It's a good cause, long hair doesn't hurt any thing, let him back in class !!!

Having beaten cancer, I also think this is absolutely ridiculous! If there is any advice I can give you J.T. it's stay strong and hold your ground! You are a wonderful person for doing this!

I cannot believe that in 2012, authorities are still threatened by a students long hair. And by the way, what does length of hair have to do with gender???

Once again, no good deed goes unpunished.

What the HELL is wrong with long hair!!! I have long hair and I am an old man. Also have an ear ring and tatoos. I would never make it in school today.

Shame on this school district! One of their students is trying to something admirable-and they suspend him for something so ridiculous? They should be putting this kid out there in the community to send a positive message about their students!

I would not send my child to a school that was not intelligent enough to figure out the difference between a teen growing out his hair for a charity and a teen keeping an "unclean appearance."

Superintendent Will Kneer says school officials have been trying to work out a solution.

How hard is it? If you are growing out your hair to donate to a charity-you can do so as long as it is kept as neat as possible.

Sign the petition link in the article! It took me less than a minute.

Really? He's going to cry about having to cut his hair? Congrats on being cancer free but your hair will grow back. It's time to grow up and face reality, reality in the fact that you can't always have it your way.

@Crash- He's trying to GROW it to CUT IT and give it to Locks of Love... Schools should have no say in how you keep your hair, they do NOT own you, its not their body.

Hey Crash, pay attention to WHY he wants to grow it! It's not a fashion choice, your hair has to be at least 15 inches to donate to Locks.

Ridiculous!

Crash - did you even read the article?

It looks like this is a charter school, which around here means it is an elite school; one that you apply to and agree to abide by it's policies. From the statements in the article, sounds like they preach personal pride and suitable appearance. So, I blame the mom and the son. They knew the rules for attending the school. I applaud what he wants to do, my daughter has donated to locks of love, too. But, he is not above the rules and should not ask them to change the rules for him. He can attend another school where they don't have those rules. My kids go to the typical public schools, from the picture it looks like he would be one of the clean cut ones, I imagine it would be the same where he is. We need some more facts, like other school options, etc... But, I feel if he cannot abide by the school rules he should transfer or cut his hair. He can always grow it after he graduates and donate then.

I agree with you Crash. There's always some kid with a sob story who wants to buck the already established rules. This is why kids in general seem so whacked these days. They respect no one and no thing. Glad this kid beat the cancer, but it does not make him a prince.

I also grow my hair for locks of love i mean why not its something everyone can do but its crazy in our society where they teach to be different from the crowd but at the same time to all be the same. Seriously what is wrong with our society where these rich can control every aspect of our life starting with our kids no wonder the majority of voters are scared of the govt and the rich and dont want to help make a change in this country. If i ever have kids there is no way i will ever put them in the education(brainwashing) system of America. The truth is also what the @!$%# we are men we can grow face hair and our hair long if we so choose I guess these damn nazis forget what country they live in they are just begging us to kick their ass again. Power to the People. Down with Nazis.

I'm kinda on the fence here. On one side, what he's doing and he's been through is absolutely amazing. But then I think, it's a charter school and the rules were in the handbook which means that they chose this school, it's not the one the district declares he goes to and they knew ahead of time about the rule... Maybe he should've discussed his plan with the school ahead of time.

I do hope, given the circumstance, the school allows an exception for him but then I wonder if other kids might abuse that exception.

Oh my! There's always at least ONE who doesn't get it, isn't there?

But to the story, what is so disruptive to the class about the length of a boy's hair anyway? Reminds me of the discrimination during the transition from the 50s to the 60s. Remember the uproar over the Beatles' hairstyles in '64?

This school dress code policy is clearly discriminatory. I do not see any way that this policy would withstand a legal challenge. Gender based discrimination has been illegal in this country for a long time and having different rules on acceptable hair length for boys and girls is clearly discriminatory. In addition, hair length ceased being a gender thing long ago. Many women today keep their hair very short while many men have pony tails. This is a form of self expression that has absolutely no bearing on the education of the student. So long as he is keeping his hair clean and presentable, I see no justification for making him keep it short. I also do not see him having long hair being any distraction to anyone, except maybe some closed minded, tight ass school administrator. Plus, although it really should not have any bearing on the decision, he is growing his hair so that he can donate it to a worthy cause that makes wigs for people who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer. I say that the reason he is growing it long should have no bearing, because to start making exceptions to a policy based on a reason like this would in itself open up the school to charges of discrimination. You would get into a debate over what reasons were acceptable and which were not. Unless they can cite some valid educational reason for the policy, the school has no business infringing on the student's right to grow his hair as long as he wants.

Dave, I don't think you read the article fully or know what Locks for Love is.

He isn't using surviving cancer as a "sob story" to "buck the rules" ... that part of his story is only important because it has encouraged him to give back to a wonderful organization that helps other people trying to beat cancer - because he understands exactly what that challenge is like.

How is growing his hair out, in order to cut it so it can be used to make a wig for someone who has lost their hair to cancer treatment, make him a "prince" exactly?

Ty it into a ponytail- problem fixed!

Almost 40 years ago I was kicked off the track team at my high school for refusing to cut my hair, this just shows how far we've come. I say right on to the kid and stand up for your rights to be who you want to be. Don't be bullied!

Dave 2267I agree with you Crash. There's always some kid with a sob story who wants to buck the already established rules. This is why kids in general seem so whacked these days. They respect no one and no thing. Glad this kid beat the cancer, but it does not make him a prince.

I think the reason kids are so "whacked these days" is the influence of the adults around them!

Like Athyna, I see both sides of the issue.

