Teacher Punishes Boys With Haircut, Bows

Internet Broadcast System ^ | 4/13/07 | Staff

[Millee]

Debbie Hackman's son, Caleb, was one of two boys who came home from school this week with a new haircut -– and the barber was the boys’ teacher at Milan Elementary School.

According to students, fourth-grade teacher Jennifer Blockman punished the boys by tying pink bows in their hair and cutting their hair in front of the class.

"He doesn’t really want to go back to school because he's afraid he's going to be made fun of (and) maybe picked on," said Hackman, who wants the teacher to apologize.

"I do realize adults make mistakes, but they have to own up to them," she said. "Apologize to the student. I don't think this has happened yet."

Other parents expressed outrage as they waited to see how the school district would handle the incident.

"That should have nothing to do with the education at all," said parent Stephanie Crossman. "If it was a concern of the teacher, the teacher should have talked it over with the children's parents. It's also humiliating for the kids involved because it happened in front of other kids."

[Millee]

According to students, fourth-grade teacher Jennifer Blockman punished the boys by tying pink bows in their hair and cutting their hair in front of the class.

And she thought this would be appropriate why?????

[USMCWife6869]

What was she supposedly punishing them for? Am I the only one who finds this article seriously lacking in some basic facts?

[Hazcat]

First, this was WRONG! If it was my son there would be he!! to pay for that school and that teacher.

Second, what did the boys do that made this idiot think that this was an appropriate discipline?

[Millee]

For having hair too long & forgetting their pink bows. ;o)

[Sue Perkick]

Doesn’t make sense to me but if it’s true, she had no right whatsoever & should have her head shaved in front of the class.

[mrs. a]

I went to a private grade school. We had a strict dress code. If a boy’s hair was too long, he had to wear a headband to “keep it out of his eyes.” If he let his shirttail hang out, it was tied with a pink ribbon.

I don’t remember a case where anyone ever picked on these kids. We understood the rules, and we understood that these boys were being made to adhere to the rules.

However, no teacher would EVER EVER EVER have used scissors anywhere near a pupil’s head...

[redwhit]

Me too, but it was only one teacher, Mrs. Potter who would apply pink ribbon for the shirttail. Just the threat was enough to motivate a forgetful 2nd grader to tuck in that shirt and strighten the gig line.

[pandoraou812]

Something just doesn’t add up here...Is this a public school? If this was my son I would be down at that school demanding some answers. To me this is an assault on a child. No teacher IMO has the right (in NJ at least)to put their hands on a child unless it is to help that child should they need help or to break up a fight. I am not a lawsuit person but in this case I would sue the the school for having a loonie teacher & for making my son look like a fool. This woman should not be teaching. I wonder how she would like it if a group of pist off parents shaved her head bald?