Parents reject Mesquite board's compromise on boy's hair

[ninetoes]

"Four-year-old Taylor Pugh can return to class without cutting his hair if he'll wear it in braids that don't touch his collar, the Mesquite school board ruled Monday night.

Taylor Pugh, 4, was at Monday night's meeting. His parents say they'll send him to class today with a ponytail. But his parents immediately rejected the compromise, saying they would appeal to the state education commissioner."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-meshair_12met.ART0.State.Edition2.4bbb97e.html

Couldnt find the original thread for this topic, but thought some may like the update.

[warhorse46]

Sounds like the parents are not willing to meet the school half way, they want it their way or no way. I think the compromise is a good one.

[ninetoes]

"Taylor can return to class if his hair is braided close to his head, over his ears and is not gathered in a bun on his neck."



I wonder if the same hair/dress code applies to the girls.

No, but it applies to all other boys. The girls also have requirements for the length of their dresses, I dont think the boys have such requirements.

[Lynden1000]

I didn't like the quote from this one parent:

Other parents defended the code.

Lois Buford, who has two children in the district, said, "The hair policy in our district encourages our children to fit into mainstream society.


Sorry, Lady, but it's not the government's business to "fit" kids into "mainstream society."

If other people let their kids wear their hair down to their rear ends and you don't like it, that's your problem.

[ninetoes]

IMO schools should have the ability to set and enforce their own dress codes. As long as it is applied to all children, then I dont have a problem with it.

[Humdinger]

Sounds like the parents are not willing to meet the school half way, they want it their way or no way. I think the compromise is a good one.

Exactly, and this just further proves that this 'hair issue' is not about the boy at all.

It's all about the parents promoting their OWN agenda of defiance.

I'm thrilled that the school isn't caving in and catering to the whims of their senseless grandstanding. :thumbup:

[BorderCollieMom]

No, but it applies to all other boys. The girls also have requirements for the length of their dresses, I dont think the boys have such requirements.

What "applies" and what is "reality" is 2 different things.

MISD better start filling out parental notices for haircuts. If this little boy has do so does the rest.

jmo

[FrankieBones1]

Sounds like the parents are not willing to meet the school half way, they want it their way or no way. I think the compromise is a good one.
I think if he has his bangs cut, that would be a fine compromise. I like long hair on boys as long as it's not in the eyes.

Mom says that his scalp bleeds when his hair is braided. Maybe she could use some lessons in that regard.

[Casecase]

Exactly, and this just further proves that this 'hair issue' is not about the boy at all.

It's all about the parents promoting their OWN agenda of defiance.

I'm thrilled that the school isn't caving in and catering to the whims of their senseless grandstanding. :thumbup:


Yep, me, too. I can't even believe this is an issue. How are they going to react when this child is a teenager and his employer says no hair touching the collar, no facial hair, no piercings, etc.?

If you don't like an employer's dress code, you don't have to work there. If they don't like the school district's dress code, the parents don't have to send him to school there.


IMO

[Details]

Crazy. This isn't like an employer - kids are required to go to school. If they're putting restrictions on him that don't exist on the girls, then it's not about safety or any other concern that the school should have, but mere style and preferences. That is not the school's business.

[ninetoes]

What "applies" and what is "reality" is 2 different things.

MISD better start filling out parental notices for haircuts. If this little boy has do so does the rest.

jmo

Its my understanding this school does enforce the dress code, to include hair length for ALL, not just for this boy.

There used to be a show on called the principals office, about different schools and their rules etc. the one principle actually cut the students hair if they didnt get it cut when told. Think that school was in alabama, IIRC. Point is, each school sets their own standards, and students should have to abide by those standards.

[Casecase]

Crazy. This isn't like an employer - kids are required to go to school. If they're putting restrictions on him that don't exist on the girls, then it's not about safety or any other concern that the school should have, but mere style and preferences. That is not the school's business.

There are other options for education - he doesn't HAVE to go to that school.

Also, I noticed that he's in pre-kindergarten. I don't believe pre-kindergarten is compulsory.

IMO

[Zanzi]

I've often wondered why schools don't pay nearly as much attention (IMO) to personal hygiene as they do the length of hair and attire.

[birdwatch]

Sounds like the parents are not willing to meet the school half way, they want it their way or no way. I think the compromise is a good one. I think half way is the ponytail.
I think the school should let it go at that. No reason to drag this out and make even more of an issue with it.

[Tracian]

Crazy. This isn't like an employer - kids are required to go to school. If they're putting restrictions on him that don't exist on the girls, then it's not about safety or any other concern that the school should have, but mere style and preferences. That is not the school's business.


I agree with you completely. I don't like long hair on boys, for the most part, so my sons always had short hair; my choice.

If this was about safety, I would support the school; but this is about what the school considers proper gender roles.

[incidentally]

OMG! I feel the rumblings of the 1960's. I barely made it out alive the first time. :scared:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yd3Elm-X7c&feature=related

[Humdinger]

Crazy. This isn't like an employer - kids are required to go to school. If they're putting restrictions on him that don't exist on the girls, then it's not about safety or any other concern that the school should have, but mere style and preferences. That is not the school's business.

It most certainly IS the school's business, as the dress code was implemented before this child was enrolled, therefore, his parents agreed to abide by that code.

