Should Public Schools Be Able To Force Boys To Cut Their Hair?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

You know, a good dress code is good. Even school uniforms are fine. Even requiring kids to be clean/groomed is fine, but requiring boys to cut their hair?

A public school shouldn't be able to require this in my opinion. It almost even seems sexist actually if you get down to the root of it all.

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http://www.wfaa.com/news/Long-hair-an-issue-for-Joshua-12-year-old-101538348.html

JOSHUA — He's a good student; a respectful 12-year-old. But Chris McGregor is banned from the classroom.

The reason? His hair.

While Chris has a sister, it's his long, golden locks that attract attention in his family.

"I want to be my own person," he said. "Everybody has their own personality, and this is how I am."

Chris started growing his hair a few years ago when he noticed professional soccer players wearing longer styles.

"His dream is to play professional soccer for Brazil," said Allen McGregor, Chris' dad.

The family moved to Joshua so Chris could enroll at Godley Middle School. All the district's campuses hold a "recognized" status from state.

But on the first day of class, school officials confronted him. The dress code requires boys' hair to be above the shoulders.

"We try to be fair," said Godley ISD Superintendent Paul Smithson. "However, there are standards in life, and Godley ISD's chosen these standards for the dress."

"I don't believe I should have to cut his hair," the youngster's father said. "He's had it for several years, and I've never had a problem with it in any other school."

The Fort Worth ISD shows a male student with shoulder-length hair on its dress code page.

But Smithson said the hair rule protects students and reflects community standards. "There's a reason in Texas they're called 'independent' school districts," he explained. "Bullying's a big thing, and we want to make sure everyone's dressed appropriately, someone doesn't bring attention to themselves so that someone says something to them, and all of a sudden we have a problem."

If Chris attends Godley Middle School with long hair, he'll have to remain in in-school suspension. That makes his favorite part of school nearly impossible.

"Making friends," he said.

[venusfire503 54]

I don't think they should. It's part of the dress code, so I guess they can in this case. I just don't agree they should make it part of the dress code, though. And yeah, it doesn't seem fair that they differentiate hair length by gender. What if he wears it 'up'? I kind of wish I was a girl that age at that school with hair so long it dragged on the floor, just to see what they would do about that.

venusfire

Edited August 28, 2010 by venusfire503

[Nagishkaw 510]

Can you say Residential Schools? :angry: :angry:

[Danno 1,228]

Seems this family sought this school out and even moved there to gain enrollment.

Always seems odd to me, the first thing they want to do when they go to a special place is to change it.

Conformity is a good lesson for any kid to learn....

If that Soccer dream doesn't pan out thats a lesson he might need.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Seems this family sought this school out and even moved there to gain enrollment.

Always seems odd to me, the first thing they want to do when they go to a special place is to change it.

Conformity is a good lesson for any kid to learn....

If that Soccer dream doesn't pan out thats a lesson he might need.

it's a public school, not a private one. That's the key difference here.

As a public school, having discriminatory practices in effect is not exactly par for the course.

Edited August 28, 2010 by Paul and Vanessa

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Dress codes are a part of life,and have been proven legal in court.

The hair will grow back, and he can grow it all summer.

[thongd4me 69]

Why didn't you make this thread a poll?

Inquiring minds want to know

I know I hated it when my mom conned my uncle into taking me for a haircut.

I never trusted either of them after that

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Dress codes are a part of life,and have been proven legal in court.

The hair will grow back, and he can grow it all summer.

we're talking about a public school. Not a private one. Not a place of employment. Not a private business. A public school that is keeping a discriminatory practice against males vs. females.

[Atencio 43]

we're talking about a public school. Not a private one. Not a place of employment. Not a private business. A public school that is keeping a discriminatory practice against males vs. females.

This has been argued many times using various reasons in court and has yet to be successful.

[Danno 1,228]

we're talking about a public school. Not a private one. Not a place of employment. Not a private business. A public school that is keeping a discriminatory practice against males vs. females.

Males and females are different and this "equality" BS only works for the Girls...... why do you think Feminists are so silent about "Selective service registration"? (males 18 and older must register for a draft should there be one).

Anyway, schools and their students are not covered by all freedoms.

[Pooky 3,787]

It almost even seems sexist actually if you get down to the root of it all.

If you get down to the roots of it, it's not sexist, it's not even a hair cut, it's a shave and polish

If the New York Yankees can get Johnny Damon to do it, schools can get students to do the same.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

we're talking about a public school. Not a private one. Not a place of employment. Not a private business. A public school that is keeping a discriminatory practice against males vs. females.

Its the same way in the military though. I can only speak for the air force but the women get to keep their hair longer (which isn't a good thing because with 3 minutes of shower time and no dry time you can imagine the smell and mold).

Edited August 28, 2010 by Sousuke

[slim 1,525]

Even school uniforms are fine.

When did school uniforms become fine?

I remember a while back when public schools weren't allowed to have uniforms. Now, I see many with them. I think they're acceptable in "alternate" or "magnet" schools where the kids "choose" to attend, but I didn't think it was legal in the towns where there's only one school or the "basic" neighborhood schools or whatever. Last I heard, if it was mandatory for the kids to go there, they couldn't be required to wear a uniform.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

My older son had waist length auburn hair, left for the Air Force ( where it got cut) and returned and when he opened the door he was greeted by his younger brother with waist length blond hair ( and wearing one of his brothers old flannels) The older one has a degree in computer engineer and the younger one is still at college. When either needed a shorter look they pulled it back in a pony tail and tucked it in the back of their shirt if they really got hassled.

[Texanadian 10]

The hair will grow back, and he can grow it all summer.

You can't grow long hair over the summertime. And he will be back in school for the other 10 months of the year.

I think that superintendent shouldn't be allowed to wear a yellow tie with a blue shirt. It doesn't "conform" to traditional business clothing.