I taught for 40 years and believe in enforcing rules, but schools are about education and school rules should have an education-related purpose. Even reasonable dress codes have an educational purpose because too much skin showing is a major distraction to adolescents and offensive language can draw comments that derail a class. Hair length, however, has little if any impact on education. Unless you have long hair that hangs in your eyes and interferes with your vision, it should not be a problem. No exception should be made to this rule. The rule should be thrown out. It sounds like it belongs back in the 50's. If female students can have long hair I would urge the ACLU to sue the Board of Education since this is definitely discrimination based on gender.
carla - 12 years ago
If it is ok for girls then it should be ok for boys! Jesus had long hair ,our creator. We have the same kind of issues in sb schools it is not ok for a child to die their hair an UNnatural color ,but it is ok for these African American children to have beads and weave of crazy colors...last time I checked we all had equal rights! I CAN'T TELL!!!!
Mark - 12 years ago
Perhaps it time for the school to rethink it's policies. What was the point of the rule to begin with? Some school polices are completely pointless and accomplishes absolutely nothing. Just like we have bad laws that often in conflict with US and State constitutions, they should be repealed and downright abolished.
I propose we add a new policy to all schools .... EXERCISE COMMON SENSE!! A good start would be rethink and perhaps abolish these foolish zero tolerance polices which, in most cases create more problems than solutions.
Mark
Gina - 12 years ago
It is not the issue of donating the hair for the wigs. The point is he has to follow the school rules. I am happy he wanted to donate his hair to cut off for a worthy cause. Rules in school has to be made because some kids like to think they could do whatever they want. When he grows up and enter the world of work he has to do what the boss says or no job. Better know what is expected of him now then to think a employer would let him get away with this. This is how society expect people to behave.
Gina - 12 years ago
I think he should be suspended. He knew the school rules about long hair. If he wanted to grow the long hair he should wait until he graduates from high school. Most employers would expect their employees to cut their hair. He has to know rules were set for a reason, not to have an exception. The sooner the boy knows better then he would understand. People would say it is nice to donate their hair for charity and that is fine. As long as he goes to school, he has to follow what the school policy says. I may sound harsh, but this is the realities of life. I am sorry he was suspended but the school said he was warned about this issue. They could have punished him in another way, but they took the best course they thought of. Sometimes schools can do far as punishment but they have to follow certain rules of the school. Some people would say if a girl has long hair and not a guy. In this society we have to follow a set of rules. I know it's not fair and sadly society as a whole dictated what our young men and women on the issue of hair.
Kathy Golden - 12 years ago
This student is being punished for doing something good. I would be ashamed if I was the Canton Schools. It's okay for girls to have long hair, but not boys? Totally unfair and a bit racist. My mom lost her hair twice during her cancer fight, and I remember how her wig made her feel normal again! My daughter just donated 17 inches and I'm so proud of her This is her second time. I commend this student for standing up for this worthwhile cause. He is a hero in my eyes. Canton School District, WAKE UP! His donation will help a cancer patient feel normal again! Canton Schools, you are a disgrace!
Vicki - 12 years ago
With all the issues children have in school this rule MUST be changed. I hope that he finds an attorney to help fight this rule. The length, color, or style of hair does not make a person. This is really stepping boundries. The district really needs to be more concrened about education. Does the length of hair keep a child from learning. If this was a religious reason they would over look it. If he was a female they would over look it. Get real and let this child be.
rad - 12 years ago
I would give 10 to 1 odds that there is at least one kid in this school who is being bullied on a daily basis, the school board has been notified of it and they are doing zero about it. (why because it happens everywhere). YET they have time to suspend this kid because of his hair. ---------REALLY???
what happened to 'celebrating our differences'? kids are taught and told this all the time but the minute someone is different they are suspended or worse yet bullied.
Joe - 12 years ago
Does anyone know John Martins Email address? I think its
john.martin@cantonlocal.org
or
martin@cantonloacl.org
we should all email him!!!
Dr. Robert White - 12 years ago
WHERE is the ACLU when you really need them. The School Board in this instance is really overstepping their boundaries, and the Principal should be the one placed on probation. One would think the board should/would have better things to work on like enforcing, rather than changing, regulations that students in american schools SPEAK English (NOT SPANISH), since English is our natural/national language
Melody McQuillan - 12 years ago
Absolutely ridiculous. I hope none of the Boards children never have to use one of these wigs. However it would be very ironic if they did and it happened to be from the hair this student donated. What a shame to punish him for such a great deed.
