind of showing other students it is okay to say this person is bad because of what they do or how they look. I know the school did not intend their policy to come off this way, but I do think that they should not be allowed to do this. Someone should sit down and look over this rule and see if it is really one that needs to be enforced. Should they make kids shorten their hair just to fit the standards that were created a long time ago?
At most schools, you get suspended if you are doing something that can potentially hurt you or yourself. I do not see how longhair could cause harm to him or others at school. It is not something provocative. It is not worn in a way that is meant to offend people. It is just natural hair. Maybe if you are really conservative it might be offensive, but you cannot bring those beliefs into a place, like school, where things are meant to neutral in the sense that you are free from persecution or segregation based on things like behavior, thoughts, or looks. The only time someone should be penalized based on behavior, thoughts, or looks is if it is damaging and harmful. I do not see how this boy?s hair can be damaging or harmful to anyone.
I think that school is meant to be a safe place to learn. It should be a place of education, where you do not have to worry about bad things happening to you. I think that your hair does not really effect your education, and I think that the school is not making itself a nice place for the boy to go. They should not punish him for his hair, and defiantly should not segregate him for it.
I think that sets a bad example of segregation, because it is kind of showing other students it is okay to say this person is bad because of what they do or how they look. I know the school did not intend their policy to come off this way, but I do think that they should not be allowed to do this. Someone should sit down and look over this rule and see if it is really one that needs to be enforced. Should they make kids shorten their hair just to fit the standards that were created a long time ago?
Bottom line: If he wants to shave swastikas into his hair that'd be his right. Schools have no right to suspend based on appearance, period. They need to be hit with a crippling fine and the principal replaced by someone who can oversee the transition to less intrusive rules - any school with delusions of grandeur so insane they think they've the right to control hair has to have bigger issues too.
while I would normally agree with you guys, I feel that if it is a public school then the rule should be revoked. I can understand not wanting kids with neon colored mohawks running around, but what they are doing is just wrong.Vanguard_Ex said:
I am amazed that this thread wasn't locked about 3 pages ago for that massive flame war. I lurves me a good flame war yes I doo sirie!
Isn't it? :3 I can't help it but guys with long hair like that (whether it were red or brown or blonde or whatever) just look amazing. Anything shorter than that I don't really see as 'long hair' anyway.thebobmaster said:Why must I only have two eyes, when one wants to look at his hair, and the other wants to stare at his abs? Seriously though, that is amazing hair.sanomaton said:Wow, most of the guys I know would be in a lotta trouble if they were in American schools. xD Nowadays it's the girls here who have short hair and guys have long hair (and I mean long, like up the small of the back). Oh well, that just shows once again how "liberal" America is.
How 'bout because the girls like it? I'm loving my boyfriend's hair which is about the same length as in this...Trist66 said:
Thats incredibly rediculous, long hair is in no way a distraction.
I remember i used to get in trouble at my school for having long hair, and i fought cutting it to the length they wanted it cut until the teachers complaining (there were only two, and it was 1 each academic year for 2 academic years) got bored and stopped asking. And for whatever reason, long hair doesnt matter when you get into Sixth Form at my school.
Fun quick story though - one of the teachers stopped me on my way into school once, and got me to turn around so he could see the length of my hair on the back of my head, and said "it looks long don't you think?", and I replied, in all seriousness, "I don't know sir, I can't see the back of my head"
He accused me of making a flippant remark.
But yeah, long hair being a problem is a load of crap.
I remember i used to get in trouble at my school for having long hair, and i fought cutting it to the length they wanted it cut until the teachers complaining (there were only two, and it was 1 each academic year for 2 academic years) got bored and stopped asking. And for whatever reason, long hair doesnt matter when you get into Sixth Form at my school.
Fun quick story though - one of the teachers stopped me on my way into school once, and got me to turn around so he could see the length of my hair on the back of my head, and said "it looks long don't you think?", and I replied, in all seriousness, "I don't know sir, I can't see the back of my head"
He accused me of making a flippant remark.
But yeah, long hair being a problem is a load of crap.
