Dress Codes and Hair
One of the very first posts I ever wrote for my other blog was about dress codes. At the time, in Dress codes at school and at work, I asked people’s opinions about dress codes and was fairly comfortable with my school’s policy. I wrote about it again when a student (and her family) sued her school about Tigger and Winnie the Pooh socks.
Now I am glad that my school isn’t as restrictive as Desert Wind School in Socorro, TX. There, an 8th grader is missing prom and graduation because of highlights in her hair. Not purple highlights. Not 5 foot long extensions. Just highlights. And I think she looks pretty cute!
This is from a TV station in El Paso:
Desert Wind School student Denise Guerrero, 14, knew it was against school policy to highlight her hair and she also knew the consequences: if she didn’t remove the highlights, she would miss out on her prom, class field trip, graduation ceremony and soccer games.
“Because I couldn’t be with my friends. I missed out on a lot of things,” said Guerrero.As KFOX reported, Guerrero was assigned to in-school suspension or SAC a month before the end of the school year because she has blond highlights in her hair. She was also told she couldn’t participate in any school activities.Her parents filed a grievance with the Socorro Independent School District. They disagree with the school’s policy and they state other students and teachers color or highlight their hair at Desert Wind School.
But her family disagrees:
“According to their policy, highlights are a distraction. Why isn’t it a distraction by teachers, only by the students,” said Rafael Magallanes, Guerrero’s stepfather.
The principal responded to the grievance and echoed what district officials had told KFOX before. They say the dress code only applies to students and it is applied equally, fairly and thoroughly for all students.Just one week before the end of year activities at Desert Wind, Guerrero discovered the school would not amend the policy. She was told her hair had to go back to her natural color if she wanted to participate in school events. Guerrero said she stood her ground because she felt the policy is not fair. She knew she would be sacrificing events and memories she will never relive.”Soccer, my favorite sport, which I couldn’t get in because of a policy which couldn’t be changed, that’s what hurt me the most,” said Guerrero.Guerrero’s parents could have continued with the grievance process but this year was Denise’s last. Previous Stories:
- April 14, 2007: Student Gets In-School Suspension For Highlighted Hair
Slideshow: Eighth Grader Suspended For Hair ColorBut the point is, what’s too much restriction for a public school? Banning profanity is one thing. Banning blond is just stupid. It could be worse. She could have hair like THIS:
Filed under: Education, Featured Stories, FrecklesCassie, Texas, Young Adult Issues, children, kids, schools, teens
Try to learn to think like other people what is their motivation for why they do the things they do?
Some people think unity is only possible through conformity their theory is if we all thought, acted the same wore the same clothes etc then there would be no more war after all it is kind of silly to fight a mirror. Some people think peace might be achieved this way. When Bush says they (meaning people NOT LIKE US) hate us for our freedom.
Well we know he hates the freedom to question authority he hates people who question him. So by freedom he means the American way of life as Bush sees it.
Bringing Democracy to Iraq means making the Iraqis part of the Borg Collective. I hope you watch Star Trek next generation.
It is fear that motivates conformity that and in a twisted way a desire for peace granted on their terms and whether other people want to conform or not.
If you confront such people they will get defensive but maybe a compromise can be reached. If not leave Authoritarian Personality types hate it when none will join their club or when everyone leaves.
The safety of a group identity has its price when the group breaks up poor Bush being in the 20% range must be killing him or making him even more psychotic, for loneliness as bad as it is for normal people is worse for Authoritarian types.
My heavens. These schools have nothing better to focus on? Why don’t these schools start focusing more on EDUCATION rather than on penny-ante things like this? What the hell is wrong with highlights? When properly used, they can surely enhance a woman’s appearance in a tasteful way. I see nothing wrong with this young woman’s use of them. Hey, do we have the hypocritical “family values” crowd sneaking into the school board?
Principal Of Desert Wind Middle School David Solis has nothing better to do than to pick on kids and destroy their memories and dreams. That’s what happens when Old People are hired for school positions. They are stuck in their dinosaur world and they can’t adapt to society. What a loser!
I think that is just ridiculous. She just highlighted her hair. I am surprised anyone actually noticed seeing as it is usually so subtle. Schools need to stop worrying about what kids are wearing and start worrying about the poor education standards in this country.
they fear what is different… if anything the school education that has such strict dress codes encourage ignorance and bigotry.
and schools shouldnt be an institution where all you wear is a shaved head and orange jump suits… it shouldnt be punishment, it should be the erradication of ignorance through the supplement of opening ones mind to new ideas and old ideas…. F_CK IT!
Home School your kids!!! they are better off!