I am appalled the Mesquite Independent School District, here in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex zone of Texas, is still harassing a little boy named Taylor Pugh, and his mom and dad, over Taylor's hair.The Mesquite School Board actually met on the serious issue of Taylor's hair and ruled that he could return to class without cutting his hair if he'd wear it braided at a length that did not touch his collar.
Taylor's parent's rejected the compromise and are now planning on taking Taylor's case to the state education commissioner in Austin.
The Mesquite school district superintendent, Linda Henrie, actually weighed in on this serious matter, saying if the boy went to class wearing a ponytail, which his parents indicated he would, Taylor would be again sent to the library.Quite the evolved education system they have there in Mesquite.
Taylor has been separated from his class at Floyd Elementary School since November, where he takes his lessons from an aide in the library.
Has anyone thought to have the drinking water in Mesquite tested to see if there might be some element in the water causing mild insanity?
On the plus side, even though, apparently, Mesquite is collectively somewhat insane, the way the rest of the world has reacted to this little outbreak of neo-fascism, in Texas, is uplifting, sparking a debate where the proponents of freedom of self-expression have run a steamroller over the blind obedience to rules types.
Other parents who have had enough of the Mesquite School District's embarrassingly overbearing policies have been allying with Taylor and his parents.
The Mesquite School Board's President, Cary Tanamachi is quoted as saying the district must consider all 37,000 students and "to grant exemptions would be chaos."
Oh, yes, that is really clearly obvious. If a little boy goes to school with his hair a bit long, chaos would follow in his wake.
You people in Mesquite, methinks you need to band together and fire your school board and get a new school superintendent. And leave Taylor and his mom and dad alone. And quit breaking the serious Common Sense Rules that guide most of the civilized world.
Texas is not a civilized state. It's actually regressing. I had to quit high school in 1969 at age 17 for the same reason. Those who protested the system back then, made it easier for the next generation of kids to keep their hair. They could concentrate on their education instead of worrying about harassment by school officials. For some reason the pendulum is swinging back the other way. Kids who are different are not tolerated. By stigmatizing them these officials are breeding a new generation of rabble-rousers. But to harass this poor 4 year old kid is going too far.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, when I was living in Denver, CO and Justin went to school there, I believe his hair was as long as the little boy pictured. I'm remembering it being rather long...in fact, we had gone to get a new set of tires, and the fellow putting on the new tires asked if myself and my daughter would like to wait inside. I don't ever remember getting notices to get Justin's hair cut. I do remember getting notices that he'd finished the entire reading program for first grade by February! I know that's only one case, but it's a strong correlation. It's the same goings ons in our little school here in Wink. Have they taken it to the school board asked to have the policy changed or removed?
ReplyDeleteDY----
ReplyDeleteYou've dealt with Texas nonsense all the way back to high school? I remember one day when I was a freshman a girl came to school wearing slacks and was sent home. An uproar ensued. The next day a lot of girls came to school in slacks. If I remember right, whoever sent the girl home quickly got in trouble. The Washington nonsense took place decades ago.
CT2---
ReplyDeleteI believe Taylor's parents have already taken it to the school board. They are now taking it to Austin.