4-Year-Old Boy Suspended From School for Months Because His Hair Is 'Too Long

Tiny Explosions

I think I remember reading a thread on here a while back about a junior cert student being sent home from school because of the length of his hair!

In the next 12 months the same will be happening here.:eek:


http://www.alternet.org/blogs/rights/145111/4-year-old_boy_suspended_from_school_for_months_because_his_hair_is_%27too_long%27




First the facts. This kid is 4-years old. Four! He's in pre-kindergarten. His name is Taylor Pugh but he prefers the nickname Tater Tot. Do you not love him already?! All he wants to do is go back to the classroom and be with his friends. But he has been suspended since November because his hair is considered too long by his public school (which is Floyd Elementary School in suburban Dallas). His hair, by the way, barely touches his shoulders. From what I can tell, it's also clean and brushed.
So what's the problem? Apparently his hair violates school district dress code. Why on earth a 4-year-old has a dress code, I don't know. I would think if you’re dealing with a bunch of kids that young, you’d pretty much just hope they show up with their shoes still on. But on further review, the school district seems to have lots of ridiculous dress restrictions. And there are some that just drive me nuts. For instance, girls can have piercings, boys cannot. Girls can have long hair, boys cannot.
So what's this really about? Messed up cultural norms that put boys in one box and girls in the other and don't allow any kind of freedom of expression. What do the people of Texas think will go wrong if a boy has long hair? Does it have anything to do with *gasp* gender identity? Will it get in the way of that algebra they're surely teaching 4-year-olds? I'm guessing the only thing that really interferes with education is not letting a kid go to class.
The whole thing is infuriating. I'm glad Tater Tot's parents haven't caved to the school board's pressure. Actually, his dad is a tattoo artist, so maybe he knows a thing or two about wanting to express yourself with your appearance -- maybe he also knows a bit about uptight folks judging a book by its cover. Here's his dad, who is clearly rad, too:

"Nobody wants to meet in the middle. It's all or nothing," Pugh said. "He's my son. I love him. I will back him to the end."

OK, one more reason to love Tater Tot -- according to the AP, "Taylor's parents say he plans to eventually cut his hair and donate it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients." Yeah, sounds like a great reason to suspend a 4-year-old.

Just for giggles (or screams) here's a few more of this public school's ludicrous rules:

• Top and bottom clothing items cannot be the same color.
• Acceptable colors for pants, skirts, short and jumpers are khaki, navy blue or black (solid, single colors)
• Belts must be worn buckled at all times and must be worn inside the belt loops.
• Bottom of sweatshirt, sweater or sweater vest may not extend more than 4 inches below the belt.
• Shoes must be solid color brown, black, gray, navy blue or white.
• Undershirts must be white, black, gray or same color as top shirt.
• Shoelaces must be white or match the color of the shoe.
• Hair is to be clean and well groomed.
• Unusual coloring or excessive hairstyles that may include "tails", "designs", "puffs", etc. are prohibited.
• Girls must wear sufficient undergarments. (What does that even mean?!)

Not allowed:

• Zippers, snaps, etc.
• Leather, suede, vinyl, corduroy, denim and knit materials
• Suspenders
• Visible stripes, check or other designs

Honestly -- this list is so long it’s almost incomprehensible. Check it out. This kind of thing should not be allowed at a public school. These are kids. They are trying to figure out who they are. They should be allowed to wear, god forbid, stripes or shoelaces that don’t match their shoes. And schools should be spending their time teaching kids and not disciplining them for being who they are. I think the school district has a lot it can learn from a 4-year-old. Stay strong, Tater Tot.






Every kid should be a skinhead

Pineapple Dan

Damn straight.

When I was in school I brought a fountain pen to school rather than an ordinary biro and they made me stand outside in the pissing rain for four hours that said "Non Conformist"

that really thought me its better to do things the way everyone else is doing them and prepared me for the NWO. I thank them for it to this day

4zn76tysfajdxp

Tiny Explosions wrote: »

His name is Taylor Pugh but he prefers the nickname Tater Tot. Do you not love him already?!

*Sniggers*

No.

m@cc@

A kindergarten school is a step too far. But as far as secondary school, I understand having rules on appearance as when you're in school uniform, you're representing the school. Our school had a rule on hair length also and you'd probably be sent home for long hair.

4zn76tysfajdxp

Pineapple Dan wrote: »

When I was in school I brought a fountain pen to school rather than an ordinary biro and they made me stand outside in the pissing rain for four hours that said "Non Conformist"

Where can I find this talking rain?

