Four year old Texas boy suspended due to long hair

[Naeo]

I thoght the U.S were "the land of the free", or something like that. Doesn't this undermine that statement just a tad

I just had to comment on your pluralization of "U.S. were". While the states are in fact, plural. After the American civil war, we talk about the union in the singular. The U.S. "was".

OT: LOL @ Texas. If they leave the union, the average I.Q. in the U.S. will rise. And the average weight will decrease. I can't friggin wait.

I would take offense, being from Texas, top percentile on standardized testing, skinny, etc, but unfortunately as things go your statement is accurate for Texas as a whole. I am not a true Texan, thank god(s). Like Vishnu, who one first place in Greek Derivatives at the last TSJCL convention. No, seriously. [http://www.tsjcl.org/documents/state2010/AcademicWinners.pdf] (page 33)

On topic though, like others have said, their kid was breaking the rules. They should have known the rules, and they broke them, so stupid or not they have to put up with the consequences. Granted, the rules are retarded, but they exist for a reason, and Thunderbirds was wrong when it told us that reason was to be broken. They should either get the kids a haircut or work to change the rules. The kid himself said he missed his friends, so the parents should stop not cutting his hair (which keeps him from his friends) or change the rules or put him in a different school.

But the long hair rule should apply to girls, because the reasoning, according to the video, was that it was a distraction. And if girls get to be a distraction but boys can't, that is sex-based discrimination.

 

[Pimppeter2]

I think you're all missing what Pimp is saying which is why some of you think it's weird..
He's not saying that he agrees with the dress code, or that the school is reasonable.
He is saying that the parents are making a big deal out of something that is causing trouble for their kid and are going about it the wrong way.

They're fighting the suspension, which was just according to the rules. They should be fighting to get the dress code changed which does mean that they'll have to comply in the meantime or they'll be suffering the consequences of breaking the rule until it's changed.

THANK YOU

I would bake you cookies and send them to you if I could (or knew how )

 

[fragile_bandwidth]

This is just another reason why I've given up on people and pretty much the entire world.

 

[pwnzerstick]

His hair isn't even that long, and even so why is that rule there in the first place?

 

[Sexy Street]

Yeah, we're a real open-minded and tolerant society...

Like this is racist or something?

 

[Misterian]

yet even more school beurucracy.

consider this one of the reasons why I agree with President Obama's idea for a education system overhaul, and why fedural goverment should take some charge of school districts.

 

[Firia]

I have to admit, having to cut the kids hair does suck.
But a rule is a rule, and if that rule were made clear to the parents when they enrolled their child, then it's their fault. They should cut the boys hair.

A rule is a rule. But what is the purpose of a rule, if only to be a rule? Does it hurt anyone that this childs hair is longer than the social norm? Or is this rule in effect because principle (or higher) believes a boy/man should have short hair?

Ask yourself why rules and laws exist. Look for the reasons. Then ask if they're so nessessary as to need to be obeyed. In this case, I would say no. A rule is a rule only because someone says so, and has the authority to make it so. But the rule is unjust, and utilizes its authority on this family unfairly.

Unfairly? Really? I've had long hair for years, and I've been refused job positions because of them. I completely understood why. Because those are the rules of the place I applied at.
Do I think it's a stupid rule? Absolutely. But whatever the reason may be, the rule is there.
I'm assuming the parents more than likely knew the rule of their child's school before or upon enrollment. It's kinda like when Willy Wonka told the fat kid "Please don't eat the chocolate from the chocolate river." The little fatty german kid didn't listen and he got his big ass pumped up into the big tube.
It's a rule. Plain and simple. If the parents didn't like said rule, they shouldn't have let their kid go to that school.

What you're thinking about here is professionalism. In the business world, you convey an image, and a lot is said about this image. This is based on the social happenings of the past 30 to 40 years, really starting in the 1960's. Some places have rules of professionalism in place because of the image it projects. Long hair in the professional environment goes against that image.