Your statement about the restrictions not existing on the girls, HUH!? Would you prefer that the boys and the girls look exactly alike, with no gender differentiation? That makes no sense, and since WHEN should the boy's hair be allowed to be as long as the girl's hair? Are males not males nowadays, even at the young age of four? Maybe you would also prefer little boys to be made to wear dresses to school as part of their school uniform? Ridiculous to expect that both genders would have the same restrictions on hair length. :rolleyes:

Your comment of, "this isn't like an employer", well, isn't part of educational training purposed so that these children ARE ready for an employer someday? Odd, because that's what "raising children" means; you raise them up to be responsible, well-groomed adults who are able to represent their corporate employers with acceptable presentation.

How pathetically sad for that little boy who feels so isolated from his little friends who he ADMITS that he misses, and yet the father puts HIMSELF before the happiness of his own son's formative school years.
If the parents weren't so lazy, they would home-school that kid so that they can then create their own rules within their own school structure.

And that's aside from the fact that these attention-seeking, agenda-driven parents are teaching that child that THEIR agenda is more important to them than is HIS education, they are also teaching him that it is acceptable to make mountains out of molehills in the name of pure defiance, and more importantly, your given, promised word means nothing, because even though you sign in writing that you did agree to abide by the rules, you can later act WORSE than a 4 yr. old, have a temper tantrum in order to TRY to get your way.

Thankfully, the school IS abiding by THEIR word. From what I understand from people who live in that area, the school has received thousands of letters of support in favor of the school's stance.

Good for them! :thumbup:

[Details]

Boys and girls should look how they want to look - why stop a girl who wants to from wearing short hair, any more than you stop a boy who wants to from wearing it long? All this stuff is just random convention - you look back in history, and all kinds of haircuts were the norm for men - including longer ones.

It's not a safety issue (if it were, the girls would need their own hair cut short too - that was my point about little girls), not about avoiding gang colors, so there is no reason to ban it from the classroom.

Yes, we all have to make some compromises to the workplace - but that depends on the workplace - we don't put all children in scrubs because they might work the ER, or make little girls wear high heels to get used to it in case they end up at a formal workplace - why make a boy cut his hair because there's some slim chance that in a few decades he'll have an employer who wants it that way?

Little boys shouldn't be forced to wear dresses - but neither should they be forced to all look alike. Let them wear what they want, within reasonable limits - a bit of longer hair is just a silly thing to worry about.

[Humdinger]

snip

Let them wear what they want, within reasonable limits - a bit of longer hair is just a silly thing to worry about.

Therein lies the problem due to the fact that his hair length IS unreasonable in many ways. First and foremost, it's more than "a bit" longer; he has it up in a ponytail on TOP of his head.

More importantly, it is unreasonable due to the agreement that his parents had to sign, promising to abide by the rules.

The child is only 4 and has also stated that he misses his friends, so I certainly don't blame him.

Blatant defiance on the parent's part is bad enough, but what they are teaching this child AND DENYING this child is even worse. REAL life consists of REAL parenting; teaching your child that you don't get to cherry-pick what you will or won't abide by in life, particularly when you're on someone ELSE's turf.

I will have zero sympathy for these parents in the near future when this child shows bigger signs of defiance; EXACTLY what they have taught him.

I WILL, however, feel for the reverberation that his inability to conform will have on society.

[Humdinger]

Since they felt like growing it long, and since the realization that they looked so good with it long.

Well these parents are being shown that life is not all about what THEY suddenly "feel like", now aren't they. :wink:

No less at the expense of their 4 year old's happiness.

[WillowInFlight]

Your statement about the restrictions not existing on the girls, HUH!? Would you prefer that the boys and the girls look exactly alike, with no gender differentiation? That makes no sense, and since WHEN should the boy's hair be allowed to be as long as the girl's hair? Are males not males nowadays, even at the young age of four? Maybe you would also prefer little boys to be made to wear dresses to school as part of their school uniform? Ridiculous to expect that both genders would have the same restrictions on hair length. :rolleyes:




SNIPPED

Are you insinuating that a male is only a male if he has short hair?

[Humdinger]

SNIPPED

Are you insinuating that a male is only a male if he has short hair?

If you read the posts and follow them, the question was posed to 'Detail' due to her statement that the girls should have the same rule.

[WillowInFlight]

If you read the posts and follow them, the question was posed to 'Detail' due to her statement that the girls should have the same rule.

I was following them, I was referring to your statement "Are males not males nowadays, even at the young age of four"? My question had nothing to do with "Detail's" post. And since WHEN should a boys hair NOT be allowed to be as long as a girls?

[Details]

If you read the posts and follow them, the question was posed to 'Detail' due to her statement that the girls should have the same rule.I made no statement that girls should have the same rule.

I pointed out that unless they were requiring girls to cut their hair short, there was no way this could be a safety issue. In other words, if it's safe for girls hair to be long, then it's safe for boy's hair to be long. I'm mentioning this because there is one, and only one, reason I could see a restriction like this being legitimate - and that would be to keep children safe. As the rule is not short hair for all, that means this rule is not safety based.

[Humdinger]

snip

I made no statement that girls should have the same rule.


....................


If they're putting restrictions on him that don't exist on the girls

[Details]

....................You want to finish that "if" - a partial quote to pretend I said something I didn't? It's exactly what I said it was - if they're putting restrictions on him that are not on the girls, that indicates this is not a safety issue.
If they're putting restrictions on him that don't exist on the girls, then it's not about safetyAnd trimming a quote to change the meaning is very bad, in TOS - watch out for that.