One of the things that make charter schools so effective is the discipline. They have more latitude to discipline the students and can maintain higher standards -- and it's proven, the more disciplined the student, the better the student. It's also proven that dress codes improve student's ability to study, behave and concentrate. (And how many of you who are against this are the same people who argue that students NEED discipline, that schools and parents don't discipline?).

The other side of the issue is that this student is trying to do a good thing. And let's not condemn the school. While he is out of school, they are working with him so that he can keep up with the school work AND it looks like the board will take it up and write in exceptions to the policy. While my personal feeling is that he should be in class while it's happening, I can also see why he is not.

As an extension to that, the article doesn't say, but did the student go to the school board BEFORE making this decision and ask for an exception? If he did not, and just decided to grow it, then he and his parents are also partially at fault.

AnIndividual

What is it with MI? Has the Republicon Social Engineering police taken over the whole state?

I respect anyone who would grow their hair for this great cause! The school administrators could learn some responsible citizenship and community service from the students rather than try to make students "the enemy!"

How are you different than the school administrators (the WANT to BLAME someone)? You pretty much say because it's for a 'good cause' then it's ok? While I don't agree with the different rules for boys and girls, rules are rules.

The ideal that because it's "for a good cause" sidesteps the issue. Or do most of you don't get that ?

And don't think I'm cold to the issue. I have family members who have donated to that cause. And some members suffering from cancer (MM). I agree with those saying it's not fair, as I also agree, this boy has his entire life to be such high spirited.

Also once again, I don't think we're being given the whole story !

I agree with Crash and Deacon.

A Charter School is set up as an alternative to regular public schools. It provides the opportunity to try different methods and standards. People apply for admission in these schools because they believe these different methods and standards more closely fit their own.

Requiring these schools to make exceptions to their standards based on one student's desire reduces their ability to provide the rest of the students with this unique environment. They would become essentially just like any other public school.

Allowing this one kid to practice his own "diversity" in reality reduces everyone else's in this situation. The kid is free to attend another school that does not have this standard. The other kids are not as free to attend another school that does maintain these standards.

If you want to gripe about stupid school administration, check out the article about the school that is banning Uggies (furry boots) because they provide a place to hide cellphones.

this is for crash and dave you both have to put yourself in his shoes what if it was you and you wanted to do something out of the kindness of your hearts (if you even have one) after going through something that totally changed you as a person. wouldn't you want to have all the support from family friends and anyone else for that matter, wouldn't you like to know someone in this messed up world has your back if you ever were in need? what is wrong with people these days i thought people were supposed to be treated equal what ever happened to hope love faith and respect from others.....

Somehow, I suspect the "locks of love" idea came about after the fact. There's little doubt this kid knew the rules. If he's that devoted to his cause, why couldn't he actually come up with a plan ahead of time and take it to the school administrators? As usual, something's not right with this story--it's too one-sided. There's a right way and a wrong way to do everything. I wouldn't be surprised to find out it went down like this: Principal: "The length of your hair violates school policy. You must cut it or be suspended for violating the requirements for attendance that you've agreed to." Student to Mom: "They're making me cut my hair <sniff, sniff>." Mom to student: "They can't do that, the fascist pigs! For all they know you're growing it out to donate it to some poor needy cancer patient." Kid to mom: "Yeah!" Kid to principal: "I'm growing it for the kids with cancer!" Wanna bet?

i'm on the fence too.

it could be argued that he's claiming to do this for locks of love, but really just wants his hair long and cool...and knowing the school doesnt allow it, he decided to play the cancer card.

I thought I was going to read that he JUST beat cancer and now wants to donate.

but he beat it by age 7...and now suddenly, has a desire to donate?

thats awesome, ive donated to locks of love before too...but in all reality, it's likely at age 17 his hair isnt going to get long enough to donate until he's graduated (assuming he's a senior?).

so, if it's really that important...why not just wait? he's waited this long to care to do something awesome like this..whats another year?

that said, what I dont much care for is the fact that MOST charter schools use public funds (in the way of vouchers) yet dont have to follow the same rules that public schools do.

I think this is absolutely wrong. I dont mind private schools, that are fully funded privately, having their own rules...but when you accept even a SINGLE DOLLAR from the govt, you should have to operate by the same rules as public schools.

and if that were teh case, charter schools wouldnt look so amazing as they couldnt toss every long haired hippy out of their school, or toss out a kid who does one bad thing...they'd have to keep these kids just like public schools have to. not to mention the fact that they dont have to take on any kids with mental disabilities like autism, like the public schools have to.

end of the day, if charter schools want to act like private schools...then they need to be funded like them.

And now that I've gone and read a LOCAL papers version of the story.....this idea of the boys, was brought out after being asked about his hair. THEN it was noted the reason why. Knowing the rules, why didn't the boy or the parents, explain the reason for letting it grow long, BEFORE it was an issue ??

Something about this is not being told.

How narrow minded - both the school and some on this post. He is trying to do a very good thing. Clean, neat hair should not be a problem. And, he can serve as an example. While so many are quick to put down young people today - here is a young man we should all be proud to know and support and his school lets him down. It's disgraceful.

As for waiting until he's older - he is a cancer survivor and knows all too well that older for him may not be an option.

Back in highschool a friend of mine grew out his hair just because he wanted to. He tied his hair back like girls do, and never had any problems with it. Sure it looked weird, but because he approached it that way, there wasn't much the school could do about it without getting slapped with a gender discrimination lawsuit.

Why do these anal-retentive Nazis think they need to control the bodies of the students so closely. Hair length is going to be distracting to learning? No unnatural colors? Also something that is not going to keep someone from learning.

The rules about the hair are ridiculous and if taken to court I believe they would be considered to be unconstitutional. This would be a freedom of expression issue.