The difference here is that this is a child, in school. He's like, six or something. He's not applying to a job, he's not required to abide by a social code that's been in place since the 1920's for men. what's more, he shouldn't be forced to.

This is what I'm talking about, when I say you should think about a rule before blindly following it. Rules are the social construction of people, and people are flawed. Work place professionalism? Short hair yes, because of what the social order has to say about professionalism. Elementry school short hair, because it's in the schools dress code? HOGWASH.

I already said it's a stupid rule. I agree the child's hair shouldn't be an issue.
Professionalism, or the social scene it's all about image. The school has the stupid rule. Whether or not the child knows better, the parents do. The hair should be cut if they want their child to attend THAT particular school. It's like sending your kid to a private school and not making them adhere to the dress code....then you shouldn't make your kids go to that school. It's common sense. Whether it's a civilian job, or a school, or the military. There are rules that are put in place for whatever the reason. But from the time we're able to start using logical thought, we're being prepared for the real world. Just about everything we do, is practically done to set us up for the "real world." But the great thing about us is the fact that we have the choice, to not deal with something we don't agree with. By sending their child to that school the agreed to abide by the school's rules. Now that the school is saying "You're breaking a rule, knock it off!" The parents suddenly don't wanna listen. The parents need to get over it and cut their child's hair or transfer him to a different school.
(The school could very well agree to let it slide, but you and I both know it probably won't happen. Because I reiterate....The "No Long Hair Rule" is stupid.)

The point I was trying to drive at my second time was trying to encourage you to utilize a healthy amount of skepticism and thinking when considering rules or law. Because while you may do well in society by blindly obeying, a lot of injustice and dubious authoritative bullying goes on in the name of social order. This article being one of them.

 

[dududf]

Again, I said that it is petty of the school, but it doesn't mean that they are doing anything wrong. They're following the rules that they themselves have placed, and that the parents new about and agreed to follow. I don't see why its such a shock If the rule is wrong you should fight it. Should we have never fought for women to get the right to vote? Should we have never fought to free the blacks? Should we have never fought to get blacks the right to vote? Should we have never fought to get rid of the Jim Crow laws? Should we have never fought for equal rights for all? Well?

I think there's a difference between equality between humans and a choice of hair style.

Don't get me wrong, the rule is stupid but just to look at it from another angle using the reason the school provided, They said it's distracting. Perhaps it's distracting in the upper grades, and for equality reasons they just decided to make it a uniform rule.

But there is no way it is distracting. That's like saying someone's mouth is distracting and they have to either cover it up or get plastic surgery. It makes no sense. Also, lets say they get away with this, so they make it standard policy in all schools. Now everyones hair must conform. What's next? I don't like taking the chance of falling down a slippery slope to Nazism.

I'm sorry, I giggled as to how you said a single school with a hair dress code will lead to the nation goose step saluting down the street. I hit my head on the wall behind me as my head arched back laughing. >.<

It's a single school, it's a minor rule, and perhaps they had a problem previously with hair and the rule they gave was just to prevent further problems. Schools should be able to do that if it means keeping the environment peaceful (or as peaceful as possible.)

 

[dududf]

I think you're all missing what Pimp is saying which is why some of you think it's weird..
He's not saying that he agrees with the dress code, or that the school is reasonable.
He is saying that the parents are making a big deal out of something that is causing trouble for their kid and are going about it the wrong way.

They're fighting the suspension, which was just according to the rules. They should be fighting to get the dress code changed which does mean that they'll have to comply in the meantime or they'll be suffering the consequences of breaking the rule until it's changed.

THANK YOU

I would bake you cookies and send them to you if I could (or knew how )

How is it causing problems for the kid?

Oh I can answer that one, 1) He's being alienated from his friends from which hamper how he works, 2) His education is being hampered due to being removed from class, and 3) he has undue attention being drawn upon him.

 

[Nifarious]

that reason being to label some appearances as socially acceptable and others as taboo and offensive?

There are 2 good ends for dress codes:
Preventing actually offensive messages from being worn. Any speech which brings violence into a community is unacceptable.
Preventing overly revealing clothing. Before college, people's sexuality is still in development and needs to be protected from debasement until they are old enough to start whoring themselves out for money.