Degag

Everyone talks about bad parents. The administration of this school are going against everything they should stand for if they risk a childs education over something like this. Just as bad IMO.

Pineapple Dan

Zyaire Swift Wiring wrote: »

Where can I find this talking rain?

In NWO Ireland, rain speaks to you!

Tiny Explosions

@ pineapple dan

But did your hair get wet or did you wear a hat?:)


"Every child under 5 gets a nought blade":D

Degag

Tiny Explosions wrote: »

But did your hair get wet or did you wear a hat?:)


"Every child under 5 gets a nought blade":D

When i was in school, everyone thought that you had to get your parents permission if you wanted a 1 blade or below.:D

Tiny Explosions

Degag wrote: »

When i was in school, everyone thought that you had to get your parents permission if you wanted a 1 blade or below.:D

These days they only look for permission if they're looking to get a tattoo.:rolleyes:

Overheal

Who was the Irish Kid who was barred from sitting his LC last summer because he bleached his hair?

Which is BS, because unless you knew the kid before he bleached the hair, you probably wouldnt know it. One of my best friends' hair is naturally bone white.

Degag

Tiny Explosions wrote: »

These days they only look for permission if they're looking to get a tattoo.:rolleyes:

Lol, not really. Sister got one last year on her ankle. My mother went ape-sh!t.

Tiny Explosions

Overheal wrote: »

Who was the Irish Kid who was barred from sitting his LC last summer because he bleached his hair?

Which is BS, because unless you knew the kid before he bleached the hair, you probably wouldnt know it. One of my best friends' hair is naturally bone white.

I've never heard of that case, but last year I remember a child suspended from school because of his hair, and just before the junior cert was to begin, but his mother made a huge fuss about it and got the story into the newspapers and so he was able to complete the exams his with 'long' hair!

Mothers are deadly!:)

Overheal

Tiny Explosions wrote: »

I've never heard of that case, but last year I remember a child suspended from school because of his hair, and just before the junior cert was to begin, but his mother made a huge fuss about it and got the story into the newspapers and so he was able to complete the exams his with 'long' hair!

Mothers are deadly!:)

:rolleyes:

We're talking about the same story..

Tiny Explosions

Overheal wrote: »

:rolleyes:

We're talking about the same story..

:rolleyes: nice


You sure?

I never mentioned anything about bleched hair!

Maybe your mates an albino?

I'm not trying to be smart here, but any links to the original story?

Overheal

Im just remembering wrong, or one of us is. but yeah it was big news. and im sure were thinking of the same thing.

Jesus Wept

Look at his sideburns, he looks like a girl, now Johnny Unitis theres a haircut you could set your watch by!!

Tiny Explosions

Overheal wrote: »

Im just remembering wrong, or one of us is. but yeah it was big news. and im sure were thinking of the same thing.

I said junior cert not leaving cert, maybe you got confused with an episode of Oprah Winfrey maybe?:pac:

deman

Degag wrote: »

Lol, not really. Sister got one last year on her ankle. My mother went ape-sh!t.

Sorry to go OT here but if your sister had a tattoo done below the age of eighteen and without parental consent, can't you take the tattoo artist to court?

Maybe this deserves a separate thread.

Back on topic. My 10 year son has longish hair and nobody has a problem with it.

Degag

deman wrote: »

Sorry to go OT here but if your sister had a tattoo done below the age of eighteen and without parental consent, can't you take the tattoo artist to court?

Maybe this deserves a separate thread.

Back on topic. My 10 year son has longish hair and nobody has a problem with it.

No idea mate. The mother was fairly philosophical after tempers had calmed anyway. "Tis her own life, let her do what she wants!"

Tiny Explosions

Overheal wrote: »

Im just remembering wrong, or one of us is. but yeah it was big news. and im sure were thinking of the same thing.

I think we might have been both wrong, think this is the thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055241451&highlight=long+hair+junior+cert


But there was definitely another story with a junior cert kid with long hair! I maybe read it in the paper and not on this forum though.

OutlawPete

I was expelled in '88 for having long hair.

Was warned a hundred times and had to have it in a ponytail.

Walking down the corridor and was grabbed by the vice-principal saying "Jon Bon Jovi, come with me.." :mad:

:P

Chucky the tree

Why don't they have a youtube video of this?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/23/french-schoolgirls-don-mi_n_401767.html

monkeypants

Don't see the problem here. It's in his own best interest because he looks like a damned girl. And Tater Tot is just another way of being called "Spud."