I can see rules about pants falling off your butt, or dress that is too provocative, THOSE are distractions. Hair is not a distraction.

This sure sounds like the work of the "keep government out of my life" crowd. That is unless it's their opinion of how you should conduct yourself, then they want rules to make you conform to their ideals.

I congratulate young Mr. Gaskins for surviving cancer, and I applaud him for his charitable intentions. However, the whole issue might have been easily resolved had his parents, who presumably were made aware of the dress code when they enrolled him, brought up the subject before he fell out of compliance with the school policy.

Enough of the elitist bullsh*t.

It's discrimination pure and simple. Somebody needs to challenge the policies and rules of this school in a court of law.

Kudos to this young man who wants to something positive for those battling cancer. Don't let others beat you down and turn you into another miserable bastard.

I thought we fought this battle -- and won it -- in the 1960s. There is no reason for the school to be telling students how to wear their hair, no matter what the context. School idiocy aside, congratulations to this brave young man for doing some good.

Way to go J.T.! If you had any real friends at your school they would all wear extremely long wigs to school to support your cause. Again, I admire you and applaud you... (and I won't even comment on the whole J.B. thing you got going on there with the hair, it's for a very good cause.) Keep your chin up and don't let them break you!

It's a Charter School. They set the rules. Parents send their kids BY CHOICE to charter schools because of the environment set up precisely by the school.
I'm happy for him beating cancer. If he wants long hair, switch schools.

People need to think more with their heads and less with their hearts, IMO.

I agree, Denver... the time to change rules is BEFORE you break them, not after. Otherwise you're just one of the millions of Americans who think that rules don't apply to them personally, they only exist for everyone else.

AnIndividual

What is it with MI? Has the Republicon Social Engineering police taken over the whole state?

Umm...it's not the Republicans that experiment with social engineering. That's a page straight out of the Democrat's playbook. The Republicans tend to be more in favor of individual freedoms and taking responsibility for your own actions, free from government interference. As to what is wrong with Michigan, in my opinionyou can lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of the corrupt labor unions and their puppet Democrats who have ruled the state for more than 50 years. It is one of the worst states in the country in terms of attracting new businesses, and the overly burdensome taxes and government-imposed regulations that support the crumbling Peoples' Democratic Republic of Michigan are not likely to improve anytime soon.

As to the kid in the story, I respect his desire to want to help other kids with cancer, but he IS in a charter school, not a public one. The rules are plainly spelled out, including the one regarding his hair, and both he and his mother knew that. There is NO discrimination, because the rule applies to every boy going to that school. If he had been singled out when other boys had hair as long or longer, then that would be discrimination, but again, this is a charter, i.e., private school. They are free to impose whatever rules on their students that the parents of those students are willing to accept. Otherwise, they are free to go to public school.

He's going to cry about having to cut his hair?

Well he was going to donate it to others less fortunate than himself. But what's really funny is that the real crying, and fit-throwing is coming from a social establishment that still thinks it has anything to say about how long a boy's hair is. If it's that insignificant, then it's none of your business.

agree, Denver... the time to change rules is BEFORE you break them, not after

A rule that has no credible basis just makes all of the other rules look stupid.

What is the all-fired problem people have with long hair? It is inexplicable. THe natural state of human hair is to grow and keep growing. And I've got to say, it's this kid's body, and he can do what he wishes with it.

Or, do we not even have that basic freedom anymore?

I guess I'm kind of on the fence as well. Nice idea but it breaks the school code. If he knew about the code ahead of time and had a problem with it, then why did he enroll?

I find a parallel to being in the military. Cannot have long hair there as well. And you know about it going in.

I don't get it.

Years ago American public schools had dress codes and grooming standards, and the liberals protested that it wasn't fair to make everyone follow those standards, that we should value diversity.

Today, American public schools pretty much let kids wear whatever they want. Little girls come dressed like hookers, and little boys like hoodlums. The discipline in some schools is so bad they remind you of the primate center at the local zoo.

A group of people get together and form a single charter school that sets itself apart by having and enforcing dress and grooming standards, people flock to get their kids into one of these schools, and the liberals complain. Can't you let these people be different?

Apparently liberals value diversity, as long as everyone thinks and acts exactly like them.

As long as charter schools receive public funds, and they do, they should have to abide by the same rules as public schools, including dress codes.

If a parent determines his child would benefit from a education that is not offered through public education then he should pay for it himself, not the taxpayer with a 'donation' tossed in from 'private funding', whatever that is.

I admire the kid's good intention but he has many option; 1 shave his head bald and donate all the hair, 2 transfer to a public school where dress code is more "go as you want to school", 3 observe the charter school dress code policy. The school have the dress code policy and follow it, allowing one to break the rule will lead to potential abuse by other student, The policy was there before and enrolling in the school one agrees and accept to obey/follow that was in the school policy otherwise go to a public school where the learning atmosphere is more lax. This has nothing to do with being rich or poor as one commenter noted. It should also be noted that MSNBC reporters have the habit of ommitting key words and misinformation prior posting news

" out of the eyes” for boys." First off, his hair is not in his eyes-- unless his eyes are way up on his forehead. I wonder what the dress code for girls is-- girls can wear their hair any way they please and dress like hoochie mamas?

" out of the eyes” for boys." First off, his hair is not in his eyes-- unless his eyes are way up on his forehead. I wonder what the dress code for girls is-- girls can wear their hair any way they please and dress like hoochie mamas?

" out of the eyes” for boys." First off, his hair is not in his eyes-- unless his eyes are way up on his forehead.

They won't let me post my comment. All I said was that his hair is NOT in his eyes.

The fact that he was suspended is completely his fault. He knows the rules for the school and could have petitioned to have the school board change the rules for him, while keeping his hair within the established dress code, then once the rule was changed, could have continued to grow out his hair. Instead, he decided to ignore the established rules and has been penalized for doing so. This is a charter school the he is attending by choice, rather than going to the normal public school in his school district. If he doen't like the rules, he can leave. I'm sure there is a very long waiting list of other kids that want to go the school. I agree that his intentions are good but there is a proper way to go about getting the rules changed.

Speaking of options... Can he wear a wig? At least until they come up with a good compromise? That gets him back in class. Missing that many days, isn't he risking not graduating? Seems to me that should be the greater priority.

No matter how noble his desire to help others, he's attending a school that has very clearly defined rules regarding appearance. Rules are meant to be followed, just like laws. When he graduates, he can grow his hair as long as he wishes and donate as often as he can. Just trim it up and move on - hair grows quickly.

Would you READ the freaking story to the end?!? Geesh, people seem to LOVE being upset. If you read the story, you would see that the school board is rewriting the dress code to allow J.T. and other students who want to grow their hair long for charity. *rolls eyes* I suppose actually reading to the end of a story is too much to expect these days.

Actually differnet ...

. If you read the story, you would see that the school board is rewriting the dress code to allow J.T. and other students who want to grow their hair long for charity. *rolls eyes

READING the article to the end you would find that the school board MIGHT rewrite the dress code ... not that it IS rewriting it. Before urging us to read to the end, perhaps you should read more CAREFULLY to the end.

He says the five-member school board may soon take up a possible revision to the dress-code policy to take into account special situations like Locks of Love.

This school's policy is sexist, if the hair needs to be above the collar it should mean everyone not just boys. Girls too should be include. Since it's not they need to allow this boy or any boy to have long hair. It's none of the school's business stating a boy's hair should be this length or that length.

To all those saying the kid needs to be responsible and follow the rules, uh how about the poor example the school is setting in not following U.S. discrimination laws? It works both ways.

It's discrimatory because the rules are different for boys than girls!!

Just to let you guys, and the kid in the story know- Locks of Love is a SCAM! they sell most of the hair they recieve to places that weave hair extensions and wigs. the wigs that L.O.L. does make they still charge the parents for them- they arent free.

i decided to let my hair grow out for no other reason than i wanted to see what i looked like with long hair. i was originally planning to donate it to L.O.L. until i did some searching and found out the truth about that so called charity.

when i do decide to cut it off, i will be selling my hair and donating the money to the make a wish foundation.

I remember that during the Administration of President Eisenhour, a man was drafted whose hair, for religious reasons, was very long. He wrote a letter to President Eisenhour told him his problem, and provided documentation, that his religion banned cutting his hair. President Eisenhour wrote back and gave him an exemption, provided that, when in uniform, he always keep his hair neatly bound and off his shoulders. Ike also suggested the soldier ALWAYS carry the letter with him.

Ummmm, "gender-based discrimination" is alive and well in schools--and is for the most part enforceable. I remember back in the day when the yearbook sponsor told me I couldn't have my picture in the yearbook if I refused to wear the puffy, feathery stole with my shoulders exposed. I said, "fine," and had my picture taken with my dark blue jacket and paisley shirt. Oddly, they ran the picture anyway--perhaps because I genuinely did not give a flip one way or the other and always wore that kind of modest clothing.

Skip forward thirty years--my daughter's school also forced the girls to wear the same ridiculous feathery stole or not be in the yearbook, but they were serious because it prevents the "lesbians" (all non-"girly" girls are "lesbians" where I live) from wearing tuxedos like the boys. She grew her hair out and draped it around her shoulders--so one couldn't tell what she was wearing anyway--the photographer could see what she was doing and lifted the camera up so that only the tiniest hint of feather appeared in the bottom of the photo--it ran in the yearbook.

The young man could fairly easily do his hair so that the bangs are out of his eyes and the hair is off his collar--perhaps they would allow him to wear it like a young Thomas Jefferson, and double it over when it gets longer (bangs don't work for Locks of Love anyway). And, he really should have asked first, since it's not really that big of a deal. But, chances are, they have this rule because they are trying to curb any potential cross-dressing by transexual students because GLBT students are essentially "witches" in the eyes of many these days.

But, yes, sadly rules about attire can be gender-specific in many cases. Women can be forced to wear make-up and men can be forbidden kilts. It's kind of stupid--but if it's a charter school, they have the same sorts of powers that businesses do. The young man can go to a public school (where he will have more of a case--though even then, not much of one) if it is that important to him.

I thought the issue of boys having long hair in school was settled 40 or more years ago after The Beatles made long hair in males fashionable. This is a clear case of legalized discrimination that has to be unconstitutional !!!

“My immediate concern is, what are we going to do for this kid to make sure he doesn’t lapse,” Kneer said.

"Personally, my heartfelt desire at this moment is to have that child back in school."

But the school officials are bound by their own silly, senseless rules which they have imposed upon themselves.

"Oh how, oh how will we ever figure this out" the officials seem to lament. Obviously they feel some shame over the situation, but in reality it looks as though they fear it would be equally shameful for themselves if they were to change one of their archaic and idiotic policies.

They write a rule then sit there wringing their hands that this rule is now non-amendable, so deemeth themselves. Hell that rule probably was written 40 years ago, but once written cannot be erased for reasons of common sense, changing times, or good of the community, lest some wrinkled old b*stard may have his feeling hurt or flop over in his grave because his fine bit of rule-writing eventually was questioned. I've seen this sort of thing before.

Someone up the thread posted that if exceptions were made to the rule, "some boys might abuse the exceptions just to have fashionable hair cuts." OMG!! Fashionable hair cuts?? You mean like "in fashion"?? In school?? When it used to be against the rules??? How will the establishment wonks ever sleep at night knowing THAT's going on! Fear the rise of anarchy when silly rules are questioned and overturned!

Can't you feel he love now? Is's everywhere!!!

I think I remember a Supreme Court ruling, maybe somewhere in the '70's, that made this sort of 'dress code' in public schools illegal. I think I also remember a wave of public schools, maybe in the '80's or '90's, adopting uniforms. So I'm not sure where this stands legally.

Charter schools in our state, while they are considered public schools and receive public money, are exempt from all kinds of rules and regulations that normal public schools are required to follow. Maybe this school also doesn't have to follow the rules. I don't know. But I completely agree with the posters who say that he should be allowed to grow his hair for Locks of Love.

Damn hippies!

DOH!!!

(Sarcasm)

It shouldn't matter how long the boy's hair is. The other boys should grow their long to help with the cause.What would they have done in the 60's or 70's when you couldn't what sex a person was until they turned around?

He goes to a school like this that has rules, so he needs to follow and abide by the rules. He can grow out his hair after he graduates and then donate it.

"Female students can grow and donate their hair, yet boys cannot," the petition says. "... we are simply asking for compromise and to allow not only my son, but anyone wanting to donate to be allowed to do so, to allow the boys the same rights and freedoms as the girl students."

I think that if a female can have long hair, then so should a boy that wants to grow long hair. If he doesn't like the rules, then he can go to another school and grow it as along as Goldilocks hair.

It sounds like the school is run by republicans... you know the kind that think the world should be modelled after mayberry, where all the boys have short conservative haircuts, dress a certain way, etc... and ignores the reality that life isn't always perfect, some people get cancer, and those rules end up getting in the way of good people trying to do good things for others.

as along as Goldilocks hair.

How long was Goldilocks' hair? I remember rapunzel having long hair, but I don't recall anything about the length of Goldilocks' hair.

Z1P2

as along as Goldilocks hair.

How long was Goldilocks' hair? I remember rapunzel having long hair, but I don't recall anything about the length of Goldilocks' hair.

Hello nitpicker. lol. Goldilocks, Rapunzel, who cares. Rapunzel had golden blond hair.

:)

Yeah, screw the goddamn cancer patients that would benefit from this boys donation. Rules are Rules. After all, what's more important, the comfort of some anonymous cancer patient or this boy looking like he's been stamped with the gestapo imposed universal dress code that guarantees that no one shall look different than any other student. And remember, green leaves are green, flowers are red, and anybody who sees it any other way, well, you're not welcome, right? I mean, the next thing you know, the kids will want to be addressed by different names like Billy, or Susie, or whatever the hell silly name their long-haired liberal parents call them at home. Here, it shall be "Boy" for the boys and "Missie" for the girls. Otherwise, they might develop some indivuduality and get ideas in their head like giving to charity. We teach nothing if it isn't free market principles. If you have cancer, and you don't have any hair, blame yourself. Get a job. Goddamn liberals! /s

Not a bad idea......hmmm.......

Good idea. I wonder if they would simply let him pull it back into a Pony Tail?

Why does the school have this rule for Boys only anyhow, so they can identify the boys and know who to diddle? Hey, wait, is this a Catholic School? :/

that would be a good idea, except the rules also state hair must be off the collar. I praise this young man for his desires and hope he is back in school soon.

I was thinking the same thing. A hairnet? a headband - i have seen boys wear headbands! it doesn't say it has to be cut short - just out of the eyes, etc.

PICK YOUR BATTLES SCHOOLBOARD and this definitely should NOT be one of them. i am sure there are more important issues you should be concerned about. Get him back in school!

I was going to say the same thing. Where I work our "ponytails" have to be above our collars. There are ways of getting it up and off the collar and out of his eyes to satisfy the requirements. Keep growing it get it up and give the &^^holes the finger!

He could always pull it up into one of those "high ponytails", it would keep any hair off his collar. It was once only used by girls, but now sometimes by men like Tom Brady when he went through his Beiber Hair phase (much to the chagrin of NE)... GO PATS!!!

Because it still would not be off the collar and out of the eyes.

Ummm, OK gramps.

WWMIH: "A High Ponytail will keep it off the collar, above the ear, and out of the eyes."

Grandpa: "Mehhh, no it won't! Mehhh, it's your fault I'm old and rigid! Mehhh, it was better in my day!!!"

rules are meant to be revised and changed just like everything else in this realm changes.

i am glad im not in the social circle of those that say "rules are rules". you are unamerican

This is a private school. Nearly all private schools have a dress code. If complying with that dress code sounds like something you don't want to do, you have the option of going to public school. There is nothing unAmerican about that. We have 50 states. There are laws in some states that do not apply in others. If you don't like the laws in Rhode Island, for instance, you can freely move to any other state you want to, say...I don't know...New Jersey. Whatever. My point is, the whole reason why there were 13 colonies originally, instead of just one, was so that if you wanted to live by one set of rules, you could live in Pennsylvania, if you wanted another set of rules, you could live in Maine.

It's all about freedom of choice, people, and taking responsibility for those choices. THAT is American!

I suspect that if he had gone to the school administrators and asked them for a special one-time-only dispensation of the hair rule, and why he wanted to do it, they probably would've allowed him to grow his hair down to his butt. They might've even been able to wrangle some positive P.R. for their school ijn the process, maybe made a contest out of it or something. But for him to just decide to ignore the rules in this private charter school, no matter how noble his intentions, is just wrong.

What if he put it in a top knot like a Samurai?

I was thinking a mohawk would work perfectly, some big ol' liberty spikes, as long as he doesn't dye it. Technically, it would certainly be off the collar and out of the eyes. But then, I am a smart ass like that.

He was offered the option of cornrows or pulling it back in some other way. "No." he said. "I'm going to call the news because you won't give me my own way."

The school has a zero common sense policy.

It is a public school.

From their website:

Madison Academy is tuition-free public school academy that opened its doors to the Flint community in the fall of 2004. Serving students in the kindergarten through eleventh grades, Madison will add an additional grade each school year until it serves Kindergarten through Twelfth grades.

http://www.madison-academy.org/

Summer - although technically public, charter schools have rules like private schools. They knew what the rule is. He doesn't have to go there. People have to make choices in life. You can't have everything your way.

I agree with you 100%, Wryview. They have choices. The parents need to teach their son to respect the rools of the school or put him in another school that has not rules in regard to the hair, you cannot have everything your way. Stop the silliness!

Ooops "rules".

Hey wryview- why not?

Wryview, Diane - So according to your distorted viewpoints a young man, who has already battled childhood leukemia, and now wants to donate to Locks of Love, should sacrifice a better education for having a stronger set of morals and values than you both do? They don't have to reinvent the wheel to let him do what is, by all regards, a great thing. That makes "great" sense. Lets penalize a kid who is doing the right thing and deny him a better opportunity to get a superior education because of his hair length. Hey while we're at it let's make him cut his hair AND kick him out of school. Simply two comments from two people who never had the stones to do half of what a child has done and never will.

So what do you do when every male in school wants to grow out their hair for locks of love? It opens up a logistical nightmare that quite honestly, I wouldn't want the school dealing with. While I applaud this young mans intentions, he still needs to adhere to the rules he agreed to when he enrolled at this school. There are other ways to help the cause. He could start a campaign and try to have the entire female student body donate. If he got just two, it would be twice the amount he could donate on his own. Of course, then there would be no righteous indignation at a school that adheres to its policies.

It is a charter school - this is a special type of public school. It is tuition free because it is supported by public funds and donations. It is not the same as a regular public school, and it is not controlled by the elected public school board. It has a mission and rules that are well known to those who apply for admission. No students are assigned to the school - they must apply and wait for an opening. The hope is that they will receive a better education than the regular public school. The staff firmly believe that having and enforcing rules is one part of having a better educational experience - students learn that they don't get to make up the rules.

If, after agreeing to the rules and accepting a position, the student and his family change their mind and no longer wish to abide by the special rules, he is free to transfer to a regular public school, be home schooled, or apply for (and pay for) a private school that better suits his needs.

@Tim -

Perhaps it is your viewpoint that is distorted. This student decided to break a rule (which he and his family agreed to) in order to do a good thing. Perhaps another student would like to attend school in the nude, in order to donate his clothing to poor people who need clothing. It's for a good cause - why should the school penalize that behavior?

Perhaps education should include a lesson that honorable, moral people keep their word. When they make a promise to obey the rules, it would be "the right thing" to do that. There are ways to change the rules within the system, and that is the approach that the family should have used. Start a campaign to convince the board, staff, students, and their families that Locks of Love is a good program worthy of support, including a modification of the rules. Respectable members of society do not change the rules by violating them, then argue/whine after the fact that their way is better.

What is a "special type of public school"? A public school is a public school. It doesn't really make a difference that this school is a charter school, if it receives funding from the government, it must adhere to the same standards as public schools. Just because you agree to a certain set of rules prior to admittance does not mean that the rules are fair and/or constitutional. I don't think the charter school's rules would hold up well to a legal challenge.

It really doen't matter what kind of a school this is. The fact is that the school board has exhibited very poor jugment. Unfortunately, stupidity does not exist in a vacuum. This poor jugment carries ove to all decisions made by the board. It's possible that the teachers are incompetent and some of them may be pedohiles. Never mind appealing the decision of the board--get the kid out of that place ASAP.

Any other parents: As a prospective employer I'm advising you that this school is no longer accredited in my book and any time spent there is wasted.

It's very understandable that parents who want to give their children a better education than what's available in public shools gravitate toward charter schools. Dress code may be important if infractions cause a distraction, but in the present thread this has not been mentioned. Did some students complain or did only the staff and the school board get bent out of shape?

If the latter is the case, this should be considered a red flag. Every psychologist knows that the most vociferous people are those who overreact to to a situation because of their own internal conflicts or concerns.

At any rate, a childs education is too important to be entrusted to people who have gained internation prominence--for the wrong reasons. On the positive side, this episode has explained something that many people in the world have wondered about.

According to the Program for Internation Student Assessment, the U.S. kids are in the 30th place in mathematics, 24th in science and 17h in literacy. Why does the the country with the greatest resources in the world fare so poorly? The answer is here right before your eyes: The length of a student's hair is more important than academic excellence!

This is not a trivial matter and it does not apply only to this particular "institute of learning". Parents should demand accountability. How do the children rate, based on international standards? They should be #! in the world. No excuses. Greater monetary resources, higher teacher pay, technological advantages--and yet, the performance is abysmal. The economic future of the U.S. will ultimately depend on the level of education of today's children. If the school in question does not measure up, get the kids out fo there, ASAP.

As for the school that started this thread: Now that you have brought shame on the U.S. you should learn about an old Spanish saying: "Zapatero a tus zapatos". Or in English: find occupations that are more tolerant of bad judgment...

We live in a society where there are rules and then there are times when rules should be bent for a good cause and when doing so will not impact or hurt anyone. Which I would say growing one's hair out is unlikely to hurt another individual.

He is not asking for them to be bent because he wants to make a fashion statement. A black and white attitude about rules is not what the US is about, if that were so we would not challenge laws which are unjust or out of date. Using your words it would be a case of the USA has laws if you don;t like them go to another country.

On the one hand, the young man is breaking the rules. A just punishment for breaking the rules is only fair. On the other hand, it seems reasonable that an exception could be made for hair donation. The student could sign a parent countersigned agreement that his hair can be kept long if he pledges to donate it after an agreed upon length is reached.

I know many of us would prefer to ask forgiveness rather than permission, but would it not have been better for this young man to ask for an exemption before challenging authority? Having taken that route, the school board (or equivalent) could have maintained order and been magnanimous while the student could have donated his hair.

Unfortunately for the administrators they only enforce the rules established by the elected school board. An administrator follows and enforces the rules or they may be told to find a new position elsewhere. Common sense would dictate that the policy be bent but that is not the administration's call...it is the boards.

You bend the rules for one student and you have to bend the rules for everyone else. The school rules are in place to avoid disruption, which wastes everyone's time. This young man should attend a non-charter school so he can grow his hair as long as he wants.

Raleigh, since when did hair style become a disruption? Also if other students are so easily disrupted then maybe they should be home schooled.

No Raleigh, you don't have to bend them for everyone. It's simple enough to write an exception to the appearance rules that would allow him, or anyone else, to donate to this worthy cause. You're forgetting, or ignoring would be a better description, that boys are rarely people that donate to the Locks of Love Program, which means this wouldn't be very common issue.

Wow!!!! How lame is that? Here we have school's fussing and complaining,Getting on parents case's about kids not being in school and they suspend a kid for having his hair a inch to long! Give me a break! And this boy is doing this for love of a child. Makes me wanna #&@%* and &%@#^ #^@&#$ you can fill in the blanks. And they wonder why kids don't want to go to school and have no respect towards school staff. Not only that and correct me if I'm wrong.But isn't it his right as an American to be able to grow his hair the why he wants.I mean for gosh sakes it's not like he has multi colored hair and in a mohawk LOL.

Tim, so if the exception is allowed, then let's say, just for the fun of it, that half of the junior and senior boys say " I going to grow my hair to donate it". Under normal growth, their hair would not be 15 inches minimum until after they have all graduated. Then, how many would actually do it? I would venture to say very few. Most would use it to grow their hair longer, so they can be fshionable. And now we are discriminating against Blacks who do not have relatively straight hair. Can you imagine what a 15 in long afro would look like?

They knew the rules. The rules are for the whole student body. If they wanted an exception, it should have been done before hand. Too many rules and laws are bent to accomodate individuals, which disposes of the effectiveness of the rule or law to begine with. Sorry, but the kid and his parents are wrong on this one.

The rule makers can always say this is the one and only exception, after all I somehow doubt half of the boys at the school have survived cancer. This young man has a real reason to do so and a heart felt one.

Rules should be challenged and questioned, dictatorships thrive when rules are followed without question and with out consideration to the situation. One role of the court system to hear situations where laws are unjust and should be over turned or modified. Its how it all works. We have a law that you should not kill someone, pretty cut and dry however there are exceptions to this law. That is how rules and laws should work and how they do work.

Sorry but you are off center on this one, and the school will no doubt see the error of its ways.

I know many of us would prefer to ask forgiveness rather than permission, but would it not have been better for this young man to ask for an exemption before challenging authority? Having taken that route, the school board (or equivalent) could have maintained order and been magnanimous while the student could have donated his hair.

This is exactly correct. I highly suspect if the student had respectfully approached the school board, told them what he was doing and why and politely asked for an exemption .... he might have gotten it.

Rules should be challenged and questioned, dictatorships thrive when rules are followed without question and with out consideration to the situation

Certainly ... but they should be questioned BEFORE they are broken if at all possible. In this case, it was entirely possible.

It's a charter school. It is not controlled by an elected school board.

"normal" short hair????....geez. Why should anybody have to explain their hair length?

bagdadjoe::: Would you have been satisfied if they said "his usual short hair"? Maybe short hair was normal for him-- or should I have said USUAL for him.

rule

Noun:

1.a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.:

Rule(s):

1. An authoritative regulation for action, method, procedure, arrangement, etc. /The rules of the school.

Glad JB and wryview know the definition of the word rule. Based on them replying to the definition of discrimination with the definition of rule it seems they have no problem with rules that discriminate. Sad to see some in our society still think as if we are in the 1800's.

If everyone is required to have their hair a specific length, how is that discrimination? The word discrimination should not even be used in describing this article.

The parents knew the rules or chose not to read them when enrolling their child.

Discrimination is when someone is allowed to do something someone else is not allowed to. Such as growing your hair long while the others can not.

If the parents do not like it, they can place him in another school that allows students to wear slippers, pants off the ass, roam the halls texting and grow their hair to whatever length they choose.

They obviously wanted a very structured environment for their sons education. Problem is, they can't get upset when they are asked to be in compliance with the rules they agreed to in the first place.

That's the problem with society today. Everyone wants a rule change when it doesn't suit what they want. Go ask your employer if you can violate company policy without repercussions. You wont be employed long and the policy will not have been changed to suit your needs.

They can send him to Atherton or Carman-Ainsworth anytime they choose. They want him in Madison because of smaller class sizes, more individual attention and an anti-bullying policy that is enforced.

I understand where you are coming from how ever rules are not always correct or just regardless of if they are written down and signed.

We live in a country where we are taught if a law is unjust we have the right to challenge that law and to have it modified or over turned If it is judge to be the right thing to do. A school should be the same. If they find a law is unjust, not working or does not fit a situation they should be wise enough to modify or over turn it for special events like these.

