Last week’s in-school suspension of Dustin Reader, an eighth-grader in Hamilton with Bengal stripes shaved into his head, should demonstrate to parents and school officials everywhere the value of clear rules, consistent enforcement and common sense. It’s when there are misfires in one of those areas that tempers flare.
Dustin’s barber, Chris Campbell, told the Hamilton Journal-News that he has done special designs for many kids who attend the city’s schools with few complaints. Dustin, however, acknowledges that a prior design cut from Mr. Campbell had brought a warning and required alterations to avoid punishment.
What’s wrong with a stand-out haircut? Garfield Middle School’s discipline code includes common school language forbidding “unnaturally colored hair, extreme/distracting makeup, haircuts and hairstyles.”
Principals and teachers argue that extreme fashion statements can be disruptive, causing other students to focus on style instead of instruction.
It’s a fair concern. Schools have to have well-established rules about appearances or things can get out of control quickly. That’s the point judges make when they invariably side with schools in these situations.
In fact, the 2007 Supreme Court case had a fairly strong free-speech defense for the student, but still went the school’s way. A student who was not at school held up a nonsensical sign bearing the phrase “bong hits 4 Jesus” while standing with other students and his principal as the Olympic torch was carried through his Alaska hometown.
The student, who got a 10-day suspension, said the sign meant nothing. He just hoped it would get him on TV. That worked out well, but school officials were not amused. The student’s lawyers argued the school had no right to limit his speech away from class, but failed to persuade the court.
Generally, these cases result from similarly nutty pranks. Last May, 15 Jefferson Twp. High School students were suspended for knowingly violating a school dress code by wearing flip-flops to school in a coordinated effort. They thought they were being funny, but school officials were not laughing as they handed out punishment.
It can be upsetting to parents when their children are disciplined for doing something silly and seemingly harmless. But so long as school officials are being consistent, families can’t legitimately complain. Let them try to run a school district or a school building if they think order and discipline don’t matter.
At last word, Dustin and his parents weren’t budging, and he was going to stay in in-school suspension apparently until his hair grows back. A simple buzz cut would get class back to normal — and send the TV cameras home.
— Cox News Service