In Mesquite (Texas) Independent School District, independence is not allowed. How do we know this? We know because a 4-year-old boy has been indefinitely suspended from school in said school district for refusing to conform his hair length to the school district’s definition of “standard for boys.”
First the facts. This kid is 4-years old. Four! He’s in pre-kindergarten. His name is Taylor Pugh but he prefers the nickname Tater Tot. Do you not love him already?! All he wants to do is go back to the classroom and be with his friends. But he has been suspended since November because his hair is considered too long by his public school (which is Floyd Elementary School in suburban Dallas). His hair, by the way, barely touches his shoulders. From what I can tell, it’s also clean and brushed.
So what’s the problem? Apparently his hair violates school district dress code. Why on earth a 4-year-old has a dress code, I don’t know. I would think if you’re dealing with a bunch of kids that young, you’d pretty much just hope they show up with their shoes still on. But on further review, the school district seems to have lots of ridiculous dress restrictions. And there are some that just drive me nuts. For instance, girls can have piercings, boys cannot. Girls can have long hair, boys cannot.
So what’s this really about? Messed up cultural norms that put boys in one box and girls in the other and don’t allow any kind of freedom of expression. What do the people of Texas think will go wrong if a boy has long hair? Does it have anything to do with *gasp* gender identity? Will it get in the way of that algebra they’re surely teaching 4-year-olds? I’m guessing the only thing that really interferes with education is not letting a kid go to class.
And as everyone knows, creativity, imagination, initiative, thinking outside of the box, and a willingness to be different are absolute anathema to any kind of success in school and business. Where would Bill Gates be now if he had shown such ridiculously counterproductive qualities? Men with long unkempt hair and moustaches are highly unlikely to do anything that will change the world.
PAST CONTRIBUTOR.