Taylor Pugh: 4-Year-Old Texas Boy Suspended For Long Locks

(AP) BALCH SPRINGS, Texas — Pre-kindergartner Taylor Pugh likes his floppy hair just how it is: long on the front and sides, covering his earlobes and shirt collar.

But his long locks violate the dress code in his suburban Dallas school district. So Taylor again Wednesday found himself facing in-school suspension, sitting in a library with a teacher's aide while his friends played and learned together in a classroom.

"They kicked me out that place," said Taylor, 4, who prefers the nickname Tater Tot. "I miss my friends."

Taylor's parents say he plans to eventually cut his hair and donate it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients. But they're not happy with the district's rules.

It appears the school district "is more concerned about his hair than his education," said Taylor's father, Delton Pugh. "I don't think it's right to hold a child down and force him to do something ... when it's not hurting him or affecting his education."

Pugh, a tattoo artist, said he used to shave his own head but that his son "made me pinky promise I would let my hair grow long with him."

The follicle fight came to a head last month when Taylor's parents received a signed letter from Floyd Elementary School's principal, threatening to withdraw the boy from school if his hair didn't comply with district standards.

When Taylor's parents didn't budge, their son was suspended.


WATCH:

Elizabeth Taylor, Taylor's mother, said her son is "an individual. He wants his long hair."

When the boy returned late last month, his hair was longer than ever. But school officials decided suspension was too harsh and changed the punishment to a modified in-school suspension.

"They still have regular classroom work, but in an isolated environment," Mesquite Independent School District spokesman Ian Halperin said. "We expect students ... to adhere to the code of conduct."

According to the district dress code, boys' hair must be kept out of the eyes and cannot extend below the bottom of earlobes or over the collar of a dress shirt. Fads in hairstyles "designed to attract attention to the individual or to disrupt the orderly conduct of the classroom or campus is not permitted," the policy states.

The district is known for standing tough on its dress code. Earlier this year, a seventh-grader in the district was sent home for wearing black skinny pants. His parents chose to home-school him.

On its Web site, the district says its code is in place because "students who dress and groom themselves neatly, and in an acceptable and appropriate manner, are more likely to become constructive members of the society in which we live."

A persistent violator could face additional suspensions, but such issues are handled on a case-by-case basis, Halperin said.

"We understand it may not be for everybody," Halperin said of the policy, "but those are the rules for this district."

Pugh said the issue is about more than hair. He said his son is being singled out, and that he has seen other male students in the district with hair much longer than Taylor's.

"Nobody wants to meet in the middle. It's all or nothing," Pugh said. "He's my son. I love him. I will back him to the end."

- JEFF CARLTON

Comments

[heyitsdawson]

10:37 PM on 01/27/2010

Hair should not define gender. Plenty of functional, working, tax-paying men have longer hair, and the same with many women who have short hair. Hair doesn't define a person's gender identity, sexuality, or level of motivation or intelligence.

And about his hair being a distraction -- keeping him out of school for four months in his most impressionable years is the biggest distraction, and biggest hypocrisy out there.

Remind me never to go to Texas.

[kharma strong]

02:14 PM on 01/13/2010

I am personally outraged by this case in Texas and their decision to Taylor to return to school only if his hair stays at his ear length and must be braided. You can read the story at: http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/4-year-old-told-he-can-keep-long-hair-with-restrictions-17576666

You can email the Mesquite Independent School District directly, please go to: http://www.mesquiteisd.org/emailus.asp There is a sample letter below.

Dear Mesquite Independent School District; Superintendent, Dr. Linda Henrie, Principal, Kim Broadway and the School Board,

I am very outraged by your decision to keep insisting that Taylor Pugh monitor the length of his hair as well as the style. I am outraged that any student would be suspended due to the length of their hair. I believe that this is a personal choice and that your policy shouldn't vary from gender to gender. This is discrimination and this is wrong. I hope that you will reconsider your dress code policy and re-write one that does not include limits on the length of a child's hair. Your current decision to limit the length and style of his hair is unacceptable to me. Thank you for promptly taking action to allow Taylor Pugh his right to attend school with the rest of his peers and for apologizing to him and his family for taking away from his education for such a discriminatory policy.

Thank you,

(Put your name here)

[Angel2308]

08:25 PM on 01/22/2010

No one really know what Jesus Looks Like, but from what pictures show of what people believe him to look like , But, in the pictures , he HAS LONG BEAUTIFUL HAIR! It's sad that the Socitey will allow Homosexuals into schools, and etc, but a freaking 4 year old boy, can't have long hair? This world is going to hell in a hand basket. I'm a Mother to 3 Kids. and My youngest, is 2, and his hair is all natural curls, and it's to his shoulders! That's how he likes it. and I will be Dmned if I ever let "school" tell Me how to raise My Child, or any one. if he ever wants it cut, then I will have it cut, but, at this point, he loves it! I'm 100% on Taylor's Side!!!

