Mesquite ISD and the Hair Policy
This story has been going on here for months. Taylor Pugh is 4 years old and attends pre-school at Floyd Elementary in Mesquite, TX (about 25 miles north of Dallas). Taylor Pugh has long hair, that he was wearing long. It was getting into his eyes and the teacher says was becoming a distraction for the students. It also violates Mesquite ISD's strict dress code guidelines (elementary ones HERE), which insist that male hair be kept up, out of the face, and kept close to the head. The exact wording is: "Hair is to be out of the eyes, not extend below the bottom of the earlobes and cut so that it does not extend over the collar (dress shirt)."
Since November, Taylor's parents have argued that he wants to keep it long, does not want it cut and that they are not going to take him out of school. Since November, Taylor has been separated from his class and taking lessons from a tutor in the library.
Last night the school board met to rule in the matter and they decided that if Taylor braided his hair and kept it close to his head, out of his eyes (think corn rows) then he could return to class. To this his parents said no. Why? (From the DMN article):
"His mother said it takes too long and when she tried the braids before, he cried because they hurt."
This story upsets me on a couple of different levels. I haven't really formed a firm opinion yet. But I can tell you the way I'm leaning ...
Every day I do things I don't want to do. Every day I make some sort of compromise of what I want, for what my life committments demand of me. Whether that be not wearing the sweat pants that are really the most comfortable piece of clothing I own at this point, or not just throwing my stapler out the window and saying "goodbye!" to the entire work force and running off to Greece, and permanentely residing on a beach, where I'm sure I will win the lottery and be able to support myself. And my child. And my husband. Forever.
What lesson are these parents teaching their 4 year old son? Who is really just adorable and looks so confused by all this attention. And who probably misses his classmates.
I'm tired of this story. It's stupid. The school board is trying to make accomodations for this one student and the parents are refusing to meet them half way. The rules of the school are clear, his hair has to be kept short. If they don't like that rule, enroll him in another school. I realize that may not be easy to do, but rules are rules. If the kid was growing facial hair, he'd have to shave it, according to the school rules. It's a rule.
There were a lot of dumb rules when I was a kid. I couldn't have tylenol in my purse, I had to have a note from a parent and a doctor that said why I need medicine in school, then that medicine had to be given to the school nurse, and I had to go request it from the nurse. This was in high school. Dumb.
But I followed the dumb rule, because it was't worth getting suspended for.
The kid needs to keep his hair off his face and out of his eyes and his parents need to make sure he follows the rules. And then the media needs to quit talking about this dumb story. Because it's dumb. People are starving in Africa. Let's focus on something else.
Since November, Taylor's parents have argued that he wants to keep it long, does not want it cut and that they are not going to take him out of school. Since November, Taylor has been separated from his class and taking lessons from a tutor in the library.
Last night the school board met to rule in the matter and they decided that if Taylor braided his hair and kept it close to his head, out of his eyes (think corn rows) then he could return to class. To this his parents said no. Why? (From the DMN article):
"His mother said it takes too long and when she tried the braids before, he cried because they hurt."
This story upsets me on a couple of different levels. I haven't really formed a firm opinion yet. But I can tell you the way I'm leaning ...
Every day I do things I don't want to do. Every day I make some sort of compromise of what I want, for what my life committments demand of me. Whether that be not wearing the sweat pants that are really the most comfortable piece of clothing I own at this point, or not just throwing my stapler out the window and saying "goodbye!" to the entire work force and running off to Greece, and permanentely residing on a beach, where I'm sure I will win the lottery and be able to support myself. And my child. And my husband. Forever.
What lesson are these parents teaching their 4 year old son? Who is really just adorable and looks so confused by all this attention. And who probably misses his classmates.
I'm tired of this story. It's stupid. The school board is trying to make accomodations for this one student and the parents are refusing to meet them half way. The rules of the school are clear, his hair has to be kept short. If they don't like that rule, enroll him in another school. I realize that may not be easy to do, but rules are rules. If the kid was growing facial hair, he'd have to shave it, according to the school rules. It's a rule.
There were a lot of dumb rules when I was a kid. I couldn't have tylenol in my purse, I had to have a note from a parent and a doctor that said why I need medicine in school, then that medicine had to be given to the school nurse, and I had to go request it from the nurse. This was in high school. Dumb.
But I followed the dumb rule, because it was't worth getting suspended for.
The kid needs to keep his hair off his face and out of his eyes and his parents need to make sure he follows the rules. And then the media needs to quit talking about this dumb story. Because it's dumb. People are starving in Africa. Let's focus on something else.
Comments
I'll take the opposing view on this story.
First, I think that if they don't like the rule they should work to get it changed, not ignore it.
Given that though, let's look at some points.
Who is the hair distracting? The boy? let him fail, let him not learn and there will be consequences
The rest of the class? How? Unless the boy is acting up while trying to get his hair out of his eyes, then probably not.
If the boy is acting up, suspend him for that behavior - not the hair.
Next, let's look at a little sexism going on.
Why do "boys" have to keep their hair off their collar and not girls?
In today's age and political climate don't you find it a little hypocritical to have gender based standards in a dress code? (note this is for non-gender specific items such as hair)
Why should girls be allowed to have long hair...as long as they want it to be but not boys?
Notice the picture of the two girls on the elementary school dress code webpage? One has hair past her collar.
The dress code has been adopted on the premise that students who dress and groom themselves neatly, and in an acceptable and appropriate manner, are more likely to become compliant drones in which we live.
Lastly, are there any studies, evidence of any sort that shows boys have to have short hair to learn or learn better with short hair?
It would be a surprise given the hair styles of the 60s and the 70s if so.
There are plenty of things they can use to teach good behavior that still allows for differences in appearances
The other part of this that makes me go huh ... the kid is four. He's four. He's like two feet tall and squishy and cute and FOUR. It's not like he's studying nuclear fission and his hair was distracting during the lab project or something.
And the other part that's beginning to bug me ... he's been kept in isolation. Say what!? That seems like a really harsh punishment for a four year old who's hair is a little bit longer than it's supposed to be. And I saw the picture of him in court with it in a pony tail, he looks uncomfortable and I'm telling you, if my hair were up that tight I'd have a headache by the end of the day.
Like I said, I think the parents are grandstanding and I haven't really gotten a firm opinion yet. There seems to be some crappy reporting on facts. How did this make it to the teachers attention? Was she concerned about neglect? Was Taylor a trouble maker? Was he the victim of constant bullying because of his hair? Details please.
So far, I'm on the kids side. And really he just looks like he wants to be left alone.