Parents Left Outraged After School Principal Banned Their Daughter From Taking Her Class Picture
Going through school isn't easy, but the good news is that teachers and administrators are there to help students through the trying times of growing up. But one student in Michigan found out that even those meant to help are prone to making the wrong call when she faced exclusion at the hands of her elementary school administration. It was a decision she'd never forget — and one that sparked outrage in her community.
Picture Day!
Eight-year-old Marian Scott could not wait for picture day. She loved the idea of being represented forever in her school's yearbook, and as a friendly, confident student, she knew she would put forth her best smile. What she didn't know was how poorly the day would turn out.
Something Special
Marian's mother, Latoya Howard, was very proud of her daughter. She described the third-grader as a "happy girl who loves singing," and, in light of the upcoming picture day, she decided to do something special for her.
New Haircut
See, for quite some time, Marian had been wanting to try a different hairstyle before the school picture was taken. School pictures can be notoriously awkward, so she wanted to avoid an embarrassing photo forever immortalized in the yearbook.
Beautiful New 'Do
Marian's vision for her hair involved intricate braids and a lovely red hue to express her individuality. Latoya did her daughter's hair herself and made sure it was perfect. Marian wasn't disappointed.
Showing It Off
With such a gorgeous outcome, Marian couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror and smiling. She felt like the new hairstyle fit her perfectly. She couldn't wait to show off her individual style at school just in time for picture day.
"Thank You, Mom!"
Her signature red backpack completed the picture day look! Latoya said Marian just kept hugging her and saying, "Thank you, Mom!" Seeing her daughter so excited made Latoya feel amazing. Unfortunately, the feeling was short lived.
That Fateful Day
When the fateful day arrived, Marian strutted proudly down the halls. She didn't have to practice her smile for the camera because she couldn't stop smiling anyway. For the time being, she felt so confident and beautiful.
What Happened?
However, while Marian lined up with the other students waiting for her turn to say cheese, she was abruptly pulled aside. The rest of her classmates posed, and she was left to wait in the hallway all alone with no explanation.
The Dreaded Dress Code
Turns out, the administration decided that Marian's new hair was not part of the dress code. Therefore, she was denied the chance to represent her school in the yearbook. Marian quickly went from being over the moon to feeling completely defeated!
"It's Upsetting"
When she went home and explained the situation, her mom and dad were angry, noting specifically that Marian shouldn't have been punished for something at school the family allowed her to do at home. "It's upsetting," her dad said. "There's just no way I felt like this would happen."
No Call
Her father was upset that they were not contacted and that she was excluded from the photo with no questions asked. “If they at least would’ve reached out to us and said, ‘Hey, come get her, she’s got a hair issue, we need you to change it," her dad said, then it would've been a different story.
No Individuality Allowed!
Paragon Charter School issued a statement on the incident, defending their policies. The administration cited the school handbook, which states students' hair must have "natural tones." Bright 'dos, wild mohawks, and Marian's red braid were out of the question.
The Lost Voicemail
As for why her parents were not notified about the issue, the school stated that they sent out a voicemail to all parents reminding them of the dress code policy for picture day. Her parents claim they never received the voicemail in question.
Unhappy Family
Most importantly, Marian's parents just hoped for better communication in the future. A representative for Paragon Charter stated, “We understand the importance of good communication in helping strengthen the partnership we have with our families." But this didn't help Marian's case.
Message From A Stranger
Unfortunately for her, the damage was done. Not only was Marian left out of the yearbook, she had to change her beloved hairstyle within the week to be allowed back at school. It wasn't until Latoya got a message from a stranger that Marian's situation changed.
The Story Spread
A professional photographer, Jermaine Horton, heard about Marian's story on the local news. He thought the school's behavior was absurd and decided he had to act. Using his skills, he was determined to help remedy the wrongdoing.
The Best Was Yet To Come
Pamela agreed to take Marian's picture for free — red hair and all! Although she missed the school picture, having her own mini-photo shoot done by a professional photographer helped her build her self-esteem back up. But the best news of all was yet to come!
Following The School's Rules
As it turned out, there was still hope for Marian to make it into the yearbook after all. Retakes were coming up, and as long as she maintained her natural hair color, she would be free to participate.
The Bigger Problem
So, her parents complied with the dress code policy, and Marian was back at school with the approved hair color, and ready for her close-up. Though Marian was elated to get her photo in the yearbook, this was merely a bandaid for a bigger problem.
Severe Punishment
The conflict between Marian's family and her school opens up a greater concern on what the place of individuality is at school. Where is the line between uniform and undue regulation? Kids of all ages struggle with the issue, and the consequences for not adhering to the rules of conformity can be really severe.
A Normal Day
Tony's daughter, Demetra had been sitting in class that morning, listening to her teacher's lecture like usual. Suddenly, the room went quiet, prompting the students to look up from their notebooks. The class realized the instructor was staring right at Demetra, whose face immediately went red.