[Humdinger]

snip

As the rule is not short hair for all, that means this rule is not safety based.


And again, you make reference to the girls having to be expected to adhere to the same hair length as the boys, which is a ludicrous expectation.

That aside, you continue to harp over and over again about "safety", when in fact, NO mention of safety is involved in this rule.

It's becoming O/T in fact.

This issue is about one thing and one thing only; RULES that were not only put into place prior to this child's enrollment, but also rules that were agreed to by the obtuse parents of this child who is now suffering the consequences of his parent's agenda.

[Details]

No, I'm again pointing out that I was posting about whether or not the rule was based on SAFETY.


And I'm doing so because I do not believe the school has a legitimate right to nitpick about things other than a safety issue, and other EDUCATIONAL concerns. Not fashion statements as low key as this kid's hair.

If it were a safety concern, the rule would be the same for all. Since it is not, this is not a safety concern. Pretty simple.

[Casecase]

Just out of curiousity, for those who think that the school has no business saying how long boys' hair should be, do you feel they should not be allowed to have a dress code at all? Anything the kids want to wear - or that the parents want them to wear - goes?


IMO

[Details]

Just out of curiousity, for those who think that the school has no business saying how long boys' hair should be, do you feel they should not be allowed to have a dress code at all? Anything the kids want to wear - or that the parents want them to wear - goes?


IMOSomething not too terribly far. Anything that does not distract from the purpose of school - EDUCATION - goes. Racist, drug endorsing, violence endorsing, gang related, sexual, etc. clothing is off limits, clothing that is excessively skimpy is off limits, clothing that covers the face (burqua and such) is off limits, otherwise, let them wear what they want. Hair - whatever - I really can't see how it matters, unless we're talking something like a mohawk spiky enough to hit the kid in the seat behind.

School does not exist to indoctrinate children into one set of gender roles - it's to educate our children.


Now - I'm actually good with school uniforms - I think they can be a good thing to encourage kids to pay attention to education, rather than who has the coolest clothes - and I really hate how many kids styles seem like skankwear - I HATE seeing styles that are portraying sexuality sold for children who are in elementary school. But when kids are allowed to choose what to wear - anything not on the list above goes. And hairstyle - that's the one bit of individuality kids get - they should be able to choose pretty near anything that doesn't cause major hassles. I can only think of one possible issue - letting a kid have a mohawk or some such hairstyle that can't get wet, when the gym class involves swimming - or something where the kid will try to resist gym because their hair might get messed up. But if it doesn't impact something they are actually need to learn - why not?

[Tracian]

Just out of curiousity, for those who think that the school has no business saying how long boys' hair should be, do you feel they should not be allowed to have a dress code at all? Anything the kids want to wear - or that the parents want them to wear - goes?


IMO


Some cultures and religions expect boys hair to be long(er) this is not a private school, this is a public school, and if the length of hair for girls is not an issue, then why is it for boys?

Would anyone here support all boys must have buzz cuts or high and tights?

Would anyone here support is the school district encouraged parents of girls to allow their hair to grow longer, so they fit in more so to main stream society? Or that girls should be encouraged to wear shirts rather than pants or jeans?

Why is this an issue at all? Simple because this child is male, as others pointed out, it is not about safety issues, it is the preconceived notion of how boys should have their hair cut.

[ninetoes]

Just out of curiousity, for those who think that the school has no business saying how long boys' hair should be, do you feel they should not be allowed to have a dress code at all? Anything the kids want to wear - or that the parents want them to wear - goes?


IMO

I guess I never really gave it much thought. The public school our kids attended had a dress code, and we made sure our kids followed it. Boys had to have their shirt tails tucked in, they were not allowed to wear earrings, jeans had to fit properly thru the seat and thighs etc. Girls had to have shirt tails tucked in if they fell below the top of their pockets. If a shirt showed ANY skin when she raised her hand, it was considered out of dress code. Skirts had to fall to the tip of their fingers or they were considered too short. No sleeveless shirts for boys or girls. Neither could have a hair style that fell into their eyes. The principal also had the final say on any item of clothing worn to school. If he said it was not acceptable, then the student had to either go home and change, or have a parent bring them a change of clothes.

[Humdinger]

snip

I do not believe the school has a legitimate right to nitpick about things other than a safety issue, and other EDUCATIONAL concerns.

You're missing the FACT that this school already had this dress code in place, longggg before this kid was enrolled, and the parents of this kid agreed to it, which in turn completely obliterates anyone's "belief", including yours, mine or anyone else's, whether the school has a "right" to even HAVE the dress code.

Common sense would say, "OF COURSE they have the right, it was already IN the rules and given the blessings of the school board and parents alike!"

This isn't some "newly proposed" rule mid-term, nor was it a rule imposed ONLY on this particular boy, so the "they have no right" is a dead issue and a moot point.

They do, and they're enforcing it! A GOOD thing to do when your word is given and agreed upon by others; sadly something that this kid is learning the hard way, thanks to his obtuse parents.

[Humdinger]

I guess I never really gave it much thought. The public school our kids attended had a dress code, and we made sure our kids followed it. Boys had to have their shirt tails tucked in, they were not allowed to wear earrings, jeans had to fit properly thru the seat and thighs etc. Girls had to have shirt tails tucked in if they fell below the top of their pockets. If a shirt showed ANY skin when she raised her hand, it was considered out of dress code. Skirts had to fall to the tip of their fingers or they were considered too short. No sleeveless shirts for boys or girls. Neither could have a hair style that fell into their eyes. The principal also had the final say on any item of clothing worn to school. If he said it was not acceptable, then the student had to either go home and change, or have a parent bring them a change of clothes.

