Texas school district says 4 year old must cut hair or wear dress

party-free · 2019-09-18T17:11:43.318Z

I’ve taught many of them in my 11 years.

Do you believe this district is acting in a discriminatory manner?

Janet_Miller · 2019-09-18T17:14:39.952Z

I see nothing unreasonable about the dress code. I wish schools here had one as I see ripped jeans that look like they’re ready for a dumpster; shorts that really don’t cover much; and tops that reveal more than is necessary.

Some either have bad hygiene or are into perfumes & scented lotions that could aggravate symptoms of those with allergies, asthma, migraine type problems.

More power to Texas for having minimum standards at least for grooming for its students.

Janet_Miller · 2019-09-18T17:16:37.181Z

No I really don’t, unless someone can find proof of white boys allowed to wear their hair long (or American Indian, or any other students).

Doesn’t appear they’re allowing dreads, ponytails or man buns for any of their male students.

LucyLou · 2019-09-18T17:18:36.427Z

Personally, I don’t think it should be up to a school district to monitor hair styles. Butt out!

That little boy is adorable, there is nothing wrong or offensive about his hair.

party-free · 2019-09-18T17:26:20.558Z

Janet_Miller:

No I really don’t, unless someone can find proof of white boys allowed to wear their hair long (or American Indian, or any other students).

Doesn’t appear they’re allowing dreads, ponytails or man buns for any of their male students.

Honest question-did you read the entire OP?

Oryx · 2019-09-18T17:30:26.383Z

Janet_Miller:

I see nothing unreasonable about the dress code. I wish schools here had one as I see ripped jeans that look like they’re ready for a dumpster; shorts that really don’t cover much; and tops that reveal more than is necessary.

Some either have bad hygiene or are into perfumes & scented lotions that could aggravate symptoms of those with allergies, asthma, migraine type problems.

More power to Texas for having minimum standards at least for grooming for its students.

Schools have a right and a responsibility to make sure students aren’t distracting other students. But in this case, I don’t see how a boy with long hair is distracting kids from learning their ABCs. The school district is out of bounds.

Janet_Miller · 2019-09-18T17:32:36.143Z

Yes I did.

And the linked article showed no proof of any white, Mexican or any other boys being allowed to wear their hair long.

It listed styles generally not worn by black boys and men, like man buns. Those aren’t allowed, either.

Not seeing sexual discrimination, either. Maybe they don’t want students mistaking or insulting one another over perceived gender (ex you look like a girl).

Wait until they get their first part time job in some areas like fast food service. Some of these restaurants have different grooming standards for hair for both male & female employees.

party-free · 2019-09-18T17:36:39.095Z

So did you read this part:

party-free:

Completely and utterly sexual discrimination. If a female can wear a pony tail, or a bun, etc., why can’t a male? Or, why must a boy, who identifies as a boy, be forced to wear a dress to school in order to have long hair?

I directly made the point that I don’t believe it is racial, but I do believe it is sexual.

Janet_Miller · 2019-09-18T17:51:59.240Z

Life and work are full of different standards for boys and girls. School too.

It wasn’t so reasonable where I went to high school, for example, for young women to be allowed to wear miniskirts in hot weather, but no shorts for the young men.

It’s about the age many will be trying for their first volunteer & job opportunities, and many interviewers won’t be open to shorts & miniskirts. Maybe it’s time for trousers & longer skirts.

Now maybe it’s not so reasonable to impose these codes as young as 4 years old, but it’s their district and therefore their decision as to what minimum standards are.

party-free · 2019-09-18T20:27:10.597Z

Janet_Miller:

Life and work are full of different standards for boys and girls. School too.

Why? Standards of behavior should be exactly the same. Why not standards of dress?

I’m in my 12th year of teaching. I’m a tall, male with long hair nearly worn in a ponytail, 3 ear piercings, and my professionalism has never been called into question. I was hired because I was the most qualified candidate. And I teach in a VERY rural, religious part of the country.

Janet_Miller:

It wasn’t so reasonable where I went to high school, for example, for young women to be allowed to wear miniskirts in hot weather, but no shorts for the young men.

It’s about the age many will be trying for their first volunteer & job opportunities, and many interviewers won’t be open to shorts & miniskirts. Maybe it’s time for trousers & longer skirts.

Now maybe it’s not so reasonable to impose these codes as young as 4 years old, but it’s their district and therefore their decision as to what minimum standards are.

They CAN decide, but that doesn’t mean it’s not discriminatory.

Why can a girl wear her hair in a bun or ponytail, but this boy could not?

Guvnah · 2019-09-18T20:57:46.751Z

Seems to me the school has chosen a strange hill to waste its resources on.

But if this is a matter of discrimination, it’s not about race. It’s about hairstyles. ( shrug )

party-free · 2019-09-18T21:28:58.057Z

I don’t disagree there.

As I mentioned in my OP, I actually find this to be a problem of sexual discrimination.

Why can’t a guy wear a pony tail or a bun, or a “puff” but a girl can?

I think that’s pretty absurd.

My school system just majorly overhauled our dress code-we wasted SO much time worrying about stupid stuff like “does your shirt have a collar? Are the bottoms of your jeans frayed? (no joke) Does your shirt have a brand logo on it? (no joke).”

If a guy wants to wear his hair long, so what? What “standard” does that violate? If a female wants to have a short cut, is that allowed?

party-free · 2019-09-18T21:30:25.909Z

Janet_Miller:

Life and work are full of different standards for boys and girls.

Should we compel young women to have long hair cuts? Beehives maybe? Buns? Is that a problem that violates “different standards” or can we objectively look at old-fashioned sexual standards like this and realize they serve no purpose other than trying to force our own beliefs about appearance on others?

mccoyfan · 2019-09-18T22:15:53.635Z

The district can tell the child to cut the hair unless its an expression of speech but can not tell to wear a dress as alternative option.

Guvnah · 2019-09-18T23:56:49.677Z

This might be a harbinger of that might happen if the school (and the kid’s parents) stick to their guns:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/wrestlers-dreadlocks-controversy-resolved-ref-suspended-two-years/ar-AAHuoTT?li=BBnb7Kz

Guvnah · 2019-09-18T23:57:35.978Z

party-free:

Why can’t a guy wear a pony tail or a bun, or a “puff” but a girl can?

Cultural standards.

Different parts of the country have differing standards.

Excast · 2019-09-18T23:58:39.629Z

Screw the “cultural standards” of Texas. A kid’s hair length should be the last thing a school is worried about.

Ex-Pat · 2019-09-19T00:04:19.201Z

If his parents want him to look like a girl, he should be allowed to look like a girl.

mccoyfan · 2019-09-19T02:37:28.637Z

At least they didn’t tell him to dress up like Betsy Ross

DougBH · 2019-09-19T04:47:11.437Z

I don’t know of any federal civil rights statute that prevents separate dress codes by gender. There may be some states that have such codes, but Texas isn’t one of them.

Basically, discussion about what one does or doesn’t think is an appropriate dress code makes sense but that is just local standards.

What my kids elementary school says about hair:

“Unusual hair styles, hair color, make up, or jewelry that might interfere with learning is discouraged.”

Vague as heck. And “discouraged” isn’t exactly the same as “prohibited”.