Child with Long Hair Not Allowed in Kindergarten

July 21, 2008

Folks in Needville, Texas are protesting bending the school district's rules to let a five-year-old boy with braids enroll in kindergarten. Keeping with his Native American heritage, Adriel Arocha explains that he has never cut his hair "because it tells me how long I've been here." Despite the family's tradition and beliefs, the school board requires that boys wear their hair no longer than their collar. Locals think that making an exception to this rule could lead to other problems.

What is your opinion?

56 Comments

3 years 29 weeks

I just stumbled uppon this doing reaseach for a lengthy paper on first amendment right. This school is completely infringing on the boys rights, not even the boy but the boy's peoples rights. That is a form of expression and a way of life for those people, this shouldnt even be an issue. That school has a wacked view on what is "proper"

3 years 33 weeks

It was said in an earlier post by rabidmoon and it may be the reason, are they afraid of gender confusion for the kids? It is still wrong. How is it that other culture or religious beliefs are accepted but the board targets this one? I am unfamiliar of Jewish the customs, but if for example a Jew is allowed to wear their Phrygian cap in class, why wouldn’t the hair length also be allowed. Go figure, they’re trying to make everything politically correct. Then they wonder why adults grow up to be so prejudice towards people who are different.

madhatter 4 years 42 weeks

Re: Greggie's kids. When I was in school, crosses were banned because I lived in a predominately LDS community, and they wanted to keep out pentacles, and the only way was to ban "all religious paraphernalia." The Mormon kids got to keep their CTR rings, though. I did go to school in Arizona, where there's also a huge Navajo/American Indian community, and tons of the boys had long hair, so I guess my district was more progressive than Needleville, Texas. How ridiculous.

madhatter 4 years 42 weeks

Re: Greggie's kids. When I was in school, crosses were banned because I lived in a predominately LDS community, and they wanted to keep out pentacles, and the only way was to ban "all religious paraphernalia." The Mormon kids got to keep their CTR rings, though.I did go to school in Arizona, where there's also a huge Navajo/American Indian community, and tons of the boys had long hair, so I guess my district was more progressive than Needleville, Texas. How ridiculous.

quivondra 4 years 43 weeks

A double standard if girls are allowed to wear their hair below their collar bones. And yes, you do sound like a hick and I don't care if you're from a small town. Let these native americans have the little culture they have left after you've spent the last 300 years taking it from them and replacing it with strip malls and wal mart stores.

quivondra 4 years 43 weeks

A double standard if girls are allowed to wear their hair below their collar bones.And yes, you do sound like a hick and I don't care if you're from a small town. Let these native americans have the little culture they have left after you've spent the last 300 years taking it from them and replacing it with strip malls and wal mart stores.

babyfashionista 4 years 43 weeks

I live maybe an hour or two from Needville and sadly it's the same for our school district. Elementary school boys aren't allowed to have hair past their shoulders. They also can't have earrings or sleeveless shirts but of course girls can. I've always thought most of the dress codes were ridiculous and not to mention completely sexist.

Renees3 4 years 43 weeks

Nope haven't heard anything back. I'll let you guys know if I do! I hope they're getting a ton of mail and messaged letting them know how ridiculous this is!

MartiniLush 4 years 43 weeks

Renees3, have you heard back from your e-mail to the superintendant?

kmckay 4 years 43 weeks

elephant heart- i'm with you! this is a "free country" how can one impose a dress code about the length of hair? meanwhile there are kdg. girls with "brat" and "you can't tell me what to do" shirts and pants (written on the butt) at my school and that's fine. so weird. i hope this family wins their case for everyone's sake

kmckay 4 years 43 weeks

lily8206 4 years 43 weeks

I fail to understand why the school board feels the need to set any sort of hair limits, length or colour!! Who cares! Long, short, braided, mohawk... what's the big deal! It's not doing any harm to himself or to any of the other students or teachers, so why is it even a topic for control?

lily8206 4 years 43 weeks

I fail to understand why the school board feels the need to set any sort of hair limits, length or colour!!Who cares! Long, short, braided, mohawk... what's the big deal! It's not doing any harm to himself or to any of the other students or teachers, so why is it even a topic for control?

elephantheart 4 years 43 weeks

PUBLIC school? AMERICA??? WTF.

Kristinh1012 4 years 43 weeks

No wonder this country is so screwed up. How long a little boys hair is that just wants to go to school becomes a major issue. we need to seriously get our priorities straight?

Martini Rossi 4 years 43 weeks

insane

Martini Rossi 4 years 43 weeks

insane

leeluvfashion 4 years 43 weeks

The long hair goes with his culture/families belief's, there for it should be allowed. If they feel like other kids will say "well if he has long hair, I should be able to have the same.." then you need to teach the children that it isn't so much a personal want as a cultural belief (although what 5yr old will grasp that.) I do believe that hair length shouldn't be monitored; unless it was at their ankles like Cousin IT, then that would be an issue. To much PC action going on.

leeluvfashion 4 years 43 weeks

Renees3 4 years 44 weeks

I just wrote the Superintendent:I just read the article about your district not wanting to allow a young child to attend school because of his hair length. I'm appalled by the lack of tolerance and acceptance of other cultures. This seems to me to be religious discrimination. The only reason his hair would be a distraction is because the Adults in this matter have MADE it one. His hair length in no way would affect his schooling but by asking him to cut his hair you're affecting his personal and religious life in ways you can't even measure. I truly hope you will reconsider this when he applies for school and look at the situation for what it really is. A child wanting to learn. Is there anything more wonderful than that? Don't be the reason he stays home.

Renees3 4 years 44 weeks

I just wrote the Superintendent: I just read the article about your district not wanting to allow a young child to attend school because of his hair length. I'm appalled by the lack of tolerance and acceptance of other cultures. This seems to me to be religious discrimination. The only reason his hair would be a distraction is because the Adults in this matter have MADE it one. His hair length in no way would affect his schooling but by asking him to cut his hair you're affecting his personal and religious life in ways you can't even measure. I truly hope you will reconsider this when he applies for school and look at the situation for what it really is. A child wanting to learn. Is there anything more wonderful than that? Don't be the reason he stays home.

Renees3 4 years 44 weeks

I just read that the board voted unanimously to uphold the decision that he must cut his hair to attend school but that the parents are going to appeal. This is SO ridiculous, I don't even understand how this can be an issue. If you wanted to contact someone about this, you could e-mail the school district Superintendent Curtis Rhodes. He was pushing for them to Not allow the boy in. rhodesc@needvilleisd.com

Renees3 4 years 44 weeks

blooditsnotfunny 4 years 44 weeks

I read that they're going to court over this! Ridiculous... I hope their school district has a lot of money if they're willing to spend some of it in a court case over hair length. I looked for the e-mail addresses of the officials but couldn't find them!

lickety split 4 years 44 weeks

needville, texas; that's all i needed to know. sad, but no surprise at all.

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