:thumbup: It's teaching the kids respect for themselves as well as others. Plenty of studies have been done that also prove children perform better in school when they're basically well-groomed, because it gives them a better sense of self-confidence. They even carry themselves differently with a more positive outlook.

Nothing at all wrong with instilling that in our future generation; it's what is expected in the work force, unless of course your goal is to be flipping burgers the rest of your life, and even then, there are RULES for grooming on a lower scale.

[Humdinger]

Maybe the 4 year old likes his hair long.

He's 4, not 14, and he's stated that he misses his friends, terribly.

Have you seen dear 'ole dad? He's quite the picture, which explains a lot. :rolleyes:

[SavannahStar]

Wow who would have guessed this thread would have gotten so heated....all about some little TX brat's hair. :laugh:

[Crispy]

http://www.sphere.com/nation/article/texas-school-suspends-taylor-pugh-for-long-hair/19285015


In this video the woman states that the dress code is designed to prevent distractions in the classroom. I don't see how a boys hair being long is a distraction, but a girls hair being long is not. I think it's a stupid rule. The boy looked like he was being fed and cared for. His hair looked like it was clean. jmo

[Casecase]

:thumbup: It's teaching the kids respect for themselves as well as others. Plenty of studies have been done that also prove children perform better in school when they're basically well-groomed, because it gives them a better sense of self-confidence. They even carry themselves differently with a more positive outlook.

Nothing at all wrong with instilling that in our future generation; it's what is expected in the work force, unless of course your goal is to be flipping burgers the rest of your life, and even then, there are RULES for grooming on a lower scale.


I agree with you. And I believe that schools not only educate in the three "R"s, but are preparing children for life in the work force.

When a child is in school, that's their job. The people in charge have a dress code for them to follow. If they don't like the dress code, the parents don't have to have the kid in that school. They can find a private school in line with their beliefs, they can be homeschooled, they can attend an online school, they can move to another school district. There are options.

Many public schools require uniforms. Girls are permitted to wear skirts, but boys aren't. So I guess that would be a preconceived notion of the "typical" gender roles and is wrong, too????

IMO

[Humdinger]

Wow who would have guessed this thread would have gotten so heated....all about some little TX brat's hair. :laugh:

:lol: Funniest part is, it's really about daddy's bratty agenda! :lol:

[Humdinger]

No, I didn't see the father, but thats okay because I don't pass character judgments on people based solely on their looks.

Me either, his looks would be a non-issue if his obtuse personality and lack of concern for his son's happiness didn't so closely correspond. :tonguewag:

[Tracian]

I agree with you. And I believe that schools not only educate in the three "R"s, but are preparing children for life in the work force.

When a child is in school, that's their job. The people in charge have a dress code for them to follow. If they don't like the dress code, the parents don't have to have the kid in that school. They can find a private school in line with their beliefs, they can be homeschooled, they can attend an online school, they can move to another school district. There are options.

Many public schools require uniforms. Girls are permitted to wear skirts, but boys aren't. So I guess that would be a preconceived notion of the "typical" gender roles and is wrong, too????

IMO


I am not aware of public schools that only allow girls to wear skirts as part of their uniform policy; private yes, but not public.

Regardless, how far can the school go with their policies? Can they have a policy that boys must have buzz cuts? Girls must either have, or allow their hair to grow long?

[Humdinger]

I agree with you. And I believe that schools not only educate in the three "R"s, but are preparing children for life in the work force.

When a child is in school, that's their job. The people in charge have a dress code for them to follow. If they don't like the dress code, the parents don't have to have the kid in that school. They can find a private school in line with their beliefs, they can be homeschooled, they can attend an online school, they can move to another school district. There are options.

Many public schools require uniforms. Girls are permitted to wear skirts, but boys aren't. So I guess that would be a preconceived notion of the "typical" gender roles and is wrong, too???? IMO

Bolded: Yes, some seem to have a problem with boys actually looking like boys unless the girls are mandated to ALSO look like the boys.

Must be some new "PC" thing, dontchaknow. :wink:

[Tracian]

Bolded: Yes, some seem to have a problem with boys actually looking like boys unless the girls are mandated to ALSO look like the boys.

Must be some new "PC" thing, dontchaknow. :wink:


I guess girls with short hair styles look like little boys? Or boys of religions or cultures that boys have long/er hair look like little girls?

[Moondust]

IMO, the parents are being stupid...the child misses his friends...that should be reason enough to cut his hair.

[Humdinger]

IMO, the parents are being stupid...the child misses his friends...that should be reason enough to cut his hair.

That would be 100% correct only IF this issue really was about the little boy, but it is instead, clearly about a set of parents who are behaving with a bad case of Oppositional Defiance, all the while blatantly disregarding what their child really wants, which is "his friends".

Every single Spring, some teen male nutjob somewhere, attempts to wear a DRESS to Prom, and they, too, are banned from attending because OH MY GOSH, the school had the nerve to have RULES! :scared: Imagine that!

Gender conformity really ISN'T such a bad thing, folks! :laugh:

[Humdinger]

Are you saying that you, a complete stranger, know more about the child's happiness than his own father does?

