Register now, it's free! |
DEL.ICIO.USAssociated Press
Published on: 02/28/08
Parma, Ohio — A kindergarten student with a freshly spiked Mohawk has been suspended from school.
Michelle Barile, the mother of 6-year-old Bryan Ruda, said nothing in the Parma Community School handbook prohibits the haircut, characterized by closely shaved sides with a strip of prominent hair on top. The school said the hair was a distraction for other students.
 Peggy Turbett/The Plain Dealer | ||
| Bryan Ruda's mother says she'll enroll him at another school rather than comply. | ||
|
"I understand they have a dress code. I understand he has a uniform. But this is total discrimination," she said. "They can't tell me how I can cut his hair."
An administrator at the suburban Cleveland charter school first warned Barile last fall that the haircut wasn't acceptable. The school later sent another warning to her repeating the ban.
Mohawks violate the school's policy on being properly groomed, school Principal Linda Geyer said. Also, the school district's dress code allows school officials to forbid anything that interferes with the conduct of education.
Bryan's hair became a disruption last week when Bryan arrived freshly shorn, Geyer said. Administrators called Barile on Friday telling her to pick Bryan up from school.
"This was his third infraction," Geyer said Tuesday. "We felt that we were being extremely patient."
Rather than request a hearing to appeal the suspension, Barile said she'll enroll Bryan at another school. Changing the hairstyle is not an option, she said.
"It's something that he really likes," Barile said. "When people hear Mohawk, they think it's long, it's spiked, it's crazy-looking, and it's really not."
More on ajc.com
- Battle over swimsuits moves to the courtroom
- Parked car thwarts purse-snatcher in Iowa
- Fur flies at `Kung Fu Panda' premiere at Cannes
- Trips to barbershop inspired entrepreneur
- Lace those shoes up for H&M's intown opening
- STONE MOUNTAIN: Trips to barbershop inspired entrepreneur
- The CW's schedule for the fall television season
- Shorter men finding new options in suits, clothing
- Shorter men finding new options in suits, clothing
- H&M to open Atlantic Station store June 13
Related Subjects
MOST POPULAR STORIESSearch AJC Archives
Search staff-written and other selected articles.
Advanced search
Kudzu.com services
Find the right people for the job:
Powered by 
Comments
By Openyourmindassholes
Mar 29, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
People should be able to style their hair any way they want. What's wrong with this society? Since discriminating against a person's race, religion, creed, etc... has gone out of style, now people need something else to discriminate against? ******* idiots! A hairstyle is not a distraction, it's personal expression. Talking in class while the teacher is trying to teach is a distraction.
By Katie Young
Feb 28, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Some complain the rules weren't spelled out. Fair enough. But the mother was told - repeatedly. Instead of filing a request for clarification, going through proper channels for change, she simply did what so many folks do today - behave with the attitude "you can't tell me what to do." That is not cooperative nor community minded and not a good thing to teach her child.
By JohnQ
Feb 28, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
The school reserves the right to have a dress code. However, it should be DEFINED and not left ambiguous so as to target certain groups of people or appearances that are attributed to certain groups of people. "Properly groomed" is far to vague for me. I personally would not enroll my child in a school like that.
What I'm interested in is how does the child act in class? Is he, not his hair, a distraction? Are there behavioral issues whereby he interrupts others from doing their work? What type of character does he have? Or better yet, I'd be interested in knowing how some of the "properly groomed" kids behave and if they do not, what is their punishment? Suspension? This really doesn't make sense but the only option is to enroll your child in an environment where he will not be discriminated against for a look but will be judged by his character.
Welcome to the world of minorities (though you can leave at anytime by changing a hairstyle).
By RobbieSue
Feb 28, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
The only thing the mom and boy are guilty of is incredibly bad taste. C'mon... the only hair style tackier than a mohawk is a mullett.
By Clint in Kennesaw
Feb 28, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
Ummm, I don't get what the uproar is about. Really, it's just hair. And YES I DO understand what a Charter School is, however if a particular hairstyle is distracting to the other students, then this should be spelled out in the dress code guidelines to avoid such distractions. Yes, children do need guidelines and boundries; but at the same time they should be encouraged to be their own person and express themselves. Really, this isn't Stepford...
By Clint in Kennesaw
Feb 28, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Ummm, I don't get what the uproar is about. Really, it's just hair. And YES I DO understand what a Charter School is, however if a particular hairstyle is distracting to the other students, then this should be spelled out in the dress code guidelines to avoid such distractions. Yes, children do need guidelines and boundries; but at the same time they should be encouraged to be their own person and express themselves. Really, this isn't Stepford...
By BlackGirl
Feb 28, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
Sorry ya'll, but I side with the school on this one. The child is free to express himself during summer break. I can't get a mohawk and come to work! I don't get parents these days! He's a 5 year old kid. My son asked to get an earring. No was my response. My rule goes in the house, not his.
By badmojoe
Feb 28, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Richard, the great thing about living in the U.S., is that you can move anytime you feel like it.
By baldie
Feb 28, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Hats off! The whole school should be shaved. Boys and girls. No hair no distraction. Guaranteed perfect SAT,ACT,GMAT,GMAC,SNL,etc lmao
By jt
Feb 28, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Schools are already having to not only teach, but raise parents' children. It's time some of the parents took parental responsibility seriously.
Good for the school. The mother should be more interested in her son's education than his fashion or styling.
But then you have to get a license to own a dog and anyone can have a child - regardless of whether they should.....
[1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10] next
Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F, except on Tuesday when it's open until 9 p.m.
Post a comment
*HTML not allowed in comments. Your e-mail address is required.
Request a comment be removed