Kim Franks - 12 years ago
Okay, are you Freaking Kidding me, There is so little good in the world today, and you want to destroy a good thing, I graduated From South, both my kids also, now my grandchildren, I have stood behind this district and now I think I should rethink my loylaties, You want us to vote you a new school, so you can be up with the times, yet you are not willing to budge on a policy that was more than likley put there by your grandparents 50 years ago, Maybe you don't desirve a new school. If you cant bring your policys up with the times you dont need a age school. Leave the kid alone. If I have my way with my big mouth your votes may depend on it.
Kim Franks - 12 years ago
Okay, are you Freaking Kidding me, There is so little good in the world today, and you want to destroy a good thing, I graduated From South, both my kids also, now my grandchildren, I have stood behind this district and now I think I should rethink my loylaties, You want us to vote you a new school, so you can be up with the times, yet you are not willing to budge on a policy that was more than likley put there by your grandparents 50 years ago, Maybe you don't desirve a new school. If you cant bring your policys up with the times you dont need a age school. Leave the kid alone. If I have my way with my big mouth your votes may depend on it.
Barb - 12 years ago
No school should be able to tell someone how to wear there hair if boys have to wear it shoulder length so should girls it is equal rights this is bull
TJ - 12 years ago
I agree that is sexual discrimination & if the school continues to fight him on it then he should take them to court
James Ayres - 12 years ago
It is another example of the misdirected focus of educational administrators. Long hair has little to do with learning and a lot to do with prejudice.
scott - 12 years ago
that school is a pile of ****! let the kid grow his hair out. its for a charity cause. the people at the school that say he cant do it, they have no hearts what so ever. the people are a**holes!!!!!
Andrew Wanner - 12 years ago
I understand what the school is thinking, and how they feel that letting him slide is asking for other students to do it, but let's look at facts. Zachary DID go to the school board to discuss what he was doing and why. Not many boys would do this, at this time in American culture. Besides, if the school suspends him it is sexual discrimination, as a girl with hair the same length wouldn't be in trouble. So what the ignoramus principal and others are saying is that boys hair shouldn't be donated to this worthy cause, only girls. Sad, sad state of affairs.
I taught for 40 years and believe in enforcing rules, but schools are about education and school rules should have an education-related purpose. Even reasonable dress codes have an educational purpose because too much skin showing is a major distraction to adolescents and offensive language can draw comments that derail a class. Hair length, however, has little if any impact on education. Unless you have long hair that hangs in your eyes and interferes with your vision, it should not be a problem. No exception should be made to this rule. The rule should be thrown out. It sounds like it belongs back in the 50's. If female students can have long hair I would urge the ACLU to sue the Board of Education since this is definitely discrimination based on gender.
If it is ok for girls then it should be ok for boys! Jesus had long hair ,our creator. We have the same kind of issues in sb schools it is not ok for a child to die their hair an UNnatural color ,but it is ok for these African American children to have beads and weave of crazy colors...last time I checked we all had equal rights! I CAN'T TELL!!!!
Perhaps it time for the school to rethink it's policies. What was the point of the rule to begin with? Some school polices are completely pointless and accomplishes absolutely nothing. Just like we have bad laws that often in conflict with US and State constitutions, they should be repealed and downright abolished.
I propose we add a new policy to all schools .... EXERCISE COMMON SENSE!! A good start would be rethink and perhaps abolish these foolish zero tolerance polices which, in most cases create more problems than solutions.
Mark
It is not the issue of donating the hair for the wigs. The point is he has to follow the school rules. I am happy he wanted to donate his hair to cut off for a worthy cause. Rules in school has to be made because some kids like to think they could do whatever they want. When he grows up and enter the world of work he has to do what the boss says or no job. Better know what is expected of him now then to think a employer would let him get away with this. This is how society expect people to behave.
