Boy's braids may keep him out of kindergarten

For The Arocha's, I'm on your side, I too had boy's in a school that had old fashioned (to say the least) rules, especially about hair codes! I also refused to cut their hair!
If the school wants written proof that Native Indians have always worn their hair long, give it to them! TELL THEM TO CHECK THEIR HISTORY BOOKS !!! In all the pictures I ever saw, they always had long hair! I am a Native Texan, and i would be honored to have my grandchild go to school with your son!
If that doesn't work, tell them to KISS YOUR ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I think this is the one of the most ridiculous things about this country. A person should be able to wear their OWN hair in whatever style or color they please to do. Is this a free country or not? How is a hairstyle so bothersome? I alway hate it when jobs demand a man has to have short hair. Why should they when women don't have to? Every time my husband tried to find work they would make him cut his hair even when women working at the same place would be allowed to wear a ponytail or braid. I think there should be laws against forcing people to get their cut if they don't want to - for work or school or anywhere else. It's about time this country learned and practiced the tolerance for others differences that it was supposedly founded on. The boy should not have to cut his hair or be in another seperate classroom. It's not like he's a girl wearing low riders or a mini skirt. Long hair bothers no one. Drop the stupid "rule" and let the boys have long hair if they want.

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OMGODDESS!!! These people are kidding right? To make a child and his family embarresed for what they believe in is ludricious. Take those inconsiderate,judgemental "educators" out and shoot them. Shave their heads, make them wear uniforms with their sins against children and the ability to be a who they are. What is this town a Nazi traing camp? As Pink Floyd once said"We don't need no education" especially if it is gonna be like this!!!

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I have mixed feelings about this. Sure they need to follow the rules, but would they do the same to a black kid with longer braids??? NO way! Someone would cry racism! And to KAREN up there....umm
males with long hair is NOT something NEW! Every kid in that class sees males with long hair! Ever go to the grocery store??? Lots of long haired guys...

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Oh, sure, small kids would NEVER be disrutive about something different, NEVER would they do that. They would not stare and point and giggle and talk and be distracted and etc etc etc. NEVER would that happen at all. If that were true, why do we constantly read about small kids who were made fun of for being tall or fat or who wear thick glasses or have some degree of impairment. The length of one's hair is a very black and white choice here and it will be disruptive to the class/school. THAT is why they have the dress code.

The parents knew it might be an issue so they mentioned it in their inquiry to the school. The parents were RIGHT, it is an issue and it will be an issue to the class of 5 year olds no matter what you think about civil rights or freedom of expression or blah blah blah.

What about the rights of kids/parents who are part of the school, should they have the right to expect some amount of decorum or civility in class without lots of disruptions?

Just before my son's junior year in high school, they came out with UNIFORMS. He whined about it and I could have cared less about all that he was whinning about. Just wear it and do NOT get sent home for violating the dress code. If you do, no car for a week and the second time you lose it for a month! He never got sent home and he graduated. The school is better for it.

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the school district bears the responsibility of educating this child they can not keep him from receiving an education. This is kindergarten where most children start to learn about accepting others with disabilities etc. especially for those not taught it at home, as an educator you are always looking for those impromtu
teaching moments what a great lesson for all involved.

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I feel the same way as most do here also.Thank you to rjriley13 for summing it up

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For those of you who would like your children to "learn about the rules of the real world", let me assure you, assimilating them all into the same dress and hairstyles in school will NOT help them later in life!

I don't know about you, but I work with women who cover their hair for religious reasons, people of different ethnic backgrounds, people who do not celebrate the same holidays as myself. I have worked with men with long hair, men with bald heads, gay men and straight.

Why on earth would we put our children in a bubble surrounded by Stepford imitations of themselves, only to throw them into the REAL world, that includes a plethora of ethnicity, beliefs and values?

I, for one, would embrace the opportunity to study Native American culture if MY 5 year old son wondered why his classmate had braids.

Disruptive my foot. An opportunity to learn that your 5 year old classmates aren't a duplicate of you, priceless and an invaluable life lesson.

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This school district is being stupid. Not only are they making a big deal out of something that in the long run is not going to disrupt a classroom, they are infringing on this child's right to follow the traditions of his culture. Telling him to cut his hair is the same thing as telling someone who is Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, etc. that they can't wear or behave in manners traditional with their religion. As far as those posts that say it will be a disruption--- from personal experience I would have to disagree. My son, who is seven, has bright reddish orange hair. Up until a few months ago he had a six inch tall mohawk. On the first day of school the past two years he was a novelty and got a lot of attention, but the novelty soon wore off, and he was just another classmate to them. Both of his teachers decided not to make a big deal of it after the first day, and the children followed suit. Children tend to follow an adult's lead, especially if the adult is in an authoritative position. This boy deserves to be who he is instead of being forced to conform. Individuality should be praised, as long as the individual is not damaging them self in some manner. Shame on this school for behaving this way!

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This is Bull%^#$. I am a white, blond hai,r blue eyed woman whom was married to a Cherokee man. We have 2 childern. We raised our childern to be independent and to follow the old ways if this is whay THEY chose. Not the dam# school district. Their treating this child just like they did when the pulled the Indian childern off the res a hundred years ago, cut their hair, made them wear white mans clothes and forbid them to speak their Native Tongue, which is absoultly beatiful I might add. If I was the parents I would fight to the end over this. How DARE them try to take this childs proud heritage away from him. THIS is AMERICA last time I looked. He has every right to wear his braids and follow his culture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!

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this is ridiculous. he is being taught at the tender age of 5 years old to be concerned about the way he does his hair or what people think of his hair or the way he looks?!?! this is a sad injustice to him and his family. if he was filthy dirty and didnt comb his hair i could see it as a problem but in two braids? stop giving the family a hard time and let this lil one attend kindergarden.........sheeeesh

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Lets not talk about rights. Lets talk about this child who is excited to go to school and isn't allowed because his hair is too long? That is absurd! The school rules are narrow minded. I would not subject my child to the narrow minded teachings, this school may provide to him. Do doubt this is a community that belongs to the Religous Right, who probably forgot Jesus had long hair. This child is not a product of the hippie generations, Peace, Love, Dope. Our country is becoming INSANE! My advice to the parents, is pick up your child and run. I feel if you fight this and win, it will not change the attitude of the people forcing you to fight. Your child will never be good enough, unless of course he cuts his hair. Please don't do that to him!

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Those in authority 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....

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For all of those people who believe that the child should be made to follow the rules because "rules are rules" and we all have to follow them, I would ask the following. Does every rule, regardless of how irrational, discriminatory, or oppressive, have some sort of innate value just because it is a rule? The answer, in any free society, must surely be no! All rules, unlike all people, were NOT created equal, and when we encounter one that is clearly wrong, we must stand up for ourselves. And for heaven's sake, with the shameful history this country has with its native people, how can anyone seriously condone a public school refusing to allow a native american child wear his hair according to his cultural beliefs?

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This is just pure ridiculous. This could be discrimanation. Girls are allowed long hair so why discrimanate. Walmart was sued a few years ago over hair length and it was determined the policy has to be the same for both sexes, that includes ear rings.

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That's a cold statement. What do you have against Native Americans?

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