Mohawk gets kindergartner suspended

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Bryan Ruda, 6, plays at home in Parma, Ohio on Feb 26, 2008. Bryan's Mohawk haircut has gotten him suspended from kindergarten.

Associated Press

PARMA, Ohio - A kindergarten student with a freshly spiked Mohawk has been suspended from school.

Michelle Barile, the mother of 6-year-old Bryan Ruda, said nothing in the Parma Community School handbook prohibits the haircut, characterized by closely shaved sides with a strip of prominent hair on top. The school said the hair was a distraction for other students.

"I understand they have a dress code. I understand he has a uniform. But this is total discrimination," she said. "They can't tell me how I can cut his hair."

n administrator at the suburban Cleveland charter school first warned Barile last fall that the haircut wasn't acceptable. The school later sent another warning to her reiterating the ban.

Mohawks violate the school's policy on being properly groomed, school Principal Linda Geyer said. Also, the school district's dress code allows school officials to forbid anything that interferes with the conduct of education.

Ruda's hair became a disruption last week when Ruda arrived freshly shorn, Geyer said. Administrators called Barile on Friday telling her to pick Ruda up from school.

"This was his third infraction," Geyer said Tuesday. "We felt that we were being extremely patient."

Rather than request a hearing to appeal the suspension, Barile said she'll enroll him at another school. Changing the hairstyle is not an option, she said.

"It's something that he really likes," Barile said. "When people hear Mohawk, they think it's long, it's spiked, it's crazy looking, and it's really not."

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/...hawk27-odd.html

Edited February 28, 2008 by Mister Fancypants

[Nagishkaw 510]

I thought this was about the Mohawk Nation. I think the boy's coiffure looks lovely!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I thought this was about the Mohawk Nation. I think the boy's coiffure looks lovely!

Yeah, I don't why the school would make issue of it.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Me either. It has to be a control issue or something.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

When I was in Christian Private School I dyed my hair blue like some teenagers do during a phase. Needless to say they didn't have a reaction nor suspend me but the next year they did make a rule that all student must have natural colored hair only. In fact I did a few things that made a few new rules at that school. What can I say? I grew up in Austin and was going threw my teenager phase. eh.

A 6yr old being suspended for this is a little OTT. I suspect there to be more to the story than this.

Edited February 28, 2008 by Olivia*

[Jenn! 918]

But it's a mohawk. Surely there must be some consequence to such a crime. Fashion police!

[Nagishkaw 510]

But it's a mohawk. Surely there must be some consequence to such a crime. Fashion police!

:lol:

[Miranda&James 8]

Me either. It has to be a control issue or something.

I think so too. Schools, for the most part, seem to have an obsession about controlling every single behavior that a child enacts. As for me, I'm glad the days when I can't even pee without someone else telling me that I can are long gone.

[sj5 4]

nothing wrong with Mohawk haircut.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Geez, I remember kids having mohawks in the early 80s, and no one cared. And this was in a kinda huffy town.

The rattail, now that's something else entirely.

[pedroh 21]

Geez, I remember kids having mohawks in the early 80s, and no one cared. And this was in a kinda huffy town.

The rattail, now that's something else entirely.

OMG.. terrible!!

I remember seeing those kids in the little town I used to live, little kids with rattails, or mullets.. omg.. ####### is wrong with the parents, if they wanna look like tools, go ahead, but poor kids! they know no better

[Marilyn. 340]

it is not like it is one of those mohawks where the hair is all standing up...

[almaty 19]

mohawks are cool..i supported one when i got out of the Army..i wanted to look like Travis Bickle

[Nagishkaw 510]

mohawks are cool..i supported one when i got out of the Army..i wanted to look like Travis Bickle

[almaty 19]