It's just hair!

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Hello Friends,

I found this story online, about a young boy who was suspended from school because of the length of his hair. And I am completely surprised that schools still have such strict policies on something as meaningless as hair. When I was 11 and diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, my parents looked into registering me at a private school in our area. To our surprise, I was not allowed to be admitted because of the length (or lack thereof) of my hair! Women apparantly had to keep their hair shoulder length, among many other things. I was secretly thrilled that I was going to be staying in public school and I took no offense to the rules in which I could not meet. But the older I get, the more I wonder why it really matters. It's just hair!

I completely understand why schools need to be concerned with the quality of the education and experience for each of their students. And I agree that every child should be held accountable for their decisions and that every one should be equal. However, the length of a person's hair has nothing to do with their ability to learn, and it will likely never affect the abilities of their fellow students. It is unfair to keep a child from expressing themselves in the best ways they see fit, if it is not harming another student. I understand mohawks, and braids and color-dyed hair (among many other things) are associated with "risky behavior" because I have worked with children in "at-risk" situations. It just concerns me when institutions try to force a child to fit into a specific box that they may not feel comfortable with.

I pray that this child and his family are comfortable with the agreement that they have come to, and that he is not kept from learning, because of the length of his hair, any longer. And for those of you out there who have hair (sorry Alopecians!) I ask you this- Does you hair represent who you are?

Have a blessed day everyone!