The child himself knows what he wants, and he clearly stated that he missed his friends.

You apparently missed that video. Look it up, it's on the other thread.

[incidentally]

IMO, the parents are being stupid...the child misses his friends...that should be reason enough to cut his hair.

Quit being so practical. It's unseemly.

:laugh:

[Moondust]

That would be 100% correct only IF this issue really was about the little boy, but it is instead, clearly about a set of parents who are behaving with a bad case of Oppositional Defiance, all the while blatantly disregarding what their child really wants, which is "his friends".

Every single Spring, some teen male nutjob somewhere, attempts to wear a DRESS to Prom, and they, too, are banned from attending because OH MY GOSH, the school had the nerve to have RULES! :scared: Imagine that!

Gender conformity really ISN'T such a bad thing, folks! :laugh:


As I said...the parents are stupid...:shrug:

[Brady]

Just out of curiousity, for those who think that the school has no business saying how long boys' hair should be, do you feel they should not be allowed to have a dress code at all? Anything the kids want to wear - or that the parents want them to wear - goes?


IMO

I am against what we did in years past, making all girls wear dresses, prohibiting girls from wearing pants. They still do that in other countries and it is wrong.

[Humdinger]

Quit being so practical. It's unseemly.

:laugh:

:lol: You and Moondust both have a gift of very simplistic accuracy!

Well done!

[Brady]

Why should some think that they should be able to dictate the length of someone's hair. Is bush2 still prez and his theocracy in place as he wanted?

[incidentally]

Why should some think that they should be able to dictate the length of someone's hair. Is bush2 still prez and his theocracy in place as he wanted?

No you didn't! You didn't bring Bush into this did you?? :blink:hammer

Awwwwwwwwww Geez.

Clean up, Aisle three.

[Humdinger]

His friends are at the school. The school won't let the child attend, unless he conforms to its gender biased policy. Seems to me like the school policy is what makes the boy unhappy, not his father.

No, it isn't the school that is keeping him from his friends, they have had the rules in place and blessed by this boy's parents upon enrollment with their signatures of agreement.

What part of that are you just not comprehending or did you not read the link, just as you didn't watch the video?

Suddenly, the parents decide they'd like to change their minds and insist the school change THEIR minds. The parents are reminded that THEY are not going to dictate a pre-determined school policy.

It's not going to happen, and they are being shown that, all the while the parents force their 4 year old to be isolated from his friends so that he can serve as the bartering tool in order to suffice his PARENT'S agenda.

Shame, shame on those parents. :thumbdown:

[Humdinger]

No you didn't! You didn't bring Bush into this did you?? :blink:hammer

Awwwwwwwwww Geez.

Clean up, Aisle three.

I love the "Awwwww Geez". I can hear little Randy's voice from the Christmas Story, it sounds just like him! :lol:

[Humdinger]

It will be interesting to see what the courts have to say about it.

What's truly pathetic is that the parents would even continue to torture this little 4 year old in order to TAKE it to the level of litigation. :rolleyes:

[Casecase]

I am not aware of public schools that only allow girls to wear skirts as part of their uniform policy; private yes, but not public.

Regardless, how far can the school go with their policies? Can they have a policy that boys must have buzz cuts? Girls must either have, or allow their hair to grow long?

I didn't say that public schools only allow girls to wear skirts . . . I said that girls are permitted to wear skirts but boys aren't. In other words, boys are only allowed to wear pants.


IMO

[Casecase]

I guess girls with short hair styles look like little boys? Or boys of religions or cultures that boys have long/er hair look like little girls?

I have my first-grade picture to prove just how much a little girl with short hair can look like a little boy!


IMO

[Casecase]

Why should some think that they should be able to dictate the length of someone's hair. Is bush2 still prez and his theocracy in place as he wanted?

Ask the military. They dictate the length of hair and have different standards for both men and women.

And before anyone says "but the military is voluntary", they would have standards even if there was a draft.


IMO

[ninetoes]

I think rules are rules. But then Im one of those bad ole parents who sometimes, when asked "why" by my kids, the answer was simply "because I said so".

[Details]

I think rules are rules. But then Im one of those bad ole parents who sometimes, when asked "why" by my kids, the answer was simply "because I said so".If there's no reason behind rules, then kids don't follow them anymore when they become adults. Tell them the reasons, and then they can decide to follow them for a reason, rather than because they're little and you're big. It teaches that reason is what makes rules, rather than that the powerful get to push around those without power.

[birdwatch]

What's truly pathetic is that the parents would even continue to torture this little 4 year old in order to TAKE it to the level of litigation. :rolleyes: I agree with that - surely these parents must have beter things to do with their time and energy.

But I"m still asking - Why does the school have a problem with a pony tail? It would be hard to imagine that the rules actually say that the hair or the pony tail should be braided. Off the neck and out of his face - OK - pony tail. That should have been a 5 minute decision - coming to agreement on that. This is ridiculous.

And I think its sad if anyone is calling this little 4 yr old a brat - his parents are the brats, imo.

[BorderCollieMom]

It looks like people are missing what the arguement is about...and BTW, this happens at this district every year for YEARS ! Its nothing new for Mesquite. This one is getting attn for some reason...maybe because the parents arent bowing down this time.

Its always been a problem....different rules for different schools in MISD.

