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."
My niece and her husband had their two-year old’s hair Mohawked. It stuck up about 2”. There are numerous professional photos of him with it - I think when the kid grows up, he’s going to see those pix and he’s going to be royally p***ed.
Though it is probably better that I stay that way at this point.
The school had previously told “mom” that this was not going to be acceptable. It distracted the other little kiddies. It is no different than banning other forms of dress that cause distraction, create attention, etc.
You are absolutely right and this is exactly why these kids end up being monsters later in life. This mom is modeling very bad behavior for her son. Did you also notice the kid’s t-shirt (Harley Davidson)? I have already created a visual picture of this kid’s family and what they are like.
Ooops sorry, it was the poster himself. I need more coffee.
“When my high school soccer team went to the state tournament in ‘84, we all got mohawks”
AMRAP!
And actually, men are NEVER supposed to wear hats inside. That’s part of ettiquette.
It makes it seem they have something to hide - and indeed, it’s easier for them to “hide”.
Of course, I’d much rather the boys were wearing fedoras (real hats) inside than those stupid ugly ubiquitous baseball hats any time.
“Basically, you’re supporting the notion that it’s a-o-k for the school to make any sort of decree at all, no matter how ridiculous, or blatantly prejudicial, and the school gets a pass.”
And so would YOU, if you kick someone out of your HOUSE for ANY reason, and yet you need no contract at all!
Yes sir, sure am. And if I don’t like that, I remove my child to a district school. In Parma City Schools, one that may not be doing as well but my kid gets to keep his mohawk.
That’s what the mom did. I personally would choose the uniformed, good education.
Afterall, I did sign a contract and the next parent who will be thrilled that his/her child made it in, will do the same.
I know it’s etiquette and all but that was not the reason given.
“Who stole the Kiska?
who stole the Kishka?
who stole the Kishka?
Someone call a cop!”
You don’t get that corporations have rights? Indeed they do, or they couldn’t be sued!!!
Remember that those org’s are made up of real people who, as a team, made up the rules for their “club”. Those people have rights individually, and as a group.
It is not just some inorganic non-living hulk of metal when you speak of corporations.
Shhhh, you are making sense here.
You chose a really bad example. My house is not a public accommodation in any sense of the phrase, whereas a school that accepts public funding very well may be.
If the school has a dress code and/or uniforms, it seems to me they can also set acceptable guidelines for hair as well. This is a charter school, which means that their child had to meet certain qualifications to attend.
It’s not unlike working for an employer who demands a certain look of their employees.
Personally, I don’t care if a kid has a mohawk (as stupid as that would look on a 6 year old) but if there are guidelines that aren’t being followed, the parents are simply being defiant.
I’d like to know if the school has any written policy on hair length/style etc. along with the dress code policy. If they don’t, I can’t imagine they have much leg to stand on.
Not to belabor the point, but that is why I asked. I think that you are responding to so many folks that you are not really reading what they are saying…and making incorrect assumptions.
Me? A union teacher? LOL!
That’s the last I’ll say about that. Cheers.
Of course, but that's not the issue here.
Maybe not the very best example, but the same principle applies. How about the house you own and rent from, vs. tenants? I mean at least in the natural state, not the fascist-regulated state where you “can’t discriminate”, although you should be allowed to - it’s your house and your property, not theirs except by your good grace.
But you realize the actual public schools ALSO have rules of conduct, as does just about every government location. Never mind a “charter school”.
OXNARD!
If the school has a uniform policy then the ‘intent’ of the school is to have uniform appearance. You may disagree, but the parent going to war over a haircut is sending the wrong message to her little precious. It says that he should mindlessly stand up to those in authority over him. Wouldn’t want to be this kids employer in about 15years or so.
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