Why all the fuss? In my day you just went down the barber to get half an inch off and came back with a receipt.

The article could be summed up as "Smug american c**t isn't treated like he's the centre of the universe."

OutlawPete

monkeypants wrote: »

Don't see the problem here. Why all the fuss?

It's sexual discrimination. Our days have passed and kids shouldn't have to put up the same crap nowadays as we had to back then.

monkeypants

OutlawPete wrote: »

It's sexual discrimination. Our days have passed and kids shouldn't have to put up the same crap nowadays as we had to back then.

Maybe. Good luck explaining that to a four year old.

Herb Powell

I think uniform rules are pure bull****. Why should a school be allowed to say how you should look? The thing is, at the same time, there's all these lessons in school telling everyone they're different, and saying being an individual is a great thing TBH anyone who judges you over what you wear or what length your hair is, isn't worth bothering with.








there is, however, a certain group of young males who enjoy wearing tracksuits, and who cause trouble..............

monkeypants

I think that one of the ideas behind school uniforms and associated hair/makeup policies was to mask and wealth and social status of the pupils. In my opinion, it doesn't work very well.

Herb Powell

monkeypants wrote: »

I think that one of the ideas behind school uniforms and associated hair/makeup policies was to mask and wealth and social status of the pupils. In my opinion, it doesn't work very well.

no, you can tell who's rich anyway.
funnily enough, on no uniform days, everyone dresses almost the same!

OutlawPete

Herb Powell wrote: »

I think uniform rules are pure bull****. .

I disagree.

School uniforms can be a great leveler.

If people can wear what they wish then the family with money will kids to school in designer gear.

It isn't fair to have that pressure on kids who's parents can't afford it.

NothingMan

I had long hair in secondary school and wore it down and free like the rebel (teachers pet) I was. Our principal at the time really hated anyone trying to be different but whenever he tried to make a rule about it he got a lot of resistance from the students and backed down.

So he harrasses me in other ways. He gave me an official warning for an untucked shirt during lunch break, so I kept my shirt tucked in. But the next day he calls me again and says I have an untucked shirt so but it was tucked just overhanging a little over the trousers (as a normal shirt would) so he gave me a warning for having my trousers too low on my waist. I was wearing a belt and I am not one of those idiots who likes to show his boxers! He was a pure dicktator.

I do think that unoforms in general are a good idea though. As long as girls can wear trousers etc....

monkeypants

Herb Powell wrote: »

no, you can tell who's rich anyway.

Absolutely.

who the fug

OutlawPete wrote: »

I was expelled in '88 for having long hair.

Was warned a hundred times and had to have it in a ponytail.

Walking down the corridor and was grabbed by the vice-principal saying "Jon Bon Jovi, come with me.." :mad:

:P

How did you live the Jon Bon Jovi reference down

Dont be at yourself

In my school, some teachers seemed more concerned about enforcing rules on shoes, socks, belts, ties, piercings, jewellery and hair than on educating.

Treat kids with a bit of respect. Wearing an ear-ring or having electric blue hair in no way hinders somebody from learning Pythagoras' Theorem.

homerjay2005

damn right. and the parents should be jailed. forcing a 4 year old boy to have long hair cos hes you wanted a daughter instead, is not cool....

Sleepy

I just read this as 'idiot parents deny their son an education by refusing to bring him for a haircut'...

Herb Powell

OutlawPete wrote: »

I disagree.

School uniforms can be a great leveler.

If people can wear what they wish then the family with money will kids to school in designer gear.

It isn't fair to have that pressure on kids who's parents can't afford it.

they mean well. I suppose we don't know, because uniforms are normal here, but I don't think it would do much harm to be rid of them. One benefit I can definitely see is that on school trips, it's very easy for the teachers to keep track of the children.

OutlawPete

who the fug wrote: »

How did you live the Jon Bon Jovi reference down

Didn't .. to this day I get the ribbing jibes. Did you put on the hairspray blah blah blah.

Have a mate who got suspended for wearing brown suede winkle pickers, so all's good

Sleepy

Sleepy wrote: »

I just read this as 'idiot parents deny their son an education by refusing to bring him for a haircut'...

you need reading lessons so

spudington16

At 4 years old I doubt the kid is even giving that much attention to his appearance, so it really is the parents who are causing problems here. If they were more concerned with his education and less with maintaining a stance on this non-issue then they would have brought him to a barber long ago and brought the thing to an end.

stovelid

Are there christian brothers or priests in the school?