I think these parents just want EQUAL treatment & are holding the MISD accountable, which "its about time" someone did, imo.

Alot of boys have hair thats against the rules but they arent called out on it unless they happen to get a teacher that will write him up or noticed purposely....its hard to explain...but I see it ! I was raised there...Good old boy/Bible Belt/conservative city...

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Pre-schoolers-parents-claim-Mesquite-ISD-is-setting-double-standard-on-hair-81268667.html

His parents complained to the school board Monday night that not every student is punished for having long hair. Taylor Pugh's father showed a picture of male students with long hair receiving awards from the board.

"The same night they dismissed my son and put him into the segregation — the same night, they handed an award to about a 14-year-old child. I showed them pictures of the school board handing him a Certificate of Excellence to a boy who has longer hair than my son,” Liz Taylor said. “They've got to hold everyone to the same standard."

News 8 asked a Mesquite ISD spokesman about the photo of other long-haired male students, and he compared it to an officer not being able to catch every driver breaking the speed limit.

He said if one driver gets caught and complains about other drivers speeding, the officer will still ticket the person he caught.


more at link & video

[incidentally]

I think they should all shave their heads and be done with it.

What a bunch of whiny, self absorbed, it's all about me, people.

[ninetoes]

If there's no reason behind rules, then kids don't follow them anymore when they become adults. Tell them the reasons, and then they can decide to follow them for a reason, rather than because they're little and you're big. It teaches that reason is what makes rules, rather than that the powerful get to push around those without power.

I think its important for them to learn life isnt always fair, and no matter who we are, we sometimes have to do things we dont want to do.

[SavannahStar]

I think its important for them to learn life isnt always fair, and no matter who we are, we sometimes have to do things we dont want to do.

BBM.

How true.

I award you "Best Post of the Thread" for that one. :thumbup:

[Tracian]

It looks like people are missing what the arguement is about...and BTW, this happens at this district every year for YEARS ! Its nothing new for Mesquite. This one is getting attn for some reason...maybe because the parents arent bowing down this time.

Its always been a problem....different rules for different schools in MISD.

I think these parents just want EQUAL treatment & are holding the MISD accountable, which "its about time" someone did, imo.

Alot of boys have hair thats against the rules but they arent called out on it unless they happen to get a teacher that will write him up or noticed purposely....its hard to explain...but I see it ! I was raised there...Good old boy/Bible Belt/conservative city...

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Pre-schoolers-parents-claim-Mesquite-ISD-is-setting-double-standard-on-hair-81268667.html

His parents complained to the school board Monday night that not every student is punished for having long hair. Taylor Pugh's father showed a picture of male students with long hair receiving awards from the board.

"The same night they dismissed my son and put him into the segregation — the same night, they handed an award to about a 14-year-old child. I showed them pictures of the school board handing him a Certificate of Excellence to a boy who has longer hair than my son,” Liz Taylor said. “They've got to hold everyone to the same standard."

News 8 asked a Mesquite ISD spokesman about the photo of other long-haired male students, and he compared it to an officer not being able to catch every driver breaking the speed limit.

He said if one driver gets caught and complains about other drivers speeding, the officer will still ticket the person he caught.


more at link & video


Thanks for the link, BBM:

That is a stupid analogy. They can't catch the boys with long hair that they are giving awards to?

:rolleyes:

[Tracian]

I think rules are rules. But then Im one of those bad ole parents who sometimes, when asked "why" by my kids, the answer was simply "because I said so".


I think that rules are rules also, as long as they apply equally to all, in this case, it appears this is not true.

[True2Blues]

What's truly pathetic is that the parents would even continue to torture this little 4 year old in order to TAKE it to the level of litigation. :rolleyes:

I agree, that's the worst part. People who use their children just to bring attention to themselves, like this bunch, are too absorbed in themselves to need children. Who cares what the kid wants? It's getting Dad's agenda out there and his picture on the news. He's their kid, shouldn't he be useful to them?

Sounds like the Balloon Boy parents all over again. Maybe these folks want their own reality show too.

[Humdinger]

I think its important for them to learn life isnt always fair, and no matter who we are, we sometimes have to do things we dont want to do.

_____________


BBM.

How true.

I award you "Best Post of the Thread" for that one. :thumbup:

Absolutely, to the point! :thumbsup:

[Humdinger]

I agree, that's the worst part. People who use their children just to bring attention to themselves, like this bunch, are too absorbed in themselves to need children. Who cares what the kid wants? It's getting Dad's agenda out there and his picture on the news. He's their kid, shouldn't he be useful to them?

Sounds like the Balloon Boy parents all over again. Maybe these folks want their own reality show too.

:laugh: Great comparison, but I gasp to think we would all be exposed to bratty daddy's mug on TLC.

Come to think of it, TLC no less, THE LEARNING CHANNEL, where parents who NEED to learn how to properly care for their children constantly seem to be featured.

[Humdinger]

I think they should all shave their heads and be done with it.

What a bunch of whiny, self absorbed, it's all about me, people.

:lol:

I agree to your post in its entirety, but the bolded part, only if mom can be roped in there too. :lol:

[Patriot]

I think its important for them to learn life isnt always fair, and no matter who we are, we sometimes have to do things we dont want to do.


So true, nine. A lesson that needs to be learned by today's young ones IMO.

[ninetoes]

So true, nine. A lesson that needs to be learned by today's young ones IMO.