[blogger123]

03:34 AM on 01/13/2010

Though this may be an outrageous school rule, the fact is...it's a school rule. When registering a child for class, we as parents are required to sign for the acceptance of the school's handbook. Our signature states that our children will abide by the aforementioned rules. Once signed, we've acknowledged that we have read and understood those rules. We have the option at that time to not sign and not enroll our students in the school system if we do not agree with the rules. This case wouldn't have a chance in civil court (not that we won't see the ACLU take it on). A contract is a contract and those parents signed the agreement. The parents could've petitioned the school board (and organized a group to help petition) for a code change before allowing their child to grow his hair. The fact is, they knew it was against the code in the first place. Everyone's preaching about his "civil rights." There's a right way to fight the system and a wrong way to fight it. These parents chose the wrong way and alienated their child in the process.

[ginny1920]

09:40 AM on 01/13/2010

When it comes to publicly funded schools, the threshold should be high for setting rules that dictate how a student dresses, wears his/her hair, jewelry, etc. People are very diverse, and have lots of reasons, including cultural and religious ones, for they way they present themselves. The school should have to show very good reasons for limiting the students' freedom to choose how they want to present themselves. I disagree with you that the ACLU would surely lose a lawsuit contesting this ridiculous rule. As for the parents agreeing to the rules, I think it's fair to say most people don't read every last word of the school handbook, and would not imagine such a restrictive appearance code.

[blogger123]

10:13 AM on 01/13/2010

Would that hold in a legal court if you signed a contract and said, "Well, did you really expect me to read that whole thing?" You're responsible for what you sign. Ignorance is not an excuse. And the ACLU has every right to dispute the issue on the grounds of changing the rule, but break the rules and cry discrimination....then file a suit? Wow, our country's gone down the wrong path. The school's should have a good reason to back up their codes, and obviously, this is quite the extreme code. But, with advanced knowledge of the code and choosing to break it...where is that right? To me, we have a school system with a dawn-of-the age dress code, and parents who're worrying more about their "rights" than following the rules. The one truly affected by all this non-sense...four-year-old Tator Tot.

[Dartfuldodger]

11:40 PM on 01/12/2010

Hey!!!! Why not let the Superintendent of the Mesquite School District know what you think!!! Her name is Linda Henrie and her blog is here at: http://lindahenrie.blogspot.com/

I posted a comment ... we'll see if it gets approved ....

[wickedpod]

11:32 PM on 01/12/2010

What's the most ridiculous is the fact that the school is actually making the decision to place a 4-YEAR-OLD in reassignment. He's not doing anything wrong. The problem with the policy is the fact that it is not being universally enforced. The mom was showing pictures she had taken in the halls of the school of male students with long hair that was free flowing. If they're going to let 1 student run around with long hair, then they have to let all of them. It's about time schools stop making these ridiculous rules. I understand not allowing kids to wear clothes with cuss words or drug or sex related material or any kids being scantily clad, but honestly. I've worked at a private middle/high school and we had teachers that were really nasty about the "dress code" and tried enforcing rules that didn't even exist because THEY felt it was not appropriate. I got in "trouble" all the time while being pregnant and wearing things that showed that I had breasts. Nothing revealing at all. Just the fact that one could see that I had breasts under my shirt. Those old butt overly-religious people need to find something else to invest their time and energy in. Clothing, hair, makeup, tattoos, and piercings aren't at all what is important to focus on. How about teaching our children to have good morals and being accepting and kind to their fellow humans? I guess that's asking too much.

[Kayla Hood]

10:23 PM on 01/12/2010

This is an outrage! Its bull, how could a boy with long hair be any more distracting then a girl with long hair? My son will be 4 in march. His hair is curly so it looks about as long as young Taylors. If you pull it straight it is to the middle of his back! I refuse to force him to cut his hair for anyone. My youngest (2) has a blue mohawk currently but he likes his hair cut. I could understand something like that but just cause its long.. Find something new to have an issue with!! Leave childrens individuality out of it!!

[ReyLoo]

08:13 PM on 01/12/2010

what the hell is wrong with these people...do we really still have dinosaurs running our districts in America like this. It's just hair...why do you make a policy on hair in the first place...and if you are going to make length restrictions it should apply to the female students and school staff as well. Oh, and guess what...instead of these bone heads doing the practical thing which would be to acknowledge and correct the bone headed policy...they are going to plant their feet in the ground and waste time and money for a local, state, or federal judge to point out the very obvious...IT'S STUPID and of no freaking significance. All the constructive ways they could be preparing our children for their futures and this is what they are going to waste time and resources on...another micro mirror of our society i guess...so sad!

[ironic huh]

08:04 PM on 01/12/2010

Also, check out the website for this school and the "school supply" list for students. The lists are different for males and females in the first grade! Male students have hand sanitizer on their list while the female students do not.

