Daughter will be suspended over hair color

[5hartley]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Alabama

My children go to a public school that has a strict uniform policy.They dictate everything that the children wear from the color of rubber bands in their hair,right down to the shoes. The shirts must not have more than 3 buttons, pants can't have a double stitched seam, no pockets on pants, belts can not be braided leather, socks must be crew length,etc..

My problem is with my 13y/o daughters hair. For her birthday I put in some temporary pink highlights that will wash out in 6 weeks.Her hair is medium brown so the colored streaks are very subtle and look redish on her dark hair.

I got a letter today from the school demanding that I dye her hair or she will be suspended from school. I refuse to put permanent dye on her long, baby soft hair. The only reason that I did the highligts is because it's a small portion of her hair and it will wash out without causing damage.

Can the school really suspend her over this? What gives them the right to tell me how my child can style her hair? She is a straight A, honor roll student , and in the gifted program. She has never once been in trouble at school and is now facing suspension because she wanted to express her individualism .

I feel like the Public School has gone to far this time.Does my child have any rights ?

 

[Just Blue]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Alabama

My children go to a public school that has a strict uniform policy.They dictate everything that the children wear from the color of rubber bands in their hair,right down to the shoes. The shirts must not have more than 3 buttons, pants can't have a double stitched seam, no pockets on pants, belts can not be braided leather, socks must be crew length,etc..

My problem is with my 13y/o daughters hair. For her birthday I put in some temporary pink highlights that will wash out in 6 weeks.Her hair is medium brown so the colored streaks are very subtle and look redish on her dark hair.

I got a letter today from the school demanding that I dye her hair or she will be suspended from school. I refuse to put permanent dye on her long, baby soft hair. The only reason that I did the highligts is because it's a small portion of her hair and it will wash out without causing damage.

Can the school really suspend her over this? What gives them the right to tell me how my child can style her hair? She is a straight A, honor roll student , and in the gifted program. She has never once been in trouble at school and is now facing suspension because she wanted to express her individualism .

I feel like the Public School has gone to far this time.Does my child have any rights ?

You have the right to enroll your daughter in another school.

 

[5hartley]

My question was.... Does the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM have the right to suspend my daughter over her hair style ???

 

[Just Blue]

My question was.... Does the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM have the right to suspend my daughter over her hair style ???

Yes...They do. It's called "School Policy" and YOU agreed to this policy when you enrolled your child in their school.

 

[Perky]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? She is a straight A, honor roll student , and in the gifted program. She has never once been in trouble at school and is now facing suspension because she wanted to express her individualism .

Just a general comment about the above, but why do so many parents include this kind of information in a way that suggests it should be a good reason for their child to be allowed to break the rules?

 

[lealea1005]

You should have checked with the school administration BEFORE putting the pink streaks in.

The rules are for everyone...not everyone except your daughter.

 

[cyjeff]

Does the dress code address colors of hair?

 

[Ohiogal]

Does the dress code address colors of hair?

Doesn't matter if it does or not.

A prohibition against expression of opinion, without any evidence that the rule is necessary to avoid substantial interference with school discipline or the rights of others, is not permissible under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

Greater people than I have said that.

 

[Ohiogal]

Just a general comment about the above, but why do so many parents include this kind of information in a way that suggests it should be a good reason for their child to be allowed to break the rules?

Because quite frankly it can matter in this case.

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

Have her wear a wig until the dye washes out.

 

[mommyof4]

Have her wear a wig until the dye washes out.

Or go to your nearest drug store and get a temporary dye about the natural color of her hair. Use the dye only on the pink streaks until everything washes out.

Go into your nearest drug store and purchase hair color remover (I think it's called something like 'Oops') to remove the pink streaks.

Another idea....

If she has long hair, have her wear it in a french braid (or braids) until the dye washes out. I had a friend in high school who had blonde hair and we all decided to put copper mousse in our hair one night. (Don't ask) Well, her hair was not naturally blonde and the copper mousse left bright orange streaks in her hair. She wore her hair braided until she could get an appt at her salon to have her hair stripped and re-highlighted.

Oh, and if you used the pink spray dye (ususally sold around halloween) don't count on those streaks washing out anytime soon. I used it on my daughter (who has white blonde hair) and she had pink streaks for months. It's supposed to be temp, but the pink just doesn't come out. Now the blue, green, and purple do, but that pink**************..

 

[TheGeekess]

My question was.... Does the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM have the right to suspend my daughter over her hair style ???

Yes, even in Alabama.

 

[VeronicaLodge]

Just a general comment about the above, but why do so many parents include this kind of information in a way that suggests it should be a good reason for their child to be allowed to break the rules?

for the same reasons that people that lived in the apartment complex i managed that broke the rules or even the law by parking in the fire lane would tell me that they were "good Christians" .... i was always like "oh i wish i had known you were a good Christian before because good Christians are allowed to park in the fire lane!"

 

[Ohiogal]

Yes, even in Alabama.

NOT necessarily.

 

[TheGeekess]

NOT necessarily.

Short of knowing which county, so I could look up the BOE's Rules and Regulations... But first, let's start with some state statute.

The Code of Alabama, Section 16-28-12, states the following:
16-28-12 Person in loco parentis responsible for child’s school attendance and behavior; noncompliance; local boards to promulgate written behavior policy, contents, annual distribution, receipt to be documented; school officials required to report noncompliance; failure to report suspected violation; district attorneys vigorously to enforce provisions.
(a) Each parent, guardian, or other person having control or custody of any child required to attend school or receive regular instruction by a private tutor who fails to have the child enrolled in school or who fails to send the child to school, or have him or her instructed by a private tutor during the time the child is required to attend a public school, private school, church school, denominational
school, or parochial school, or be instructed by a private tutor, or fails to require the child to properly conduct himself or herself as a pupil in any public school in accordance with the written policy on school behavior adopted by the local board of education pursuant to this section and documented by the appropriate school official which conduct may result in the suspension of the pupil, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than on hundred dollars ($100) and may also be sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than 90 days. The absence of a child without the consent of the principal teacher of the public school he or she attends or should attend, or of the tutor who instructs or should instruct the child, shall be prima
facie evidence of the violation of this section.
(b) Each local public board of education shall adopt a written policy for its standards on school behavior. Each local public school superintendent shall provide at the commencement of each academic year a copy of the written policy on school behavior to each parent, guardian, or other person having care or control of a child who is enrolled. Included in the written policy shall be a
copy of this section. The signature of the student and the parent, guardian, or other person having control or custody of the child shall document receipt of the policy.
( c) Any parent, guardian, or other person having control or custody of any child enrolled in public school who fails to compel the child to properly conduct himself or herself as a pupil in accordance with the written policy on school behavior adopted by the local board of education and documented by the appropriate school official which conduct may result in the suspension of the pupil, shall be
reported by the principal to the superintendent of education of the school system in which the suspected violation occurred. The superintendent of education or his or her designee shall report suspected violations to the district attorney within 10 days. Any principal or superintendent of education or his or her designee intentionally failing to report a suspected violation shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. The district attorney shall vigorously enforce this section to ensure proper conduct and required attendance by any child enrolled in public school.