A 4-year-old boy from Texas was sent home from school during his first week after teachers informed his mother his long hair violated their policy.
Jessica Oates told KTRK she was told her son would be required to return a letter ‘citing a religious or cultural exception,’ otherwise, he would need to cut his locks in order to continue an education at Barbers Hill Independent School District.
A furious Oates told the news station she refused to go through with the school’s orders, citing that her son’s long hair is ‘a part of who he is’ as a person.
A Texas mother is fired up after her son was sent home from school over his long hair
The 4-year-old has never had his hair cut and his mother Jessica Oates says she isn’t going to give in
Oates learned of Barber’s Hill’s hair policy at registration. She says she was told she’d need a letter citing a religious or cultural exception
She was told her son couldn’t come back until his hair was cut short
‘He’s never had a hair cut … it’s just kind of part of his identity,’ Oates said. ‘(Also) I don’t believe that short hair should be required to get an education.’
Barbers Hill policy strictly states boys must keep their hair above the neck, eyes and ears.
Oates even attempted to put the child’s hair back into a bun, but the school didn’t approve.
‘I feel like my son is owed the same education that all other children in this school district have,’ said Oates, shaming the ‘outdated and sexist’ guidelines.
‘He’s just so smart and he blows my mind … Full of energy and excited to learn.’
‘I don’t believe that short hair should be required to get an education,’ said Oates
‘He’s never had a hair cut … it’s just kind of part of his identity,’ Oates added
The school policy states that boys’ hair must be above the eyes and ears and neck
Oates tried a bun, but it didn’t work for the school officials
Barbers Hill since released a statement on the policy to KTRK writing, ‘Our local elected board has established policy based on community expectations, and Barbers Hill administration will continue to implement the said policy.’
New Hope mayor and transgender rights activist, Jess Herbst, released a statement on the incident to Twitter Tuesday afternoon.
‘Barbers Hill Texas School Districts discriminatory hair policy is an attempt to force everyone into mediocre stereotypes. #CivilRights,’ she wrote to her page.
Oates said her son is ‘so smart, full of energy and excited to learn’
Barbers Hill since released a statement on the policy to KTRK
Another woman mocked the school saying, ‘Well, it’s Barbers Hill. They like cutting hair. That’s how they stay in business…’
Oates said she will continue to challenge the policy she doesn’t ‘believe’ in.
‘I will not cut his hair,’ Oates said sternly.