Took the words right out of my mouth. I also can't help but notice he never responded to your post. Maybe he got banned before he could, but I doubt that's the reason.HontooNoNeko said:
im going to guess these ass backwards idiots thought he was being a rebel or some other crap, i have semi long hare (Kinda down to my neck) and i got in trouble for it in my ROTC class, but thats a different subject, i guess guys are ment to follow different rules, got to love the double standerd...Enigmers said:
haha, america, the the land of freedom, my ass
i mean, there's nothing wrong to have some certain rules in your countrs, even if they may are unpopular in the rest of the world, but you have to stand behind what you do and say - and that's just not the case in the US
epic fail, usa
i mean, there's nothing wrong to have some certain rules in your countrs, even if they may are unpopular in the rest of the world, but you have to stand behind what you do and say - and that's just not the case in the US
epic fail, usa
I agree With the rules idea, if your going to inrole your child in a school with a dress code and all of a sudden think it would go unnoticed to break a rule then your stupid, i do think its harsh to punish a kid for doing what his parents tell him is ok even tho the school has a code on how to act, if you dont like that code move him to an other school, still its a bit rediculous on how thier handling itPimppeter2 said:
holy crap he's FOUR what's his hair even going to distract the class from seriously in kindergarden you just play and draw and do crap like that! And how is a boy with long hair anymore distracting then a girl with long hair?
I agree with you on a few key points: it's a shame this will be made a 'precedent', the school were a little too brazen with their expulsion, and it's bewildering how this gained national importance in the first place.ionpulse2 said:Look, you make some good points, but the parents are not in the wrong here, nor is the child. I would agree with you, had this not garnered national attention.superkenalmighty said:I thought the 60s was the hippy-era when everybody did have long hair, Gonzo?
Here's how I see it. The school asked the parents to cut the kids hair, because it didn't fit their standard and the parents refused. The school didn't have time for some 'moral' battle and kicked the kid out.
The parents are stupid. Why? Because they felt it was right to put their child's education at stake FOR HAIR. Because a hair cut would make their kid less individual? It's a 4 year old kid.
Now the school. The school isn't stupid, so much as they're bastards - as in, their priorities are whack. Seriously, the only person really hurt from this is the kid; is hair really more important than a kid's education? If you're entire argument is: the hair will distract him and impede on his education, then how do you justify kicking the kid out of school (because that kind of hurts education, too)? You can't, at least not in a way that makes you look like a hypocrite.
Solution: give the kid a haircut, because he's four and will get over it (and the parents need to get over it, too), and send him back to school. Who really loses is this situation? The kid's individuality? Because hair is like, the only thing that makes a person individual, amirite?
Also, in reference to some posts, schools are NOT trying to control the world by dumb dress codes. Repeat, they are not.
But because this HAS garnered national attention, this must be taken extremely seriously and approached with caution. You may say "It's just a freakin haircut, chill out.", but no. This is much, much more now than it was. Once a story like this breaks into national news, the outcome can have a severe affect on the nation. If the school wins this battle, you are setting a precedent - then things like this will take affect all over the nation. We don't want that, because when it starts with dress codes, it ends with liberties.
The schools aren't trying to "take over the world", as you bluntly put it, but they have a very large influence on our nation, as they are educating our youth, soon to become our leaders and workers.
For example, if you were to teach, from a very young age, that individualism is wrong, and everyone needs to be like everyone else, then that is what will happen. Conformity is our greatest enemy, as it turns us into sheep - we no longer have the will to fight against injustices. That's what is wrong with society right now - we've all turned into sheep.
I'm not some rebellion-crazed non-conformist nutjob here, I'm a normal, hardworking member of society (hell, I even work for the government), but what is happening is very wrong, and you know it. If a precedent is set, then it only means trouble for us. ALL of us, present and future.
Take heed of this warning.
I disagree on one point of yours though: the parents have to carry some blame. I find the idea that parents can shirk off responsibility a little annoying, especially when it's something as petty as cutting a four year old's hair. Schools have a duty of care, but parents are certainly responsible for making sure their kid is dressed and presentable for school. If we were talking about someone older than four, yeah, I could see a point, but not four. The parents were obviously not prepared to cooperate with the school or take any responsibility for their child in this case. I imagine it escalated to this level because the parents were being needlessly obstinate when it came to their kid just getting a haircut. I feel for the school staff, because that would be a major annoyance to deal with. And a waste of time.
The biggest loser here is the child, though. He's too young to carry any blame. I am surprised they went straight for an expulsion rather than a suspension (assumption). I am pretty sure this was a jab at the parents. It's a shame a child has basically been turned into the pawn between two factions vying for power (parents vs school).
I am mostly bewildered at the parents. So hopefully this is a lesson to them: if you're willing to chance your child getting expelled by not giving them a haircut, what in the world are you thinking? Especially if the school, which I suspect, did warn them about. They probably ignored it with some self-righteous bull crap. If they didn't give a warning, well, the school is to blame completely for this mess - but again, I doubt that is how it played out.