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."
“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.”
Yes they can...for the same reasons there are uniforms and dress codes, genius.
I’ll put money on it that the school’s dress code doesn’t even address haircuts. (yet)
“It’s something that he really likes,” Barile said”
Oh, well that makes it okay then. lol
You’re probably right.
The mother thinks she has problems now. Madam, never mind what’s on his head, worry about what they’re putting in it.
Put him in a dress; they’ll not only reinsate him, they’ll build a bathroom for him as well...
“Mohawks violate the school’s policy on being properly groomed”
Skin on either side of the head is probably better (for health reasons) than the long shaggy hair emo kids and punks like to wear.
I just read this on cleveland.com, but what’s a 6 year old doing with a mohawk?
So, why is this a story?
Seems like the problem has been solved.
Sounds like another kid in serious need of a two-parent family.
Sounds like the kid has simply gotten the sides of his head shaved. Done properly, it is even considered a proper military haircut.
Well, apparently they can...
This mother's response is typical of problems schools encounter. No matter what the situation, the parents always assume that their PLS (Precious Little Snowflake) cannot be the problem, and the fault must lie with the school. They will then gleefully undercut the school's authority by telling the PLS that he is absolutely right, and there is no reason to follow the school's rules.
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.
I would wager the school is not the least bit upset with the way things turned out. This parent is just looking for trouble, and is using her young son to find it. I feel for the PLS when he has to come into a new school mid-year with this ridiculous hair-cut. The kids are going to be calling him "Geronimo" for the next 13 years.
What a silly, stupid woman.
Wonder what dad thinks of it.
Or where dad is.
One more reason why mandatory kindergarten is necessary < /s>
Clearly the mother is using the kid to be rebellious by proxy. I wonder what the first two violations were?
>>”They can’t tell me how I can cut his hair.”<<
I’ll bet his daddy gave him his first mohawk.
What makes you think there is a Mr. Ruda involved in all this. Momma might have picked that name because she thought it sounded cool.
“what’s a 6 year old doing with a mohawk?”
Learning to speak iroquoi?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.