Yep. One of my daughters friends lost their job today because they refused to remove their nose and lip rings. She said she has a "right" to wear them, since its her face. Yep, she has that right. But, she doesnt have the right to set the standards at her place of employment. But because she has always been told "her rights outweigh everything else", she was willing to lose a job in a time when jobs are very hard to come by.

[Moondust]

Yep. One of my daughters friends lost their job today because they refused to remove their nose and lip rings. She said she has a "right" to wear them, since its her face. Yep, she has that right. But, she doesnt have the right to set the standards at her place of employment. But because she has always been told "her rights outweigh everything else", she was willing to lose a job in a time when jobs are very hard to come by.

Sounds like she'd get along smashingly with the parents in this case....its me, me, me...all about me mentalities that seem to be setting the standard in our society today and I'm pretty sick of it.

The younger generation are exposed to it everyday through peers, celebs, and wannabees....it seems to be all they know anymore. They come first and nothing will get in their way.

The parents of this four year old needs to set their selfishness aside for the sake of their son....he wants to be in school and be with his friends...that should come above all else....CUT HIS HAIR

The school has a right to uphold its code, therefore, its not their place to cave at the whim of these seekers of 15 minutes of fame...:rolleyes:

[VC2]

Sounds like the parents are not willing to meet the school half way, they want it their way or no way. I think the compromise is a good one.

oh my...i disagree. First of all i am against any school suggesting that a child cant have shoulder length hair, girl or boy.

However to say it has to be in "thin braids" and bound up on his head?????

That really would be a bizarre look, there is nothing girlish about shoulder lenght hair on a boy , but to suggest it be put into thin braids and bound is to make a child look not only girlish but totally weird. I can't think of a girl who would wear hair like that!

So it is ok for a boy with longer hair than this one to receive a certificate of excellence rather than a suspension while this boy must wear his hair in thin braids bound around his head or not be allowed in school?

Not only is this gender biased-the idea that boys much have short hair to look like a boy is ludicrous in this day and age-but it is singling out one child for negative treatment while allowing others to get awards and rewards while doing the same thing.

I applaud these parents in this case, they should have the right to choose his hair length and he has the right not to be punsihed for doing the same thing other kids do, as well as not being punished for something that should be gender neutral (hair length).

Maybe they could have a point if the hair was down to his waist, but otherwise a rule saying only girls and certain boys can have hair to their shoulders is nothing but wrong, cruel and biased.

IMO

ETA i find the so called compromise utterly disgusting. A pony tail would be ok-then you can argue neatness and should make girls wear their shulder length hair clipped too- but this bizarre hairstyle they have said is ok is nothing but hogwash. They said that because they have no intention of compromising whatsoever. There is not a reason for the hair rule they can cite that makes a freaky braided bound up look better than neat hair in a small pony tail. IMO

[VC2]

Yep. One of my daughters friends lost their job today because they refused to remove their nose and lip rings. She said she has a "right" to wear them, since its her face. Yep, she has that right. But, she doesnt have the right to set the standards at her place of employment. But because she has always been told "her rights outweigh everything else", she was willing to lose a job in a time when jobs are very hard to come by.

Umm a job is not something akin to school. the analogy further falls on the idea that nose rings and lip rings are the same as normal shoulder length hair. Doesn't matter if you are male or female, the former would be out of place in some workplaces. the hair is only an issue because of a totally wrongheaded idea about what is a girl or boy hair.

In fact, i would say the comparison of a nose and lip rings is closer to the schools so called 'compromise".

If you want to use the above as an example however, in almost every plae i can think of, if a "male" is transgendered and wears a dress or skirt and was fired for it, the company would lose a very big lawsuit, since discrimination against transgendered people is against federal law.

IMO

[ShyGuy]

If there weren't any kids brought up to question authority there wouldn't be any public defenders.

Hang in there, Taylor. If the girls at your school can wear their hair either long or short then boys should be allowed to make the same choice.

Taylor, I think there is a lawyer at your nearest ACLU Office just waiting for your phone call.

Don't cave, little guy.

[SavannahStar]

If there weren't any kids brought up to question authority there wouldn't be any public defenders.

Hang in there, Taylor. If the girls at your school can wear their hair either long or short then boys should be allowed to make the same choice.

Taylor, I think there is a lawyer at your nearest ACLU Office just waiting for your phone call.

Don't cave, little guy.

Though I don't particularly agree with you, that's a terrific post. :smile:

[ShyGuy]

Though I don't particularly agree with you, that's a terrific post. :smile:

Thank you

We love our daughter's pit bull, Blue.

At nine weeks

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v112/hotlanta_dude/?action=view&current=babygirlbluedecember04.jpg''

Now

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/hotlanta_dude/atrest.jpg

Washing my face

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v112/hotlanta_dude/?action=view&current=blue20008.jpg

[SavannahStar]

Thank you

We love our daughter's pit bull, Blue.

At nine weeks

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v112/hotlanta_dude/?action=view&current=babygirlbluedecember04.jpg''

Now

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/hotlanta_dude/atrest.jpg

Washing my face

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v112/hotlanta_dude/?action=view&current=blue20008.jpg


I didn't know who you were! :laugh:

I've seen you post pics of Blue before, I'm sure I commented on them. My next pit will definitely be a brindle. I LOVE Blue!!!! Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, and I know how much you love that sweetie! :wub:

[Moondust]

Thank you

We love our daughter's pit bull, Blue.

