Gareth Shand, 6, Suspended For Long Hair Grown For Locks Of Love (VIDEO)

A 6-year-old student looking to raise money for charity has reportedly been suspended because of his long hair.

According to KENS 5, teachers in the Blanco Independent School District in San Antonio have suspended Gareth Shand for wearing an earring and for having hair that is not "well-groomed."

Shand's mom, Kandi told KENS that her son is growing his hair out so he can donate it to Locks of Love, a charity that provides hair pieces to cancer patients.

Shand's punishment isn't the only controversial dress-code related suspension in recent memory.

In June a Washington boy was suspended for wearing a dress and heels to school.

Last October, students were suspended from a Texas school for having untucked shirts.

WATCH Shand's story below.

Comments

[ztak123]

01:36 AM on 09/04/2011

Dearest Darling ruthieriver1: Who on earth made you the HP police?

[ztak123]

12:37 AM on 09/03/2011

conuly To my knowledge Ralph Lauren does not make political statements.

[mfmaccloud]

07:38 PM on 09/01/2011

Much more too story than given.

[LLovejoy]

04:06 PM on 09/01/2011

I think his hair is cute!

[JStading]

03:46 PM on 09/01/2011

Sounds like an equal protection clause violation, if you ask me.  The child's hair likely drew an objection only because it was on a male student.  Had the student been a female with the same hair, it is unlikely that anyone would have complained.  If the school wants to make this a big deal, return the favor and sue them.

[mrman]

01:46 PM on 09/01/2011

TEXAS....AGAIN????? Texas and South Carolina should be expelled from the country.

[Ask me Later]

09:55 AM on 09/01/2011

I do not see how his hair has anything to do with the teaching. The earring was his choice as well as the mothers. It is a tiny stud and does not distract from the teaching. This is just silly how they are trying to force kids to look the way they "Think" is the right way. I went to school with guys that had long hair, earrings, nose rings and some other things that were not seen everyday. They did not get taken out of school because of it. They expressed themselves and everyone looked at them the first time seeing them, then went about their day.

[Cheri Quinn]

09:06 AM on 09/01/2011

I don't care why the little dude has his hair somewhat long - it really isn't that long. A dress code case has never been heard by the Supreme Court. Rather, dress code standards have been decided in Federal District Courts with the recognition that regional standards are a better yardstick in these cases. That said, the most easily enforced dress codes have something in common - they all focus on health, safety, and minimum standards regarding drugs and sex. Texas has historically discriminated against boy when it comes to hair length. I've taught 36 years, with 25 of it in the university. I have yet to have hair length or color be a distraction to the rest of the students. The distraction seems to occur for the adults who get their panties in a wad about these snippets of individual expression. Let's put our best efforts into something that matters.

[AmigaMan]

02:43 AM on 09/01/2011

I'm a teacher and even I think this is so stupid. :/

[ztak123]

11:29 PM on 08/31/2011

Kris W......Feel better now that you've made a nasty comment? Ridiculous response.

[vampyreincubus]

10:34 PM on 08/31/2011

where do these schools think they have the right to tell people how they have to look? just another sign of how judgmental and discriminant people have become it makes me sick

[Libertarian5]

09:06 PM on 08/31/2011

This is incredibly sickening. I hope the ACLU gets involved. The boy should be commended for helping other people in need.

[Jack Davies]

04:32 PM on 08/31/2011

So San Antonio, isn't that in Texas, where they talk big about FREEEEDOM?

[kanamartin]

04:06 PM on 08/31/2011

Uhh.from the picture, his hair does not look that long. If it was a white boy with a ponytail, would he be kicked out also? Looks a little racial to me. This child simply has a mini fro, needs a little pink moisturizing lotion, it does look a little dry....NOTICE TO WHITE WOMEN THAT HAVE BIRACIAL CHILDREN: Please give the hair a little moisture, a little olive oil/hair grease can work wonders!

[learninglife]

04:04 PM on 08/31/2011

Now he'll miss the Texas School Board's lesson that the Earth is only 5,000 years old.