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Boy's braids may keep him out of kindergarten
Filed under: Big Kids, In The News, Day Care & Education, Religion & Spirituality
He's simply a boy anxious to start kindergarten, but even at age five, Adriel Arocha is learning that, sometimes, things just aren't that simple. Adriel's dad is Apache and believes that Adriel's hair should remain uncut for traditional reasons. Adriel himself says that he needs his long braids because,"they tell me how long I've been here." But when the family made plans to move to Needville, Texas and enroll their child in kindergarten, they didn't exactly receive a warm welcome. Adriel's mom emailed the school to inquire about enrollment and to mention his long hair, which, she explained, was always neatly kept in two long braids. The school emailed back that their dress code did not allow boys' hair to touch their collars. After a flurry of emails, phone calls, and meetings, the district decided that they were unwilling to budge on their rules for Adriel and his family.The Arocha's are arguing that the Needville dress code infringes on their civil rights, while the Needville superintendent says he's not been provided the evidence to prove that any rights have been violated. At the crux of this issue is the fact that many Native American traditions are handed down through oral teachings, which the Needville district claims is not "proof" enough for them to change their rules for Adreil. The Arocha's plan to push ahead with a trial.
Is hair really that big of an issue in school? Girls are allowed to have long hair, so it's not a safety issue. Unless a haircut is disrupting learning, I don't see how it impact's a child's education one way or the other. Needville's superintendent went so far as to suggest Adriel get his own classroom, with his own teacher, lest he inoculate the other students, I suppose, with his free-thinking ways. I think I'd be more worried about the budgetary implications of a compromise like that than a five-year-old's hairstyle.
Is the Needville school district being too hard-headed and making too big a deal out of Adriel's braids? Or do you think that the Arocha's need to follow the rules in their new home?
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 4)
7-22-2008 @ 11:45PM
Lori said...EXACTLY kissalee!!! The school systems rules state that the boys hair cannot touch his collar. Why not braid the hair like they do now and then put the braids in buns so it doesn't touch his collar?
7-22-2008 @ 9:21PM
Sorcha said...Having hair length restrictions in schools compels children to wear their hair in a manner that reflects the school's rules even when the child is not at school. That is wrong. I can understand dress codes, to a point, because the child can change into clothes they prefer when they are not at school. However, why should a school's rules dictate how a child's hair is worn when they are NOT at school? That should be for the parents to decide.
My son has always liked to wear his hair long. (He's 30 now and his hair is waist-length now, though he usually wears it tied back. He's married, employed and owns his own home, so he is a well-functioning adult.) When he was a child, his schools tried to make him cut it, but I refused. When he was a child, it was MY right to determine how he wore his hair, not his schools'. The schools all backed down when I didn't back down.
No school has the right to override the parents' wishes regarding hair length, even if it cannot be proven that it is part of his Native American heritage. My son and I aren't Native American, we're Celts. We could have pulled some arcane historical reference out about long hair being how the Celtic nobility wore their hair, and that short hair meant one was a slave, but I thought it unnecessary. I am his mother, and I like his hair long. That alone should be all a school requires. And that turned out to be the case. I hope this boy's parents stand up for his rights to wear his hair long.
The schools should not have a dress code that affects children outside of school. If they require that hair must be tied back while at school, that's fine.
Now, if schools would just teach children how to write and spell properly...
Reply
7-22-2008 @ 9:33PM
rjriley13 said...THANK YOU!!!! I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF!!! THANK YOU
7-23-2008 @ 12:50AM
Lissi said...Wow! You have made me so happy with your well written, well thought out reply! I was reading through the other comments, getting more and more wound up, and just as I thought, "just click and move away. It doesn't help if you get angry..." I read your words and cannot begin to tell you how pleased I am with your common sense!
I completely agree with you. Reasonable dress code, fine. Do not tell me how to groom my child's hair. I don't care if it's for cultural, religious or personal reasons, children and their parents have the right to decide how they look outside of school. I'll agree to keep it tidy, but don't dictate the color or the style. (And I also have a son who likes long hair. When he was five it came to his waist, now, it's just over his shoulders. His brother has very short hair. It's a family choice, not an administration's choice.)
7-23-2008 @ 1:31AM
dominique jones said...well said!!!
7-23-2008 @ 7:58AM
Daphne Carpenter said...I dont think the little boy should have to cut his hair but I think I have a solution to the problem. Let the parents continue to put his hair in two braids then tuck the braids under with rubber bands so they are shoulder length and the problem is solved he wont have to get his hair cut. And the school can leave this family alone.
Good luck with everything. Your in my prayers.
7-23-2008 @ 9:59AM
michellerfoxall said...thank you sorcha i couldnt have said it better, i am a native american a very proud one at that i have 7 kids 5 boys and 2 girls they all have long beautiful hair the only times their hair was cut was at the grandfathers and uncles passing. they are learning the traditional language and attend a indian church. they all make good grades two of my boys write song lyrics one writes short stories and a few draw. the oldest is my daughter she is 15 and sings the songs her brothers write for her. i am proud to say my children are well rounded individuals too. again thank you
7-23-2008 @ 3:40PM
MB said...Let the little guy go to school!
