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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?
(via LilSugar)
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ReaderComments (Page 4 of 4)
7-27-2008 @ 4:45PM
Diane said...look what happened to samson when deliah had his hair cut. let the kid be he may want them cut after being in public school and the other children make fun of him. but until then just let the precious one be.my kid in his teen years used to spike his hair up about 8 inches and dye it green or blue fortunate for him it didn't faze the school or me. as a young adult in a profession he now shaves his head.
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7-27-2008 @ 6:44PM
Ku said...Wow. Just wow. It is not only borderline discrimination it is also sexist to say that boys cannot have long hair. I being of Native heritage myself am keeping my son's hair long. Talk about a bunch of close minded individuals. I commend the mother for being forth-coming and responsible. She probably knows that it may cause some issues but she is true to her roots. There are a lot of historical events and traditions that are unwritten. But we still abide by those. Most people just through stereotype know that most, not all Native keep their hair long as part of long standing rites and traditions. So that is total bullshit. Double standards... civil rights. This is ludicrous.
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7-30-2008 @ 8:16PM
Angela said...we live in Texas, and my 5yr old goes to a public school that requires uniforms. We are Hare Krishna and my son goes to school with his head totally shave except with a tuft of hair in the back at the top. When he was enrolled in school I asked the principle if this would be a problem, because rather than fight about it I would just let the rest of his hair grow back. She said it did go against the dress code. I said, "Well , it's a religious thing" and she said no problem, don't worry about it..and we haven't....and they havent...and our son and his classmates havent. He got to keep his sikha and go to school and at first he got a couple of funny looks, but now no one even pays attention.
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7-31-2008 @ 10:59PM
Reader said...Maybe the kid could wear his braids pinned up during the school day, kinda like Princess Leia. That way, he keeps his hair long and braided and the hair is above his collar. But seriously, I think dress code rules in a lot of school districts are out dated. Who finds guys with long hair distracting anymore? It's not 1950.
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8-01-2008 @ 12:14AM
Heza Hekele said...That is redicuous! I think the superintendant needs replacing. I'd sue as well, if my kid's haircut, or lack there of was going to be used as a source of descrimination by the school district!
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