Editorial: Charter school right to rescind hairstyle policy
By World's Editorials Writers on Sep 11, 2013, at 2:27 AM Updated on 9/11/13 at 4:06 AM
Editorials
The 6,300 employees at the American Airlines Maintenance Facility in Tulsa could use some certainty, but they're going to have to wait.
The loss of 12 lives, 13 counting the suspect, in the Navy shipyard shootings Monday is tragic. With each killing spree the natural reaction is to search for the motive or the psychological reason for such a horrific event.
The governing board of the Deborah Brown Community School did the right thing Monday night when it rescinded its controversial policy banning dreadlocks, Afros and other "faddish styles" of hair.
The policy was unnecessarily restrictive - to students and the school - as was revealed in a well-publicized incident in which 7-year-old Tiana Parker was left in tears by the school's policies.
Tiana has small dreadlocks, but it is difficult for the general public to see why that was much of an issue.
The Tiana Parker incident sparked an Internet sensation as people rushed to the defense of the child and her hairstyle.
The charter school's new policy says the school administration reserves the right to address hygiene issues with parents or guardians if the school believes the issues are a health, safety or welfare risk to the student or others or if it detracts from the school's educational environment.
That seems about right, especially the part about dealing with the issue with parents and guardians.
Meanwhile, Deborah Brown President Kenneth James publicly apologized to Tiana and the Parker family "if any harm did occur," adding that he is convinced the school's administration didn't behave inappropriately. The Parkers say no one has apologized to Tiana and they are exploring all of their "options."
We hope they choose the option of allowing Tiana to resume life as a happy second-grader - outside of publicity's glare and able to enjoy her lovely hair in a new environment.
Original Print Headline: Tiana's locks
Editorials
The 6,300 employees at the American Airlines Maintenance Facility in Tulsa could use some certainty, but they're going to have to wait.
The loss of 12 lives, 13 counting the suspect, in the Navy shipyard shootings Monday is tragic. With each killing spree the natural reaction is to search for the motive or the psychological reason for such a horrific event.
