An African-American girl who said she was told to cut and shape her natural hair or be expelled won’t be booted from her Orlando private school after all, according to a news report.
Vanessa VanDyke, 12, told WKMG-TV that school officials gave her one week to decide whether to change her hair or leave Faith Christian Academy, where she has attended since third grade.
Vanessa’s mother said school officials didn’t threaten to expel her daughter until after the family complained that children at school were bullying Vanessa about her hair.
“It says that I’m unique,” Vanessa said. “First of all, it’s puffy and I like it that way. I know people will tease me about it because it’s not straight.”
School administrators told the WKMG in a statement on Tuesday that “we’re not asking her to put products in her hair or cut her hair. We’re asking her to style her hair within the guidelines according to the school handbook.”
According to the station, Vanessa and her mother will be discussing her hairstyle over the Thanksgiving break.
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