At nine weeks

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v112/hotlanta_dude/?action=view&current=babygirlbluedecember04.jpg''

Now

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/hotlanta_dude/atrest.jpg

Washing my face

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v112/hotlanta_dude/?action=view&current=blue20008.jpg




LOL...I know you...:lol:

[ShyGuy]

I didn't know who you were! :laugh:

I've seen you post pics of Blue before, I'm sure I commented on them. My next pit will definitely be a brindle. I LOVE Blue!!!! Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, and I know how much you love that sweetie! :wub:

The thing is that being a quad my arms are very weak. So when our daughter came over that day with Blue and she jumped up in my wheelchair and started licking my face there was nothing I could do.

MY wife and my daughter were sitting right there but all they did was laugh and take pictures.

dougie

[ShyGuy]

LOL...I know you...:lol:

I'm still eating KK Kreme filled dougnuts and it's all your fault.

[Casecase]

oh my...i disagree. First of all i am against any school suggesting that a child cant have shoulder length hair, girl or boy.

However to say it has to be in "thin braids" and bound up on his head?????

That really would be a bizarre look, there is nothing girlish about shoulder lenght hair on a boy , but to suggest it be put into thin braids and bound is to make a child look not only girlish but totally weird. I can't think of a girl who would wear hair like that!

So it is ok for a boy with longer hair than this one to receive a certificate of excellence rather than a suspension while this boy must wear his hair in thin braids bound around his head or not be allowed in school?

Not only is this gender biased-the idea that boys much have short hair to look like a boy is ludicrous in this day and age-but it is singling out one child for negative treatment while allowing others to get awards and rewards while doing the same thing.

I applaud these parents in this case, they should have the right to choose his hair length and he has the right not to be punsihed for doing the same thing other kids do, as well as not being punished for something that should be gender neutral (hair length).

Maybe they could have a point if the hair was down to his waist, but otherwise a rule saying only girls and certain boys can have hair to their shoulders is nothing but wrong, cruel and biased.

IMO

ETA i find the so called compromise utterly disgusting. A pony tail would be ok-then you can argue neatness and should make girls wear their shulder length hair clipped too- but this bizarre hairstyle they have said is ok is nothing but hogwash. They said that because they have no intention of compromising whatsoever. There is not a reason for the hair rule they can cite that makes a freaky braided bound up look better than neat hair in a small pony tail. IMO


BBM.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. I've been to several soccer tournaments in the past couple of years and have wondered why there was a girl on an all-boys team. Between shoulder-length hair and upper-halves of the torso that look like they're "developing", we would have put money on these kids being girls. Then we found out they were boys.

I don't have a problem with the school district having rules (again, the parents don't have to send him there if they don't like the rules), but they should enforce the rules uniformly.


IMO

[birdwatch]

Yep. One of my daughters friends lost their job today because they refused to remove their nose and lip rings. She said she has a "right" to wear them, since its her face. Yep, she has that right. But, she doesnt have the right to set the standards at her place of employment. But because she has always been told "her rights outweigh everything else", she was willing to lose a job in a time when jobs are very hard to come by. LOL - she went to a school that let her sport the nose and lip rings? In that case the outside world must have come as a shock to her. Lesson learned now, I suppose.

I think schools have the right to enforce their rules just as businesses do - as long as they are consistent. It is ridiculous to say this little boy can't have long hair if they do, indeed, let other boys wear their hair long. That fact and the whole thing about not accepting the pony tail is just the school abusing their own policy. I would say "show me the the rule about putting it in braids instead of a pony tail". Good grief - sounds like everyone on both sides of this have too much time on their hands. This could have been settled in minutes and stayed within the rules.

I wonder if the school is now going to have to go after the other long-haired boys they have let slide. How big is this school anyway - that they didn't notice those other boys? That will make more media attention to the school.

[BorderCollieMom]

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Pre-schooler-returns-to-school-after-long-locks-debate-82087682.html

Back in school with a new doo.

[SavannahStar]

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Pre-schooler-returns-to-school-after-long-locks-debate-82087682.html

Back in school with a new doo.

I love French braids. But not on a boy. :thumbdown:

[BorderCollieMom]

I love French braids. But not on a boy. :thumbdown:


I agree !!!!!

[WillowInFlight]

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Pre-schooler-returns-to-school-after-long-locks-debate-82087682.html

Back in school with a new doo.

Poor kid! A hair cut would have looked better.

[True2Blues]

Poor kid! A hair cut would have looked better.

I agree. He's 4 years old, he has plenty of time to grow his hair down to his knees when he gets out of elementary school. He probably wouldn't even care if it got cut.

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

Dad says he does not want to 'hold his son down and cut his hair against his will.' Who is the parent here? Either way the RULES were in place-- can't follow them? Go elsewhere.

[True2Blues]

Dad says he does not want to 'hold his son down and cut his hair against his will.' Who is the parent here? Either way the RULES were in place-- can't follow them? Go elsewhere.

That's a good point. The way the parents have behaved is probably why the child would react that way, anyway. I still think Dad is full of baloney and a 4 year old wouldn't care as long as he was left to go be a normal kid.

When I was little my Mom didn't want to mess with long tangled hair on her three girls and we got haircuts whether we wanted it or not. When we were old enough to care for it ourselves, we were allowed to grow it out. Believe it or not, we all lived through it and none of us was permanently afflicted with a terror of scissors or anything. :biggrin: