>>>>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34818450/ns/us_news-education/?GT1=43001
>>>>
>>>>I put this on the parents - get the kid to a SuperCuts and teach him to spike his hair.
>>>
>>>Since school is compulsary until age 16, and it's a public school (as far as I can tell), I'm with the parents. It doesn't hurt him or anyone else to have long hair. I can understand a policy of requiring hair below the collar to be pulled back or braided, but cutting is ridiculous. Our schools have dress codes, but many young men have long hair. I say, As long as the boy wishes it, Fight, fight, fight! :o) I guess that while he is missing out on the socialization aspect of school life, he is gaining by one-on-one instruction. I'd question whether or not that teacher is qualified to teach all subjects (a problem with many high school in-school suspensions) but at that age, probably so.
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>>I agree. Long hair doesn't cause any undue hardship for anyone (assuming he doesn't try to be disruptive - Marge Simpson height purple hair in a spiked mohawk or something).
>>
>>Dress codes are another story and do have a point. Speaking of which I watched (and assisted momentarily) as 2 kids wearing shoplifting pants got caught putting them to use in Best Buy yesterday. Things like that call out for dress codes.
>
>I'm with you and Tracy....I don't see any harm in the kid having long hair. And hey isn't this sexist? Where is the discrimination lawsuit? I suppose its OK for the GIRLS to have long hair but not the boys? hahaha. Surely in a week or two we will hear about the million dollar lawsuit bought on by this now emotionally scared child and the horrible trama suffered by his mom...blah blah blah

One of my daughter's classmates had a mullet with a ponytail down to his buttocks all through his school years. He didn't cut his hair until his senior year by choice. It wasn't a distraction and didn't affect his academics. The kids carrying drugs, knives, guns, and fighting in school were the distraction that the schools need to work on. Most public schools have dress codes now (a lot of it is to discourage and prevent gang colors), but hair style should be individual in a public school. Private schools can make additional rules because attendance is voluntary (and usually costly as well).