The mother was probably just trying to pass off the boy as a girl for his own safety.

ya-ba-da-ba-doo

Kids like that make me sick.

Ickle Magoo

Presumably the kindergarten didn't introduce the rule specifically so they could expel "tater tot" - his parents knew the rules and let his hair grow really long - duh. It looks awful anyway, what's the issue with getting it cut?!

994

OutlawPete wrote: »

I disagree.

School uniforms can be a great leveler.

If people can wear what they wish then the family with money will kids to school in designer gear.

It isn't fair to have that pressure on kids who's parents can't afford it.

Kids still know who has the best phone, TV, car, gameboy, holidays, etc.

OutlawPete

994 wrote: »

Kids still know who has the best phone, TV, car, gameboy, holidays, etc.

Exactly, and so why throw clothes into that mix too?

Phones should be banned in all schools by the way.

I realize you mean after school etc but schools should do there best to make sure that once people come through the gates, everyone is as equal as possible.

pickarooney

Maybe he's not a good fit for that school and should go somewhere else with less draconian rules?

# Hair is to be clean and well groomed.
# Unusual coloring or excessive hairstyles that may include "tails", "designs", "puffs", etc. are prohibited.

First kid featured on their webpage has dreadlocks...

Pace2008

monkeypants wrote: »

Don't see the problem here. It's in his own best interest because he looks like a damned girl. And Tater Tot is just another way

Agreed. Off-topic, I see a lot of young boys with long haircuts and if they have particularly light voices it's very difficult to determine their gender. It's embarrassing for the kid, and selfish and irresponsible on the parent's part since they're just using their child as a fashion accessory.

Once they're at the age where it's obvious they're male they can wear purple mullets for all I care.

Mrmoe

The damn hippie should've gotten his hair cut.

Star Lord

deman wrote: »

Sorry to go OT here but if your sister had a tattoo done below the age of eighteen and without parental consent, can't you take the tattoo artist to court?

Just had my attention drawn to this ^

We get LOADS of under 18 kids looking to know where will tattoo them in the Tattoos & Piercings forum.

In Ireland, it's an unregulated industry (it really REALLY should be regulated!!!) so there are actually no laws against it. However, there are no decent, respectable tattoo artists (read: those that are any good) that would tattoo someone that's under 18.

As there are no laws broken though, there is no possibility of taking the artist to court.

Kipperhell

I had long hair in secondary school and we weren't allowed put it into a pony tail. It was a really strange rule as generally people think a pony tail is tidier.
I was working on my engineering project in the metal work lab and as I was using the lade I tied my hair back. The principle happened to come in and started screaming at me. Considering I was using heavy machinery at the time and got startled and quite a shock thinking something lethal had just happened.

Anyway he was screaming about my ponytail and charged down towards me yelling the whole time. I stopped the machine and took of my goggles off and was mighty angry. As I got such a fright about actual danger I just started yelling about how he was an idiot for startling me. Yelling the whole time I explained it was tied back as not to get caught in the machine. If he wanted to suspend me expel me or what ever he could but I didn't think anybody would judge his actions favourably given his disregard for safety.

He went ape threatening to get a scissor to cut my hair because of safety. I I said I would do him for assault if he came near me with a scissors etc... The actual teacher came down and tried to calm the two of us down. I was of course told to go to the office which I said I would do but not to be dealth with by the man who just put my life in danger and threatened me.

I eventually went to the vice principle's office and spoke to him. He started out furious at my back chat to the principle but when I explained what he did and the shock I got he mellowed. He then was talking how he knew my mother and how she would back the school up and insist I should cut my hair. He was semi right as she wanted me to cut my hair but she actually backed me up when she heard what the principle did.

Eventually I was given detention in the metal work lab which amount to me being given extra time to work on my project that I wouldn't have ordinarily be allowed to have. It was the only amicable arrangement to allow the principle save face. They then made an exception on ponytails in the labs.

NothingMan

Kipperhell wrote: »

I had long hair in secondary school and we were allowed put it into a pony tail. It was a really strange rule as generally people think a pony tail is tidier.

I assume you mean "weren't" allowed pony tails. That is a mental rule. I would think that if a Principal/Teacher had an issue with long hair a pony tail would be the preferable option to long and loose. You should have put it in pig tails. It's not a pony tail.