[ironic huh]

07:46 PM on 01/12/2010

Not sure if anyone posted this, but here's a link to the dress code in this district. Apparently, wearing the color gray and lacking belt loops may also prevent children from growing into contributing members of society. :D

http://www.mesquiteisd.org/students/policies/standarddress.asp

[Kayla Hood]

11:06 PM on 01/12/2010

Wow they dictate EVERYTHING your kids socks cant even have logos or designs.. I didnt even see anything about the hair in that though.. What is this school thinking? I get some of those rules but they went OVERBOARD big time!

[ProtectYourRights]

01:50 PM on 01/12/2010

I wish I had a way to contact the parents.
I would tell them to contact:
Texas Northern Federal Public Defender
Main Office Main Office
Street Address:
A. Maceo Smith Federal Bldg,
Suite 629
525 South Griffin Street
Dallas, TX 75202

Phone: [phone]

Internet Web Site:
http://txn.fd.org

[painterjojo]

03:12 PM on 01/12/2010

I think the parents should explore filing a suit against the school system . I is discrimination to expell him for long hair. It is not a distraction it just the same policy people have had for years that boys should not have long hair. But there is suppose to be equal rights now . Well there is only equal rights if you press them when it comes to things like this. I wager to say female students get away with to tight uniforms, to short uniforms and to much makeup wearing jewerly etc. However male students do not get away with things the females can and that is a fact. everywhere.

[ProtectYourRights]

01:45 PM on 01/12/2010

Call the Dallas Public Defender's office and let them handle it.
Too corrupt in TX, then go higher up
Texas Northern Federal Public Defender
Main Office Main Office
Street Address:
A. Maceo Smith Federal Bldg,
Suite 629
525 South Griffin Street
Dallas, TX 75202

Phone: [phone]

Internet Web Site:
http://txn.fd.org

[Jayme Stephens]

01:35 PM on 01/12/2010

Oh and just watched that vid. Look at his daddy! He's trying to be like his dad just like every little boy in the world! Let it go!

[ProtectYourRights]

01:27 PM on 01/12/2010

This is a clear violation of the child's rights.
They are discriminating this child based on his sex.
The reason this is discrimination based on sex is because the same rules are not applied to females as are applied for males.
Discrimination based on sex is strictly prohibited and all involved with the policies in place should be legally forced to remove the policy or face the legal ramifications of their actions to the fullest extent of the law.

[tnarladni]

02:03 PM on 01/12/2010

Listen. They did not violate any rights. The policy was clearly stated in the student handbook at the beginning of the school year. They knew what was expected of them (parents and kids). If they wanted him to have long hair, then don't send him there. Follow the example of the other kid that was suspended, home school him. You're an idiot with all your posts about rights. Good grief.

[lesigh10]

02:42 PM on 01/12/2010

No. You're the idiot. Taylor's entitled to a public school education, like every other kid in this country, regardless of whether he has long hair or short hair or is bald. Mesquite should concern themselves with educating their students, not dictating fashion choices. I don't think Taylor looks like a four year old drug dealer or gang banger -- I think he looks like a beautiful little boy. Insisting all boys have short hair is like insisting all girls should have long hair, discriminatory. It would be one thing if this were a private school, because they can set stringent dress codes, and people who don't like those codes, don't have to send their kids there. But a public school education is everyone's right, no matter what you look like, and especially if you're a tax payer. I also think the school's "compromise," that Taylor can keep his long hair if he braids it, is reprehensible. That they would segregate, punish and attempt to humiliate an innocent four year old just to push their stupid agenda forward is disgusting. Get with the twentieth century, Mesquite, there's egg on your face. There is nothing wrong with boys and men who choose to grow their hair long.

[McFlipFlop]

02:45 PM on 01/12/2010

It's a public school. It's a human right. Try a little critical thinking. And it's not nice to call people idiots, tnarladni.

[iceman1967]

12:41 PM on 01/12/2010

This place is killing me.I am a Desert Storm Veteran I served over 9 yrs in the Army. I understand about rules and regulations but, come on. were talking about a 4 yr old. who is growing his hair so he can cut it and donate it to other kids. Instead of telling him he is doing something good they punish him. How can the school board look in the mirror in the morning thinking they are doing what is right,

What if a Rastafarian moved into that town are they going to single them out also and, put their children in a class room by themselves. The parents of this child pays taxes, has a businesses in this town( more taxes) but yet the school still picks on this little kid. If i was rich I would fly down bring in a ACLU lawyer form Dallas or Huston. and wind up naming the school after this kid.

One other thought why hasn't the Christan's stood up for this child. every picture, statue of Christ has long hair.

[ReyLoo]

08:17 PM on 01/12/2010

Great point...Okay, Christian nation of TEXAS...stand up!!! Should we suspend the image of Christ in our Sunday schools as well. Hang in their little 4 year old buddy...we still got some short sighted dinosaurs we are trying to fix...sorry for the uncalled for disturbance on your life's journey...keep smiling and do as Christ and grow your here long if you like...AMEN!

[houndog2g]

12:02 PM on 01/12/2010

Well groomed people with short hair are more productive. Take Ted Bundy for example. Oh wait...bad example.