How do you feel about a principal cutting a students hair at school?

Question

Recently at a school in the next town, a principal cut several boys' hair without their parents permission because it was too long. Personally, I don't feel school officials should have the right to do that. How do you feel about this? Read the article for yourself at http://www.valleymorningstar.com/articles/2006/08/24/local_news/3_tuesday/local_news2.txt

Answer 1

i would sue and he should be fired

Answer 2

A School Principal has absolutly no right to cut a students hair. That is not in there job description. The students are at school for a purpose, to learn. An alternativre should have been selected before cutiing the students hair. Suspension, counsel with parents, meetings with school board members should have been addressed prior to hair cutting.

Answer 3

To say that's over-stepping is a serious understatement. I would have hit the roof. School is not the damn army. You can't go around cutting people's hair. That's almost as bad as the principal thinking it's okay to paddle kids without notifying their parents. My kid got paddled last year and I didn't find out about it until the next day. He was afraid to tell because he thought he'd get into trouble. I was just about ready to set the whole building on fire! I can promise you this, they're still talking about the psycho that came to school and raised hell all over that school.

Answer 4

This is not correct.
It is a violation of a person's rights.
If a condition of attending his school
is to have short hair, and the kids did
not comply, he should have advised
his parents, and then suspended them
until they abide by the rules.
Get a good lawyer.
If we let actions like this go without
being corrected, what next? Cut
the girls hair because he considers
it too long..... He should be dismissed.

Answer 5

The principal doesn't have any rights to do that. The principal could suggest either the parents or the students to cut their own hair!

Answer 6

Contact an attorney.

I do not long hair on boys. HOWEVER, I layed down my life for "GOD AND MY COUNTRY" supporting the laws on which this country was founded for individuals rights.

Laws may not always seem right, nor fair. However, At the start of each school year a "Parent Handbook" is handed out to each student, by which the parents must sign a form and student return it to school, which states the parents have read the guidelines and explained it to their children. We as parents granted the right to give guidance or counseling (additional forms must be signed), suspend (only if the student fails to meet school regulations and in writing to parents), suspend in school or keep after school (only after parents have been contacted if suspended in school that day and agree, and in writing sent home of parents to sign) or kept after school (contacted if same day or prearranged time, sent home for parents to sign). There is at no time physical contact to take place. If that procedure takes place or is necessary, the police department has to be called into the school, along with parents. These guide lines are to protect EVERYONE.

I have delt with the school system very close, I have a little one with cancer. So stress management is a MAJOR constant factor when dealing, as well as trust and faith. I not only deal with mine, but have about 6 other children that I deal with. This person has physically and mentally violated these children. An adult is suppose to work on/with the mind, body, and spirit of these children. What standards has been shown to them.

The bottom line is, THOSE ARE CHILDREN, INTRUSTED WITH THOSE ADULTS, WHO ARE TO PROTECT THEM. That does not enable them to take advantage of their position. The parents always have a right to go to school with their children and to school board, or even police department if needed. That person who cut their hair with out the consent of PARENTS IN WRITING has committed assault and battery.

Daniel L. Dreisbach, B.A., Ph.D., J.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Justice, Law, and Society, American University. Author of Real Threat and Mere Shadow: Religious Liberty and the First Amendment.

According to Criminal Law
IX. Crimes Against the Person

Crimes that physically or psychologically injure individuals are described as crimes against the person. These include murder, manslaughter, assault, battery, mayhem, rape, and kidnapping.

An assault is defined as an unlawful attempt to inflict bodily injury upon another, or the threat to do so coupled with the ability to immediately carry out the threat. An assault can be committed even though the offender does not actually touch, strike, or do bodily harm to another person. In some jurisdictions, it is an assault for one person to give another person reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm—for example, if a woman threatens a man with a gun that she knows but he does not know is unloaded.

If an assault results in physical contact, a battery has occurred. Battery occurs when a person unlawfully applies force to another human being. Any objectionable touching, even if it does not involve physical pain, may constitute battery. The force may be caused by a fist, weapon, stick, rock, or some other instrument.

Below are two sources: First is from which the above information on Criminal was obtained. Second is a crime attorney that handles different types of cases.

Answer 7

No way! That isn't fair on the children or the parents. They should at least consult the parents first and give them permission!! Who does the headteacher think they are? The owner of the kids hair?

Answer 8

I didn't read the article but I hope these parents are going to sue the principle.

I don't believe in just suing for silly reasons but this is serious and should be punished.

Answer 9

I don't like it...but the rules are clear. Having read the article several times, what stands out is this phrase:

"They chose to have their hair trimmed at the bottom so it would not go on beyond their collar. It was all voluntary."

Until the school board changes this dress code policy, they have little choice but to comply if they wish to attend school.

Answer 10

What a bunch of CRAP! I thought the "hair" issue was settled in the 70's. This principle ought to have her butt kicked, along with the school board members or whoever set the policy. If any teacher would cut my kid's hair, I will kick their butt.

Answer 11

I had a teacher to do that to my classmates too.

Whatsoever, I see many people here saying they should sue. No wonder why children today have no respect for authorities.

""(Our dress code) is very specific," school district spokeswoman Birdie Rodriguez said. "Hair cannot go past the collar.", says the article.

So, parents should also enforce their own children to obey the school law: if it says is short, then short should be. How can they even think about sueing, anyway?