Here, the rule protects the students. Outlawing hairstyles, however, only represses looking like a hippie, hillbilly, or some other person of bad taste. Taste, unfortunately, is not covered under school authority unless the school is private and authoritarian--but I take for granted that this school is public, otherwise this thread is pointless. This is a blatant misuse of authority and if it's private, then they're free to misuse all the authority over themselves that they want.

I thoght the U.S were "the land of the free", or something like that. Doesn't this undermine that statement just a tad

It does undermine it. A-fucking-LOT. And wasn't there a thread recently, if the US is a conservative country? If it wasn't already obvious already then this should open your eyes....

ugh. please refrain from labeling an entire country with a single political ideology, especially one as diverse and expansive as America.

 

[scar-x-]

I thoght the U.S were "the land of the free", or something like that.

It is except for in Texas.

 

[dududf]

I think you're all missing what Pimp is saying which is why some of you think it's weird..
He's not saying that he agrees with the dress code, or that the school is reasonable.
He is saying that the parents are making a big deal out of something that is causing trouble for their kid and are going about it the wrong way.

They're fighting the suspension, which was just according to the rules. They should be fighting to get the dress code changed which does mean that they'll have to comply in the meantime or they'll be suffering the consequences of breaking the rule until it's changed.

THANK YOU

I would bake you cookies and send them to you if I could (or knew how )

How is it causing problems for the kid?

Oh I can answer that one, 1) He's being alienated from his friends from which hamper how he works, 2) His education is being hampered due to being removed from class, and 3) he has undue attention being drawn upon him.

The first two are caused solely by the school. If they would stop being Orwellian nutjobs then this wouldn't happen. The third one makes no sense. Undue attention? How is this a problem?

Suddenly You have a large amount of people looking into your life. I think that'd effect me.

 

[Pimppeter2]

If they would stop being Orwellian nutjobs then this wouldn't happen.

No, the parents should just cut the kids hair. They can argue the rule at the next PTO meeting (parents meeting) if they feel like it needs to be changed. They're putting their son through what I imagine is a very difficult spot for a 4 year old.

Plus, in the article it says that the school is infamous for being strict on their dress code. I mean, they knew what they were getting into, and they chose to anyways.

They're scarring a young innocent child for the sake of a giant pissing contest.

 

[dududf]

Again, I said that it is petty of the school, but it doesn't mean that they are doing anything wrong. They're following the rules that they themselves have placed, and that the parents new about and agreed to follow. I don't see why its such a shock If the rule is wrong you should fight it. Should we have never fought for women to get the right to vote? Should we have never fought to free the blacks? Should we have never fought to get blacks the right to vote? Should we have never fought to get rid of the Jim Crow laws? Should we have never fought for equal rights for all? Well?

I think there's a difference between equality between humans and a choice of hair style.

Don't get me wrong, the rule is stupid but just to look at it from another angle using the reason the school provided, They said it's distracting. Perhaps it's distracting in the upper grades, and for equality reasons they just decided to make it a uniform rule.

But there is no way it is distracting. That's like saying someone's mouth is distracting and they have to either cover it up or get plastic surgery. It makes no sense. Also, lets say they get away with this, so they make it standard policy in all schools. Now everyones hair must conform. What's next? I don't like taking the chance of falling down a slippery slope to Nazism.

I'm sorry, I giggled as to how you said a single school with a hair dress code will lead to the nation goose step saluting down the street. I hit my head on the wall behind me as my head arched back laughing. >.<

It's a single school, it's a minor rule, and perhaps they had a problem previously with hair and the rule they gave was just to prevent further problems. Schools should be able to do that if it means keeping the environment peaceful (or as peaceful as possible.)

How could long hair cause a problem? Well?

Kids arguing over hair styles? Having people calling guys with long hair "fags".

I don't know, I'm just being the being the... *hits head at loss of the word* You know the word from where you go on the opposition for arguments sake? Yeah that.