Some school dress codes can certainly be strict, as is the case with this four-year-old boy from Houston, Texas. The little Jabez Oates recently visited the Barbers Hill Independent Kindergarten Center, but they told his mom there that he couldn’t return for kindergarten school unless he cuts off his long hair.
Mom Jessica Oates can’t believe what she heard when the school wanted to deny her son further entry. The school wanted his hair to be chopped shorter as it violated the school dress code:
“The district’s dress code is established to set the standard of excellence, set our students apart from others, teach grooming/hygiene, prevent disruption, and minimize safety hazards.”
Jessica had no intention of cutting her son’s hair off as she finds the dress code rules absolutely ridiculous.
A couple of days later, Jabez returned to school, this time with his hair nicely tucked away in a hair bun and a black hair tie. Even though the locks weren’t loose at all and not even visibly long, he still couldn’t enter the school.
She then arranged a meeting with the principal of the school as well as the assistant superintendent, but they both informed her that Jabez’ hair was still not short enough to comply with the dress code. Even though Jessica had to call in sick on her job because Jabez couldn’t go to school, she has no intention at all to cut his locks.
“I will cut his hair the day he asks me to get his hair cut,” Jessica said to the Huffington Post.
His locks are clearly very important to him, and Jessica states that it is a part of who he is.
“This isn’t my first time getting a hard time for my son’s hair,” she says. “But as you talk to my son, you understand that he likes his hair. He doesn’t want to cut his hair. It’s just part of who he is.”
The Huffington Post then asked the school for a comment, but they’re unwilling to reconsider.
“Barbers Hill is one of the premier districts in the state by any measure, and our student enrollment has grown for each of the past 30 years,” a representative told via a statement. “Much of this growth has been fueled by those who are seeking a rigorous educational environment of high expectations for their children.”
“Parents have a right to seek an appropriate educational setting for their child, just as Ms. Oates has the right to place her child in a district that reflects her personal expectations for standards of appearance,” he added. “There are procedures in place for addressing concerns over policy if it is Ms. Oates’ desire to have her son educated in Barbers Hill ISD. But we would and should justifiably be criticized if our district lessened its expectations or longstanding policies simply to appease.”
Jessica now hopes to have a meeting with the school board on September 1 to see if the board can’t make an exception.
“I thought I had all my ducks in a row,” Jessica recalls. “I got my son prepared. I got him so excited to go to school for his first day of school. We don’t know anyone around here, so I got him excited to meet new friends. Now it’s just sad.”
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