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Preschooler banned for trendy haircut
Filed under: Just For Moms, Toddlers Preschoolers, Preschoolers, Development/Milestones: Babies, Day Care & Education
The last time I took my 7-year-old in for a haircut, the stylist gave her a photo book of hairstyles to look through while we waited for her turn. She turned immediately to the young adult section and chose a pink striped, spiky do that reminded me of Cyndi Lauper circa 1983. Because it involved color, lots of product and daily styling, I told her she would have to choose something else.
When 3-year-old Tavis Cook's mother allowed him to choose his own haircut, he also went for something intended for an older kid. His choice didn't involve color or lots of product, but had intricate designs - tramlines - shaved into the hair on the back and sides of his head.
While his mother, Donna Cook, thought her son's new haircut looked nice, his preschool did not. When he showed up for class at Riverside primary School in the UK with his trendy hairdo, she was told to come pick him up and bring him back when his hair had grown out. When she got there, she says she found her son distraught. "When I arrived he was in floods of tears. I can't believe they'd do this to a little boy like Tavis," she says. "He is the most placid, lovely lad, he's never in trouble."
Those in charge of such things at the school say Tavis' haircut broke the rules, although Donna Cook claims she checked to make sure it was okay and found there was no policy regarding hairstyles in the preschool class. There has been no comment from the school on the matter, but the North Tyneside Council is advising Cook on her options.
I feel bad for this little guy. Here he was, probably feeling all good about himself with his cool new haircut and they just shot him down. I think he looks fine and don't understand why some people get so worked up about hair.
When 3-year-old Tavis Cook's mother allowed him to choose his own haircut, he also went for something intended for an older kid. His choice didn't involve color or lots of product, but had intricate designs - tramlines - shaved into the hair on the back and sides of his head.
While his mother, Donna Cook, thought her son's new haircut looked nice, his preschool did not. When he showed up for class at Riverside primary School in the UK with his trendy hairdo, she was told to come pick him up and bring him back when his hair had grown out. When she got there, she says she found her son distraught. "When I arrived he was in floods of tears. I can't believe they'd do this to a little boy like Tavis," she says. "He is the most placid, lovely lad, he's never in trouble."
Those in charge of such things at the school say Tavis' haircut broke the rules, although Donna Cook claims she checked to make sure it was okay and found there was no policy regarding hairstyles in the preschool class. There has been no comment from the school on the matter, but the North Tyneside Council is advising Cook on her options.
I feel bad for this little guy. Here he was, probably feeling all good about himself with his cool new haircut and they just shot him down. I think he looks fine and don't understand why some people get so worked up about hair.












ReaderComments (Page 5 of 15)
4-08-2008 @ 9:37PM
l said...If they really had a problem with it the teacher could have took the mother aside after school and talked with her. dont make the little kid cry. Some schools just want to assert their power with "disipline" when all they're really doing is making the kids hate school. Why dont they instead focus on teachng the kid. With all the people who drop out of high school in this country, we shouldn't be focusing on a hair cut.
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4-08-2008 @ 9:39PM
curtised106 said...it does not matter what the hair looks like any kids that is under 10 should not be able to chose there own hair cut. any father or mother that would let a kids that young do so is just not doing that kid any good. it is the parents fault if the kids get there feelings hurt or get kicked out of school.
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4-08-2008 @ 9:47PM
Trish said...Wow, either you don't have kids or you are a prude.
4-08-2008 @ 9:38PM
Pamela said...Well, here we go!!! Lets go ahead and start grooming infants to not be creative since kids can't be creative anymore!! We have already taken away p.e. in schools, so I guess we are grooming some overweight, robots!! Good Job Everybody! Because believe me, we can only blame ourselves because we have all seen a child whose hair has not been cut the way we want it. Or seen an overweight person and made a comment. So we are all to blame. Chew on that everyone!
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4-08-2008 @ 9:43PM
Melel said...I am a mental health specialist. I work exclusively with children up to the age of five. A three year old CAN have an idea of how they want to express themselves with clothing, hair, ect. This can evolve and change over time, but it can be present in young children.
The other children CAN learn a lesson about individuality and acceptance of others from this. Most schools in the USA (and I am certain the UK) work to educate our young about race, disability, gender and anything that can cause a person to look or act different than we are used to seeing. This is a great way to educate and the school made a mistake to not use this oppurtunity. If a three year old and four year old class can accept a playmate with a visually obvious disability, they can accept a child with an fascinating hair cut.
School teaches more than Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. Despite what some believe, it has always presented more than those traditional teachings. Especially with more and more parents needing to use before and after care because of work schedules, school presents the greatest number of social interactions these kids get throughout thier week. If we as a society don't accept that school provides important social and emotional lessons:the incarceration rate will rise, the incidence of depression and anxiety will continue to rise, and many will enter adult life without a feeling of social belonging.
This isn't my opinion. There is research to back this up. It is sad when a parent, typically caring but very busy and worried about basic needs in life, doesn't value expression and the type of individuality that is broadly represented in our cultues, both USA and UK. It is even worse when a non-parent doesn't value children enough to see this as a missed oppurtunity. Ultimately they do grow up. Ultimately they make the decisions and hold the power to change the lives of those who are adults now.
I am glad there has been a story posted to encourage this kind of discussion. I hope it makes many people think.
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4-08-2008 @ 9:40PM
Beth Wickenheiser said...I work in a daycare and many of our children get these haircuts...there is NOTHING wrong with it. It is not a distraction or create any problems. It is just like a mohawk or a "rat's tail" or any other hair style. Like someone else said..."it is hair..it grows back".
