School official says boy's hair doesn't follow dress code and he must cut it or wear dress

Parents at one Texas school are outraged over the dress code.They say the school board altered the dress code and it discriminates against African American boys.The angry parents took their concerns to a school board meeting, according to KETK.Randi Woodley says at a Meet the Teacher event in August, she was told she needed to see the principal."I went to the principal’s office, where she explained to me that my grandson’s hair was too long,” Woodley said.KETK reports that during the school board meeting, Woodley addressed Tatum Independent School District's superintendent.She says he gave her three options.“He told me that I could either cut it, braid it and pin it up or put my grandson in a dress and send him to school and, when prompted, my grandson must say he’s a girl,” she said.The school district's policy on hair states the following: "No ponytails, ducktails, rat-tails, male buns or puffballs are allowed on male students. ALL male hair of any type SHALL NOT extend past the top of a t-shirt collar, as it lays naturally.”Another parent, Kambry Cox, told KETK her son told her he thinks there is something wrong with his hair."With my son’s dreadlocks, sometimes they do fall in front of his face, so I felt it would be easier to put his hair up, but then that’s a problem,” Cox said.The school district told KETK it had no comment at the moment.

Parents at one Texas school are outraged over the dress code.

They say the school board altered the dress code and it discriminates against African American boys.


The angry parents took their concerns to a school board meeting, according to KETK.

Randi Woodley says at a Meet the Teacher event in August, she was told she needed to see the principal.

"I went to the principal’s office, where she explained to me that my grandson’s hair was too long,” Woodley said.

KETK reports that during the school board meeting, Woodley addressed Tatum Independent School District's superintendent.

She says he gave her three options.

“He told me that I could either cut it, braid it and pin it up or put my grandson in a dress and send him to school and, when prompted, my grandson must say he’s a girl,” she said.

The school district's policy on hair states the following: "No ponytails, ducktails, rat-tails, male buns or puffballs are allowed on male students. ALL male hair of any type SHALL NOT extend past the top of a t-shirt collar, as it lays naturally.”

Another parent, Kambry Cox, told KETK her son told her he thinks there is something wrong with his hair.

"With my son’s dreadlocks, sometimes they do fall in front of his face, so I felt it would be easier to put his hair up, but then that’s a problem,” Cox said.

The school district told KETK it had no comment at the moment.