Also a perfect opportunity to teach their students a lesson in civics.

Charter schools are public schools. They receive federal and state funds. They do have the right to not abide by some of the rule applied to public schools, but that has to do with state instituted curriculums, etc.

They cannot deny constitutionally protected rights to students. For example, they cannot deny access based on sex, disability, religion, and race.

In today's society everyone want no rules. Part of the mess that this country is in right now is that nobody want to obey the rules even if they agreed to the rules prior to entering into an agreement.

You don't want to follow the rules then get the hell out. Public school is always a choice because they have no rules. That's why parents flee them left and right. Move on boy or cut you hair, live within the set guidelines and finish your studies>>>Then grow your hair to your toes for all we care.

PS. Tell your mother that next time she signs a private school policy form she aught to read it first.

He is not doing this for a fashion statement or to be a rebel, he is doing it for a good cause. He should switch schools because he wants to do charity work?

The world needs more people like JT who challenge authority when it is the right thing to do.

Well said, Chelle!

Actually, charter schools are funded by tax dollars, so they are public schools. They are able to choose curriculum, policy and rules. They choose who they accept and often kick out discipline problems when they occur. Charter schools are not held to the same educational standards as district public schools, i.e. test scores and annual progress. This could have been a learning opportunity for the charter school, perhaps a service project, to support cancer charities, race for the cure, or even locks for love....

Wow---am I really living in America...the land of the free???

Free to do what? Can't smoke, can't drive without a seatbelt, can't play on line poker with therest of the world.....oh yeah...the United States...where laws differ from state to state--where's the United??? And of course -this poor kid who can't even grow his hair for a cause....screw him if he just wanted to have long hair--right? That's our country-- judge all--our judgemental united country.

wrong. Charter schools can set their own standards for behavior, dress, etc. Students and their guardians must understand and agree to the rules when they apply for admission. The structured educational experience is part of their mission.

The rules are in conflict with SCOTUS's ruling on freedom of expression in public schools. Therefore, the kid does not have to follow them. In fact the school district is going to have to ask this kid forgiveness for trampling on his rights of expression and access to education.

Furthermore, there is no legitimate reason why the codes should discriminate against one sex over hairstyles. Asking for an exemption only perpetuates the school district's unconstitutional rules.

You may have missed it in the article, but this is a charter school (Madison Academy) not a public school. Different set of rules, obviously.

No... i did not miss that. Charter schools are public schools. I know I went to one. That is why this issue involves the school district. If it were private it would not.

Charter schools differ on the basis of state required curriculum and format. For example, state required readings for regular public schools do not apply. Some charter schools also work on different schedules. For example, some schools do one class at a time for four to six weeks and do not have large summer breaks.

Charter schools typically have larger budgets and smaller class sizes. Since your ability to attend and receive a better education depends on your name being drawn in a lottery, some have argued that these types of schools are also unconstitutional via the separate but equal issue.

Charter schools do not charge tuition. They also, like any institution that receives federal and state money, cannot discriminate.

Okay, I was giving you the benefit of the doubt, but since you did see that it was charter school, then you are simply wrong.

From the NEA website:

"Charter schools are publicly funded elementary or secondary schools that have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools, in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each charter school's charter." (emphasis added)

http://www.nea.org/home/16332.htm

Publicly funded. Not public. They are able to make and enforce rules if they can justify/demonstrate that those rules result in better education. The demonstration/justification part is very soft, however. Students are not required to attend if they (or parents) do not agree with the rules, but they must go back to the public school to which they are entitled to attend. Applying legal precedent from decisions on public schools does not automatically transfer to a charter school.

Why are charter schools publicly funded then if they can discriminate against people? Aren't public funds coming from taxes paid by the public?

Justification/ demonstration is soft. While public schools need to prove their progress, charters are set up in alternative ways, and are not held accountable for what they do. My tax dollars and yours go to public and charter schools. Private schools are run on donations and tuition, and parochial schools are run by church/ religious groups and tuition.

Once again here's a forum for people to leave their ignorant comments. I hope and pray that one day a family member of yours is not diagnosed with cancer and may need the help of this organization Locks of Love. Who cares what tax dollars are paid to what schools and donations go to private, blah, blah, blah. We are talking about a real live human being people !!! It may be one day that you will need this child's hair for your wig. Not everything can be black and white. There is a gray area in life and we need to reach out help when we can.

sadmoronsvote2: so you're basically saying that charter schools want to have their cake and eat it too?

idiot

They are trying to set a standard. That is something that is severely lacking today.

Roger, just because other idiot parents would rather be their child's friend and not parent, and not have standards and don't enforce rules, doesn't mean some or most of the rest of feel that way. And the school board reflects the opinions of the community they live in. So I am thinking most people there prefer their kids to appear like it is stated in the rule book. If this was the only school in town, I think they should relax the standards, sure; but since it is a charter school, and there are other options, I see no need for them to lower the standards for this young man, or any other child. His heart is in the right place for sure, but that doesn't justify breaking rules. The ends do not justify the means.

@wryview

They should set a standard that says helping others is OK. What standard are we setting by kicking him out of school because he wants to help someone ?

@pittdeacon

"And the school board reflects the opinions of the community they live in."

Do you really believe that ? There is no school board in the USA that reflects what parents want.

@Roger - what, you went and interviewed them all? Well, you must have missed a few here and there, cause the school board where my children attend DOES reflect, and respond to, and provide for, what the voting majority of parents want. When they don't, the board member(s) who act against our wishes are voted out. Should be that way everywhere, if it isn't then too bad for the weak willed voters of that district.