What's The Problem?
"Demetra," said the teacher with a defiant tone. "Yes?" Demetra asked, confused and already embarrassed. She could hear her classmates whispering around her. Sadly, her instructor's response would end up bringing her to tears.
A Call Out
"You are in violation of the school dress code," said Demetra's instructor, causing the entire classroom to gasp. Demetra was shocked as well, having nearly forgotten what she had on that day. She immediately looked down and examined her clothes. What dress code, exactly, was she violating?
Dress Code
According to her instructor, Demetra's blue romper was far too short. So short, in fact, that her teacher insisted on stopping a lecture to bring attention to it. Plenty of Demetra's schoolmates were wearing similar outfits on that 90 degree morning. Why weren't they being signaled out? Demetra's father would soon find out.
Finding the Issue
Demetra couldn't believe what was happening. She'd worn similar outfits many times and didn't think there was anything wrong with her clothing choice. In fact, neither did her father, who'd dropped Demetra off himself just that morning. What was this instructor's issue?
Go to the Office
As if being called out in class wasn't embarrassing enough, the teacher decided to send Demetra to the principal's office. Feeling a sudden sense of shame, Demetra stood up and waked out. By the time she arrived at the office, the principal was waiting there, angrily.
Principal of the Thing
The teacher had already told the principal everything, leaving Demetra helpless. She attempted to defend herself, but the principal accused her of being disrespectful. The principal decided to give Demetra's father a call to explain the situation.
Phone a Dad
Tony was at work when he received the school's phone call. When the principal mentioned Demetra's outfit, Tony was confused, thinking perhaps Demetra had changed into something scandalous after he dropped her off that morning. To Tony's surprise, the principal had given him an ultimatum.
An Ultimatum
The principal told Tony one of two things was going to happen; either Tony would pick up Demetra from school, or someone would bring her a change of clothes. Tony agreed to bring her a new outfit, though he was already questioning the judgment behind the school's punishment.
Clothes Grab
Tony left work and headed straight to the house to find Demetra a new outfit. He grabbed the first items he found in her dresser, which were a plain tank top and denim shorts. Surely, these items were an appropriate choice for his daughter's comfort on that sweltering hot day.
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School Bound
Tony left the house and headed to his daughter's school. When he arrived, he saw a familiar figure standing at the school gate. His daughter, Demetra, was right where he'd dropped her off that morning. Only, this time, she was in tears.
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Switch Out
Tony handed the new outfit to the crying Demetra, who bolted inside to change. Tony decided to have a chat with the principal. After parking, Tony headed into the front office where he spotted Demetra in her new outfit, yet she was still in tears. Tony was shocked when he found out why.
Harsh Words
The principal didn't notice Tony when he walked into the office. She was in the middle of screaming at Demetra for choosing yet another "inappropriate" outfit. Tony, having picked out the outfit himself, was outraged...and ready to tell the principal how he really felt about the dress code.
Outlandish Claims
The principal insisted Demetra's new outfit was also too short for the school's dress code, so Tony fired back. "I asked Demetra to bend over and touch her toes," Tony told Today. "Nothing is hanging out. Nothing is inappropriate. I don't understand this dress code rule." The principal, once again, adjusted her reasoning.
The Fingertip Test
This time, the principal said the shorts didn't pass "the fingertip test," which meant Demetra's fingers couldn't dare pass the length of her shorts. And yet, girls walking in the very halls next to them were wearing similar outfits, which Tony pointed out himself. That's when the principal let something slip.
Slip of the Tongue NEEDS CREDIT
The principal called Demetra's outfit "a distraction." Tony perked up and calmly asked the principal to repeat herself. Realizing her blunder, the principal did her best to rephrase. Tony asked who exactly was being distracted by Demetra's clothing. The principal's answer left Tony furious.
Truth Told
The principal admitted Demetra's outfits were "too distracting" for the boys at school, which Tony found damaging. “We have to have dress codes that don’t cause [girls] emotional issues; cause them to question their bodies or feel like they’re sex symbols at 13 years old," said Tony. "Because they're not. They’re just kids.”
Unfair Standards
Demetra also stood up for herself, mentioning how the dress code rules were never enforced on boys who, for example, wore baseball caps, which were banned, or inappropriate shirts. Still, the principal forced Demetra to wear a pair of leggings for the rest of the day. Tony decided the fight had just begun.
Making News
Tony went to the media and threw the school into the spotlight. The father and daughter appeared on Today and local news stations with their complaints, forcing the school to put out a statement:
Small Changes
“The Los Gatos Union School District believes that appropriate dress and grooming contribute to a productive learning environment." Despite the school's efforts to push back, the principal has since held meetings to reevaluate dress code ethics with parental input. He considered cases outside the walls of his own school, too.
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