I think he should be suspended. He knew the school rules about long hair. If he wanted to grow the long hair he should wait until he graduates from high school. Most employers would expect their employees to cut their hair. He has to know rules were set for a reason, not to have an exception. The sooner the boy knows better then he would understand. People would say it is nice to donate their hair for charity and that is fine. As long as he goes to school, he has to follow what the school policy says. I may sound harsh, but this is the realities of life. I am sorry he was suspended but the school said he was warned about this issue. They could have punished him in another way, but they took the best course they thought of. Sometimes schools can do far as punishment but they have to follow certain rules of the school. Some people would say if a girl has long hair and not a guy. In this society we have to follow a set of rules. I know it's not fair and sadly society as a whole dictated what our young men and women on the issue of hair.
This student is being punished for doing something good. I would be ashamed if I was the Canton Schools. It's okay for girls to have long hair, but not boys? Totally unfair and a bit racist. My mom lost her hair twice during her cancer fight, and I remember how her wig made her feel normal again! My daughter just donated 17 inches and I'm so proud of her This is her second time. I commend this student for standing up for this worthwhile cause. He is a hero in my eyes. Canton School District, WAKE UP! His donation will help a cancer patient feel normal again! Canton Schools, you are a disgrace!
With all the issues children have in school this rule MUST be changed. I hope that he finds an attorney to help fight this rule. The length, color, or style of hair does not make a person. This is really stepping boundries. The district really needs to be more concrened about education. Does the length of hair keep a child from learning. If this was a religious reason they would over look it. If he was a female they would over look it. Get real and let this child be.
I would give 10 to 1 odds that there is at least one kid in this school who is being bullied on a daily basis, the school board has been notified of it and they are doing zero about it. (why because it happens everywhere). YET they have time to suspend this kid because of his hair. ---------REALLY???
what happened to 'celebrating our differences'? kids are taught and told this all the time but the minute someone is different they are suspended or worse yet bullied.
Does anyone know John Martins Email address? I think its
john.martin@cantonlocal.org
or
martin@cantonloacl.org
we should all email him!!!
WHERE is the ACLU when you really need them. The School Board in this instance is really overstepping their boundaries, and the Principal should be the one placed on probation. One would think the board should/would have better things to work on like enforcing, rather than changing, regulations that students in american schools SPEAK English (NOT SPANISH), since English is our natural/national language
Absolutely ridiculous. I hope none of the Boards children never have to use one of these wigs. However it would be very ironic if they did and it happened to be from the hair this student donated. What a shame to punish him for such a great deed.
Okay, are you Freaking Kidding me, There is so little good in the world today, and you want to destroy a good thing, I graduated From South, both my kids also, now my grandchildren, I have stood behind this district and now I think I should rethink my loylaties, You want us to vote you a new school, so you can be up with the times, yet you are not willing to budge on a policy that was more than likley put there by your grandparents 50 years ago, Maybe you don't desirve a new school. If you cant bring your policys up with the times you dont need a age school. Leave the kid alone. If I have my way with my big mouth your votes may depend on it.
Okay, are you Freaking Kidding me, There is so little good in the world today, and you want to destroy a good thing, I graduated From South, both my kids also, now my grandchildren, I have stood behind this district and now I think I should rethink my loylaties, You want us to vote you a new school, so you can be up with the times, yet you are not willing to budge on a policy that was more than likley put there by your grandparents 50 years ago, Maybe you don't desirve a new school. If you cant bring your policys up with the times you dont need a age school. Leave the kid alone. If I have my way with my big mouth your votes may depend on it.
No school should be able to tell someone how to wear there hair if boys have to wear it shoulder length so should girls it is equal rights this is bull
I agree that is sexual discrimination & if the school continues to fight him on it then he should take them to court
It is another example of the misdirected focus of educational administrators. Long hair has little to do with learning and a lot to do with prejudice.
that school is a pile of ****! let the kid grow his hair out. its for a charity cause. the people at the school that say he cant do it, they have no hearts what so ever. the people are a**holes!!!!!
I understand what the school is thinking, and how they feel that letting him slide is asking for other students to do it, but let's look at facts. Zachary DID go to the school board to discuss what he was doing and why. Not many boys would do this, at this time in American culture. Besides, if the school suspends him it is sexual discrimination, as a girl with hair the same length wouldn't be in trouble. So what the ignoramus principal and others are saying is that boys hair shouldn't be donated to this worthy cause, only girls. Sad, sad state of affairs.