Kerens is a small Texas town in Navarro County of about 1700 people. But while much of Texas has moved into the 21st century, it seems like the school board in this town is still trying to fight the battles of the 1970's.
While most school districts are trying to figure out how to improve test scores, grades and graduation rates for their students, the Kerens school board is more interested in hair styles. They have an archaic rule that male students cannot wear their hair past their shirt collar, lower than their eyebrows or more than a half-inch over their ears.
Right before the Christmas break, four students were warned not to come back to school with long hair. They were told that if they did, they would face being sent to an alternative school (created for students with discipline problems). They also face suspension from extracurricular activities and the possibility of not being able to graduate.
When the students returned to school, they were suspended. One of the students had got his hair cut above his collar in an effort to co-operate with the school's silly rule. However, they said it was more than a half-inch over his ears and suspended him anyway.
The students have now been told they have three days to cut their hair or be assigned to the alternative school.
The student pictured above, Matthew Lopez-Widish, says he will not cut his hair. There is no reason why he should be forced to do so. He is an "A" student. Why would the school interfere with the education of one of their better students academically?
The school has the right to ask a student to attend regularly, be on time, not pose a discipline problem and put forth their best effort in their classes. That is all they have the right to demand. These are not slaves -- they are independent human beings trying to get an education. Just because they are under 21 does not mean they have to give up their right to be different.
Matthew has put forth an effort to get a good education, and now the school wants to deny him that opportunity. He says he does not want to attend the alternative school, and is considering transferring to another school district.
I cannot believe they would kick out an "A" student for such a ridiculous reason. They should be ashamed. They are there to educate students -- not to force them into any fashion or cultural trend.