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4-08-2008 @ 10:15PM
Gracey said...I cannot imagine being so uptight over a 3 year old's hair - who cares!?! Poor kid was probably just crushed. What if the teacher thought french braids or something equally as benign was SO horrible?
My brother had long hair in HS and his principal used to lose his mind over it. My bro was an honor student and is now an architecture professor. I had asymmetrical hair back in the day (gasp, the horror) and am now a banker. Like most have said - it's just hair for pete's sake! We have much bigger issues to worry about!
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4-08-2008 @ 9:41PM
curtised106 said...it does not matter what the hair looks like any kids that is under 10 should not be able to chose there own hair cut. any father or mother that would let a kids that young do so is just not doing that kid any good. it is the parents fault if the kids get there feelings hurt or get kicked out of school.
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4-08-2008 @ 9:42PM
sue bee said...the below poster must not be a parent. the best advice for parents from parents is just this, "pick your battles"
if my son wants crazy hair, hell, he can have it! if my son wants to dig holes in the backyard and fill them with water, no. you pick your fights within reason with children because they CAN'T reason. sometimes you have to let them go out in snow boots and rain jackets when it's 70 degrees out. what's the harm in teaching your kids self expression and freedom of choice?!!? i've let my daughter go out in her old halloween costumes when she wants to be a princess for the day because it's fun. you are only a child ONCE. after you grow up, you can't do fun crazy things without the police getting a phone call about a crazy old bat running around in a supergirl costume. let them be kids. don't parent the fun out of childhood you conservative chuckleheads!
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"Pick your battles"?? WHO is the parent?? The boy is seven!! Your son is sixteen, and (hopefully) capable of living with the consequences of his decisions. For heaven's sake, we need parents who are willing to be PARENTS and not friends to their children. Be responsible and set limits for your child. If you don't do it with haircuts (when they are seven), you won't set bed times, get them real nutrition, etc. Be responsible, if you are going to be a parent.
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4-08-2008 @ 9:43PM
JD said...Schools do some dumb ass things and this just proves it. The school my daughter goes to will let them wear skull and cross bones every day if they want to. One weekend she put a little pink color in her hair and said she would have to remove it by Monday because they can not have crazy colors in their or they will be sent home for 3 days . how stupid is that ?
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4-08-2008 @ 9:47PM
T said...Christine said...
No, you are wrong. I am a lawyer and you are not.
The First Amendment only applies to laws passed by the GOVERNMENT. This is a private preschool, not the government. The Constitution doesn’t apply AT ALL.
And the U.S. Constitution only applies to AMERICANS. This story took place in the U.K.
The idiocy here is staggering.
Christine:
Well I'm a writer...and you, ahem, are not.
Get a grip. Is it really so important that you be right? It's a blog about a little boy. Save it for the stage. Do you feel good now that you called everyone idiots? Warm and fuzzy?
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4-08-2008 @ 9:48PM
Trish said...Cool haircut! I would let one of my boys get a cut like that. No big deal. I agree with choosing your battles. I don't care how old the child is. This is not dangerous or hurtful to anyone.
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4-08-2008 @ 10:25PM
roger said...i say good if all kids looked like punks even pre schoolers ,,, schools would only like a circus ,, and it would only harder for the teachers start this young and in there teens they'll have tonge rings eye brow rings and other ,,,think
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4-08-2008 @ 9:50PM
Carolynn said...Being a stylist myself, I am really impressed that a three year old sat still long enough to even get a styly like that. It tells me, that he is a patient and co-operative little boy, and mom must be doing a good job with him. Hats off.
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4-08-2008 @ 9:55PM
tess said...This child is SEVEN YEARS OLD.......Let him pick his own style? Perhaps when he is high school ! He is seven, geez parents, stop trying to be a FRIEND, be his parent! Take the kid for a haircut, if he wants fancy or stylish, there is plenty of time ahead for that. Who is the parent here?
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4-09-2008 @ 2:30PM
isisaquaria said...The child is three, not seven.
4-08-2008 @ 9:55PM
Carmen said...Another parent living her life thru her child. There's no way this kid picked the haircut. ---But I agree with the parent for the fact the school had no right kicking the kid out. It's just a hair cut. There was no dirty words in it. but it is a preschool which makes rules. Maybe do a crew cut and fix it=get him back in class . do fancy haircuts during summer vacation.
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4-08-2008 @ 10:04PM
Matt Severyn said...I'm 55 years old and it's NO BIG DEAL. Leave the kid alone.
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4-08-2008 @ 9:54PM
Charleymander said...This is RIDICULOUS
If I'd have gone to my school with that haircut, they'd be okay with it.
Hell they're okay with mine now, and it's crazy.
www.myspace.com/rainbowxeater
(for those intrested)
Anyway as I was saying this is completely and utterly ridiculous, it's just freaking hair it grows back. I swear some people are just so daft.
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4-08-2008 @ 9:56PM
Sharon said...This entire discussion is absurd. This small child did nothing wrong. The school is overreactive and ridiculous. Use your heads people. I suspect that if the school looks around at the cartoon images on the shirts of the toddlers in the school they are insidiously more offensive and suggestive of low morals then the cute haircut that child got. All the violent cartoons are much more offensive that kids acceptably wear daily to school. What harm does his hair logo represent? NADA! Grow up. This boy is more mature than the school representatives. I would not want them teaching my children anything. Find a school environment that better suits your child's ability for creative expression, where learning of value can take place. This by the way was written by a teacher with toddlers of her own.
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