Other voices: Dustin’s haircut

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12:51 PM Wednesday, November 18, 2009

One young Bengals fan let the team’s unexpected success this season go to his head, literally. The next thing you know, it’s a national talk story.

In fact, there isn’t much to discuss. As recently as 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court said schools have wide latitude when it comes to making and enforcing rules about student behavior, including how they dress and wear their hair. But that reality won’t keep a kid with an eye-catching haircut off CNN.

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 JournalNews 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. ...

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.

Dayton Daily News, Nov. 17

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