J.T. Gaskins, Cancer Survivor, Suspended For Growing Out Hair For Locks Of Love Donation (VIDEO)

After learning a family friend's sister had been diagnosed with cancer, 17-year-old leukemia survivor J.T. Gaskins decided to grow out his hair for Locks of Love, a non-profit that uses donated hair to provide hairpieces to lower income children with long-term medical hair loss caused by cancer and other diseases.

But administrators at the Madison Academy, where Gaskin attends high school near Flint, Mich., ruled that his long hair was in violation of the school's dress code policy and, as a result, handed him an out-of-school suspension, the Detroit News reports.

Despite the punishment, Gaskin told the paper he has no plans to stop growing his hair in preparation for a donation.

"I fought cancer my entire life. I'm going to keep fighting this," Gaskin told the Detroit News. "I'm not going to not give back just because my school says no."

According to the Flint Journal, Gaskin feels "very strongly" about his mission, since wigs are expensive and the real hair Locks of Love uses in their hairpieces boosts cancer patients' spirits.

"Self confidence is really what you need to beat the disease," he told the paper.

Gaskin's mother, Christa Plante, told the Detroit News it's only natural that her son would want to help organizations like Locks of Love; they helped him during his fight with cancer, and now he wants to give back.

"He's seen how it works and how it helped people, how it helped us," she told the paper. "This is for him. He wants to do it now. This feels right."

On Monday, Plante launched a campaign on Change.org, in an effort to reverse the school board's decision.

In the petition text, Plante suggests the school's policy on hair length be amended.

Plante also notes that she and her son tried to work with the school, offering to have his hair cut as soon as it reached the proper length for donation and return with a certificate proving the donation was made. According to Plante, the board still refused.

Plante also points out that female students are able to grow their hair out in order to make a donation to Locks of Love, while male students cannot.

Commenter Kathy Federico expressed her outrage at the school's decision on the petition page.

"We read about young people doing horrible things for no reason at all," Federico wrote. "Here is a young man wishing to help other people though an act of love and he's being punished for doing it?"

The petition has garnered 3,311 signatures so far.

WATCH:

Comments

[vigilantemind]

01:58 PM on 02/09/2012

I would like to at least have heard the school board saying "we approve of what the kid is doing, and good for him, don't take the punishment too seriously, we're just being fair with the rules."

[SciFiChickie]

12:21 PM on 02/09/2012

They suspened a kid for how long his hair is, that is beyond rediculous­...

Don't these people realize that in every single portrait of Jesus, he had long hair?

Why is it schools these days feel it is nesssary to block free expression by limiting hairstyles via the dress code?

[Bigrcube]

08:52 AM on 02/07/2012

Sounds like a 'private' school, but regardless, if the GIRLS can do this, then it's gender discrimination on the school's part and those adminstrators/faculty who enacted such nonsense!! Some life lesson they are teaching young people WITH character.

[Sean Hobbins]

09:42 AM on 02/09/2012

It's a public charter school.
http://www.madison-academy.org/

[snapdragon95]

05:05 AM on 02/06/2012

I hope they change thier minds and allow this young man to keep growing his hair in order todonate it to cancer. We should be encouraging this kind of kindness in our youth instead of stiffling it . Way to go young man I for one am proud of you.

[acumenguy]

11:32 PM on 02/05/2012

As a teacher, I am sick and tire of parents who enable their kids willful misconduct.

BUT!!!!!!

I have to wonder what goes through the minds of some administrators.
To wit:
-The young mand is himself a cancer survivor. You can't cut some slack?
-He's doing this to help others.
****The big one****
-What an opportunity to use his actions as an example for other students. Can you imagine how this would boost school spirit if others followed the example of this young man.
What if the principal pledged to grow his/her own hair until the students said "it's time," and not only cut it, but let a student cut it. (Or, a pro barber in front of the student body) Wouldn't that be fun? Or, all particiipating students get their hair cut at the same time. Educators call this "teachable moments."
Can't these people see how examples like this spread to other areas? Fund raisers for charities. Points for voluntering. This is how students feel a part of the action and WANT to contribute.
I've heard stories of how teams, classes, and schools have shaved their heads in solidarity with students who were batteling cancer.

These administrators are not only stupid, but they're poster children of "anal retentivness."
What a bunch of un-fun putzs.

[dwnes2]

11:19 PM on 11/07/2012

I agree. They are missing so many wonderful peer mentoring opportunities. Imagine if the Principal participated, making it a school wide event. When the time comes to cut, raffle off who gets to cut the Principal's hair. Donate both hair and monies to the charity. Kids need positive influences to counter balance all of the violence in the world.

[Rodger leMonde]

06:38 PM on 02/05/2012

What do we do about the cancer of intolerance?
If you aren't free to wear your hair as you wish you are not in a democratic society.
Leukemia is a foe that dwarfs the tiny minds of a School system.
Good on you JT. My hair is well below my shoulders and I am 100% behind you.
I notice the school has avoided attaching a name to this outrage, a sure sign that they are cowards as well as AHs.

[VirginiaDreaming]

03:48 PM on 02/05/2012

Once again we have administrators following the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law. They could have come up with a creative way to make this work, got other students involved, held a shearing day where this boy and others could go back to the short hair. Instead, they retreated into upholding a policy while producing the opposite of what it is intended to accomplish.
However, before we go off on schools, remember this happens elsewhere too.