I wish that the school had taken an educator's approach and used this opportunity to teach the other children about different cultures, history, and traditions; to accept and cherish the differences that make us who we are rather than to exclude someone for honoring their ancestry in a non-disruptive way.
7-25-2008 @ 1:24AM
Jewel said...Here here! They should conentrate on education; not oppression. Each of us is different--be it long hair, color of skin, culture, religion, etc. So what if this little boy has long hair which calls attention to himself. It opens the door for him to talk about his heritage and culture. He will aide in educating his classmates in the ways of his people. It's a beautiful thing really. The more educated we are, the less we discriminate, because we see we ae all just imperfect human beings. And young children are more open to learning and accepting differences in others. So look what a profound impact allowing this child with long hair to go to school would have. Or maybe that's what those in charge are afraid of....
7-22-2008 @ 9:44PM
Karen said...Why do girls HAVE to wear a jumper, instead of pants
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7-22-2008 @ 10:07PM
Shelley said...At what point do we start making kids/grown-ups follow the rules? I have a dress code at my place of employment as do the employees that work at my husband's company. If I choose not to follow the dress code and other rules at my place of employment then I am no longer employed. The earlier we teach kids that there are rules and standards in the real world then the better prepared they will be for the real world. We are doing our kids a great injustice if we tell them that they do not hav to follow rules/standards as long as they are kids.
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7-22-2008 @ 11:56PM
Jennifer said...You choose where you go to work, so you choose to follow those rules. Many times there is not a choice involved in where you go to school.
7-23-2008 @ 1:10AM
Jacqueline said...Hello, all!
I argree with Shelly's comments! Furthermore, let everyone not forget that children tease eachother mercilessly, sometimes! I am a Canadian and when I was a young child I was teased by my classmates about my "brown, old lady tights" my mother made me wear to school during the cold winter months, here, in Minneosta!
Also, my newphews were teased about how they urinated in the bathroom by sitting down on the toilet seat and not standing up! Next, they were teased about their heights. Both had a genetic fault which made their growth slow. Finally, their astute parents took them out of public schools to educate them at home!
Parents, you are THE single most influential person in your child's life. Safeguard your responsibilty to teach your chidren well!
Cordially, a Canadian citizen---with caring and common sense
7-23-2008 @ 1:22AM
loflorian said...I think that there is a difference between teaching children standards (like a dress code) and infringing on people's culture. As far as dress codes go, when a woman shows up to class or work in an immodest outfit it is very distracting to the men arround her, which is why many companies choose to have a dress code. However let's say a black woman showed up to class or work with her hair neatly braided, that shouldn't break any dress code and should be awknowledged as her heritage . . . just as this child should be able to express his culture by wearing his hair in two neatly created braids, just as his ancestors wore them.
7-22-2008 @ 10:19PM
Doris said...Schools are nutty. I have a Grandson that is a little Hyper... He was 5 years old.. He talks a lot. The school Told His Mother that unless she put him on Ridlin he would not be able to attend. ..I told her no. Not to put him on any medications,, Well she did...
Now they have outlawed that and all kids can go to school they have special Classes for So Called Hyper kids.. That was a few years ago.. He is grown now.
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7-22-2008 @ 11:14PM
ninainindia said...I can't believe it is actually possible to deny a child access to schooling because of hair! It's just hair! And the first time he comes into the class the other children might be distracted, so what? It's a good oppurtunity for them to learn.
Even if there was no culture or religion involved he should still be allowed because it is just hair. Hair has never hurt anyone.
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7-23-2008 @ 1:45AM
Jennifer said...First of all, I think it's ridiculous to limit hair length on /anyone/, boys OR girls. Second, that's blatant disrespect of his culture. If anyone told a kid they couldn't wear a cross, civil liberties unions would be on the school's back in no time, but it's somehow different when the kid is Native American? That's just unfair.
A bit off topic, maybe, but I think a lot of dress codes are terribly disciminatory toward boys... Boys can't wear skirts, boys can't have long hair... If they had those rules for girls, they'd be labeled sexist pigs.
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7-23-2008 @ 1:55AM
dominique jones said...this is not a job, it's a school!! big difference, this child needs an education and his hair length shouldn't hender that.
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7-23-2008 @ 1:54AM
dominique jones said...This kid is five years old,FIVE!!!! How can you can a school deny a child because of their hair.What is wrong with a boy having long hair.Forget about religion and culture,this child isn't looking for job so the whole "you have to respect the rules" is a bunch of bs.I completely understand dress codes in schools but hair,come on!! I attended school in Minnesota and Indiana and I have never heard of anything like this.Kids were free to stlye their hair as they pleased.I graduated in 2004 and I do see a lot of changes in the school systems.It's like they are taking away what makes an indiviual him or her.Kids are going to be kids, they're gonna tease each other and all the other things that kids do,but this reason alone shouldn't enforce rules on these kids that takes away their indiviality.
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7-23-2008 @ 2:01AM
donisweet said...I think it is time for government, state and city to stay out of our business. As lond as the child is dressed properly, clean, etc, no one should have the say as to how you wear your hair. I think schools should get back to the basics--take away the cell phones, computers, etc. until they are in high school. Hich school is the age when students should definately dress proper as they are preparing to go into the job world.
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