Girl's suspension for blue hair angers mom

The Detroit News ^ | 11/15/01

[Moleman]

SOUTHGATE -- A few strands of blue hair are causing a big ruckus in Southgate Community Schools.

Maria Alexander, 12, returned to seventh-grade at Gerisch Middle School this week after a two-week suspension for dying blue streaks into her blond hair. Now the question over whether administrators can pull double-duty as fashion critics may reach the school board soon.

[Moleman]

I graduated from Southgate schools, In light of this moronic behavior, I am ashamed.
What about the blue haired librarian, should she be suspend her too??

[goodnesswins]

School is where you are SUPPOSED to learn and EXERCISE your BRAIN.....not the place where kids learn to EXPRESS themselves, IMHO......moronic parents beget moronic kids...

[JLS]

What about the blue haired librarian, should she be suspend her too??

Exactly. But this is what we get from public school administrator, rules rather than learning.

[GRRRRR]

If the school has a WRITTEN dress code PUBLISHED in the School HANDBOOK that spells out the dress code requirements for hair, nails, shirts, pants, dresses, shoes etc, then the school is in the right to hold the line on the dress code. The parents are idiots to allow their little Bolsheviks to dye their hair like this...just try to get a decent job in your 20's with purple hair and a 16p nail in your nasal septum...when will they learn??

All GOOD schools, like the PRIVATE Catholic Skool my daughter attends, ENFORCES the WRITTEN and PUBLISHED Dress Code. Adhering to the DRESS CODE is part of attending the PRIVATE SCHOOL.

Public Skools fail for this and many other reasons...T-Shirts a la Britney Spews are de riguer at PS 105...

GRRRRRRRRRRRRollin'

[Gunner9mm]

Another good reason to home school. Keeps your kids away from the whackos.

[anniegetyourgun]

"Where are our parental rights? "

Just wakin' up, mom? In a few years, they'll transport your daughter down to the local abortionist and you'll have nothing to say about it.

[caddie]

This is so priceless.

LOLOLOLOL

[Deep_6]

Kids require discipline if they are to grow into
responsible adults.

I'm always amazed at so-called conservatives, that
assume their child should not be required to conform
to any codes of behavior or dress.

In one breath, they claim that a too liberal society;
a too liberal educational system, is to blame. And
in their next breath, claim that a too strict system
is demoralizing and tyrannical.

In my opinion, there should be strict school dress
codes, as well as strict codes of conduct. If a student
does not conform, send them home. A school is
for learning, not for displaying the newest fashion rage.

 

[There, I said it and I'm glad]

 

[Phantom Lord]

What did you say about my tattoos and piercings? Oya, I changed my hair color every couple weeks for about 5 years.

[freedomcrusader]

In a few years,

In a few years? Don't they do this now. I mean, the daughter is 12 years old, after all. Menarche can occur that young, and I'm sure the libs are gleefully promoiting sex to them at that age.

[so_real]

I'd like to know more. This kind of feels like a "spin" article designed to gather sympathy for the poor, oppressed student. Seems to me that in general folks use their appearance to express themselves. If the blue streak in her blonde hair was designed to be outlandish, the student's behaviour is probably outlandish as well. The school may very well be attempting to curb her behaviour moreso than to critic her fashion. On the other hand, if she is a model student getting good grades and being completely non-disruptive, then the school should have it's hand-slapped. Based on the bias of the article, however, I doubt that is the case. As I said before, I'd like to know more.

[libbylu]

my daughter went to school with all different colors of hair in 6th and 7th grade, and disgusting type clothes, always baggy. fortunately the school left her alone. it is kind of like letting the baby pull all the pots out of the cupboards, they get bored and move on to something else. My daughter is 17 now, very self assured, althetic, pitcher on her softball team, lifts more than any other girl on her weight lifting competition squad (squats 400) dual enrolled at the community college, a good republican girl who will speak her mind and tell it like it is to anyone, with very good values, good work ethic (so i am told, can't see it in her room). she has told teachers and class that you don't have to worry about abortion if you keep your legs together, the rebel flag isn't racist, the big bang theory is just like the bible, and lastly told a middle eastern girl she didn't care how many afghan's were killed, they needed to wipe out the terrorists. her "looks" rebellion took nothing away from her, she is a truly great kid and all american. told me last week she is thinking about joining ROTC. so leave the little girl with the blue hair alone, worry about something that might affect YOU.

[biblewonk]

One of many reasons that we homeschool our 8 kids.

[mbynack]

What about their self-esteem? </sarcasm

[Deep_6]

re:
"..Another good reason to home school. Keeps your
kids away from the whackos......"

In some cases, being at home, is being with the whackos.

[Winged Elf]

Heh.

Blue hair? They're going nuts over blue hair?!?!

I wonder how they'd react to pointed ears and wings...

[NYCVirago]

Maria Alexander, 12, returned to seventh-grade at Gerisch Middle School this week after a two-week suspension for dying blue streaks into her blond hair.

FWIW, I think the school has the right to enforce dress codes (and hair codes). That being said, a two-week suspension is excessive for coloring your hair a weird color.

[eno_]

If you read the article, the code is vague. And the rest of the information does not sound as if they used reasonable or consistent judgement. If this kid looked like a Santa Cruz street urchin, that would be one thing. To me it sounds like an educrat pulling rank on a parent. I hope he gets his ass handed to him.

[Gunner9mm]

True, but if they're your kids at home with you, at least you know which whackos they're with.