[good2bemt]

03:37 AM on 02/05/2012

Is his hair really that distracting to the educators of that school? If so, then perhaps they need sensitivity training, diversity training, or a lesson in good old fashioned human decency.

So son, grow your hair! Be proud and stand for your convictions, when your convictions aren't harming others. Your heart is in the right place. You may suffer judgement, hate, be misunderstood, and bullied even. But know young man, that not only do you have your family behind you, but a nation....and by golly...you've got me...one more voice to uphold your civil liberties and rights.

Do unto others as you would have done and did have done unto you. Hold true to your beliefs young man, be strong. It isn't always easy doing for others, but the payoff inside is totally worth it.

Son,You are not defined by your Cancer, Leukemia, or what you do or don't look like. You are defined by the mark you leave on this world and how people remember you and whose lives you have touched. Rich, poor, sick, healthy, tall,short, fat, skinny, short hair, long hair, you are what you project to the world. As long as your actions back up your words, you are a man of true character and honor....and THAT can't be taught in ANY school system.

[good2bemt]

03:35 AM on 02/05/2012

My nephew has hair down to the back of his knees. He is 13. He keeps it clean, tidy, mostly braided, and has never had it cut, except for the occasional tips being trimmed. This has never been a distraction to his classmates or teachers, and has actually provided opportunities for opening lines of communication about his culture.

This boy who is a survivor of a devastating disease, who wants his life to count for something, who wants to be selfless, who wants to grow his hair out, has a vision.....a conviction. Without a vision the people shall perish...if this gives him hope and a purpose and the opportunity to pay it forward to help another who is perishing, then that is in essence a cultural decision. A culture of good will and perseverence and human kindness and LOVE. Have we moved so far away from this type of culture that it isn't even recognized or accepted anymore?

While it may not be protected by religious laws...it is a vision he has to make a difference in the world for someone less fortunate. Something, honestly, we need to see more of in our society.
Unlike Romney who has no interest in focusing on "the very poor"....here is a child, who is the very definition of what our society needs...to focus on those who really need the help...and selflessly...even though strapped himself.

(continued, ty for reading)

[good2bemt]

03:32 AM on 02/05/2012

I understand uniforms in schools so kids aren't focused on the latest trends and grouping up by social class. I understand the khaki/navy pants and polo shirts both short sleeve and long sleeve. It puts all the kids on a level playing field and elminates a lot of barriers that would be their without the uniform. I believe it allows the kids to make friends and develop relationships that they may not have been open to exploring if they weren't in uniforms. I can even understand requesting that the kids keep proper hygiene and keep their hair clean and brushed. We want to set an example to our youth that the way you project yourself to the world sets you up for certain opportunities and opens you up to better jobs (unless you live in Michigan of course - tongue in cheek humor here). All my kids are in Charter schools and they have similar rules. However, they do not put a requirement on hair length, because quite frankly that would be a violation of civil rights and could infringe on a person's cultural or religious belief system....and well, that is just setting yourself up for liability and a discrimination lawsuit which I am sure the ACLU would lap up like a thirsty dog....and should for that matter.

(continued)

[mederani]

02:07 AM on 02/05/2012

Would they suspend a male student who is Sikh, a religion in India where it's against the religion to cut your hair as well? Isn't THAT breaking the hair-length rule, too? Maybe he should wear a turbin and keep his hair covered, like Sikh men do. Just a thought...

[kweiss333]

10:43 PM on 02/04/2012

my question is: is he doing other things to help people with trying to survive cancer? many are pointing he is just trying to break a rule. he is doing it for attention. my question is this what else has he done besides survive cancer himself to help? i mean advertisement of self is a great one to try to get others to do the same and donate too. But what else is he doing?

[paganmist]

01:56 PM on 02/09/2012

What have YOU done? How dare you ask what ELSE has he done? Who are you to even ASK such a question? You don't get to question anyone's motives, okay? Doing something out of the kindness of one's heart is to be PRAISED not met with, "Yes, but what else have you done?" What have YOU done to help ANYONE? Given the fact that you can actually say that, I'm pretty sure your answer is, "Nothing."

[kweiss333]

11:13 AM on 02/10/2012

i am not saying it as this is not enough. i am saying this as basically people are saying he is just making it an excuse. and that we shouldn't jump to conclusions. just asking what else he has done. usually when people do stuff for a cause they do more than just one thing and this would prove he is not doing it just to grow out his hair and using it as his excuse like some people are commenting. and since your are saying i am doing nothing what have you done? have you done anything yourself? me no i have never donated to locks of love but if you have ever seen my hair it is horrible hair. i would never wish my hair on anyone. i have never done the marathon runs because well i am not into running and i see no point. if you want to donate donate. why does someone have to run for you to do that? i have had family members with breast cancer and right now one of my cousins is having problems with cancer. i know cancer sucks and sometimes no matter how much you fight you still die. i think the best anyone can do that is smart is become a scientist and help in the research. me i am a c student in science so not going to be me. think what you want, i dont know you and wont ever, so go ahead its your life.

[Rua Paki]

10:31 PM on 02/04/2012

This goes against the basic human rights of every individual and is blatantly sexist. Do they have seperate rules for blacks and hispanics? Or just different rules for girls and boys? Schools can be the stupidest places in the world. Disgusted!

[ziisbachdonhs]

09:00 PM on 02/04/2012

Why is there a double standard? Girls can have long hair, but boys can't?

[Kathleen ODonnell Grone]

06:14 PM on 02/04/2012

The school board should be FIRED! What a wonderful young man :)