Posted on 02/27/2008 4:56:15 AM PST by E Rocc
PARMA, Ohio -- A kindergarten student with a freshly spiked Mohawk haircut has been suspended by school authorities who said the hair was a distraction for other students.
Michelle Barile, the mother of 6-year-old Bryan Ruda, said nothing in the Parma Community School handbook prohibits the haircut, characterized by closely shaved sides with a strip of prominent hair on top.
"I understand they have a dress code. I understand he has a uniform. But this is total discrimination," she said. "They can't tell me how I can cut his hair."
An administrator at the suburban Cleveland charter school first warned Barile last fall that the haircut wasn't acceptable. The school later sent another warning to her reiterating the ban.
Mohawks violate the school's policy on being properly groomed, school Principal Linda Geyer said. Also, the school district's dress code doesn't mention Mohawks, but it does allow school officials to forbid anything that interferes with the conduct of education.
Ruda's hair became a disruption on Thursday when Ruda arrived freshly shorn, Geyer said. Administrators called Barile on Friday telling her to pick Ruda up from school.
"This was his third infraction," Geyer said Tuesday. "We felt that we were being extremely patient."
Rather than request a hearing to appeal the suspension, Barile said she'll enroll him at another school. Changing the hairstyle is not an option, she said.
"It's something that he really likes," Barile said. "When people hear Mohawk, they think it's long, it's spiked, it's crazy looking, and it's really not."
Problem with that, was they didn’t create “WOMEN’S CLUBS” (no men!!!)!
Which I suspect the men would’ve hated - especially because their women (unlike them, who can roam when they want) were supposed to stay home themselves and stick to home chores.
;-)
>>I did. I also noted that you actually asked if I was a union teacher<<
Hmmm, Zell Miller and spitballs comes to mind.
How ridiculous. Did your kids play for Steinbrenner?
When my high school soccer team went to the state tournament in '84, we all got mohawks.
Harms way=A bad haircut.
OK, Chief.
(PaMom, outside the arch, she dribbles, she shoots...oh yeah, nothing but net...a three pointer). LOL...
I’m not putting her anywhere.
She CHOSE a charter school. She chose to agree to the rules of it, even if they change tomorrow. I’m defining how charters work. Parents choose them and the rules that go with them including the rule that says the rules can change.
And she had a choice to be on the team or not.
Get it?
Exactly!!!
Well...we laugh about ‘soccer hair.’ My son (who graduated last year) lettered in both soccer and baseball. The soccer guys (particularly the ones who played Cup and OPD) all had this flowing hair...headbands, ponytail holders were used (no kidding). My son, who HAD TO ABIDE by his baseball coach’s wishes (no hair, ponytails peaking out from the HS baseball caps) stood out (follicle wise) on the HS soccer field. He is now playing college baseball...and yes, I would be THRILLED beyond words if someday my boy signed up as a NY Yankee.
You might not like the k12 if they follow the PA model! Virtual charter school is no bed of roses. And you are still under govt control when you enroll your child in a virtual charter school. It’s just govt through the side door.
I am aware that correlation doesn’t mean causation.
However, it is highly prevalent in this case, over many decades.
Also, as I insinuated and stated with the Guiliani comment, little things mean alot. Appearance means alot.
And is anyone concerned with the rights of the educational organization here?
We always worry about the 1 individual who’s been “put upon”. Fine. But every entity has its rights, not just that individual.
It’s the same with “Big Bad Evil Capitalist Corporations” who are sued by some individual. They are an entity, likewise, that likewise has RIGHTS as much as the “poor, innocent, weak individual”.
These 2 sides entered into contract freely and without force from any party.
Just because 1 is a “big bad school” does not mean it has no rights while Mom has all.
There used to be Women’s Clubs as well. My mother belonged to several all-women clubs, such as the Gardening Club and a Weight Loss club that seemed to involve tremendous amounts of food and drink, considering it’s charter.
But all that is gone now. In our new, diverse, inclusive age, they have all been replaced with Applebee’s restaurants and Starbucks.
Honestly, that doesn’t bother me at all. My kids were in school for a while.
K12 is a great educational site. Their studies are outstanding. In MI it costs 1800.00 a year for the same education PA and OH get free.
My daughter’s school uniform is the most hideous green and white plaid you ever saw. She would look much better in a nice Blackwatch plaid jumper, but I’m not rushing out to buy her one.
(Actually, she does have one. She wears it on the weekend, and looks fabulous!)
We have yet to determine if there was a rule specifically prohibiting the mohawk-style haircut. If there was not, she didn't break any rule at all. Besides, as I said in an earlier post, we're basically talking about an overgrown high-and-tight here, not an "Exploited"-style mohawk.
I've seen flat-top style haircuts that'd spike out more than this six-year-old kid's hair.
What in the world are you talking about?
Um, did they have BUILDINGS for all the women in the whole region to hang out together?
I have no problem with the concept of having these things (hey, BTW, what are Lion’s Clubs and Shriners and all those other things but “men’s clubs”?), although I can be darn sure I’d have a problem with my man, my dad, or whomever being part of this “closed society” which seems specifically made to “escape” as if women are so terrible, or to hide things they’re ashamed of. Why can’t they just hang out with their friends, period? Why behind locked doors?
Not to argue about this, but your comment got me going off-track!
Usually dress codes include a clause to the effect that anything disruptive to the educational process is not permitted, and gives the Principal discretion over what is to be considered "disruptive".
I would be very surprised to find out that was not the case here.
Maybe he can be just like GayRod.
She was told three times that the child’s haircut was unacceptable. Like I said, a charter parent agrees to abide by the administration. It is her CHOICE.
When my daughter was in a charter, I mistakenly bought blue Mary Janes, thinking they were black. I got a note on it. I shoepolished them black. It wasn’t in the rules anywhere but I had signed a contract stating that I would abide by the wishes of the administration.
This lady did the same. That’s how charters work.
I’m telling you, there are tons of kids that want that spot. They will abide by the wishes of the administration to get the education offered there.
You may not like that, but that is how it is for a charter school and no one is forced to go there.
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