Update (Jan. 19, 2010) - Taylor finally allowed back in to class. See how this incidence of gender bias was resolved:
http://mesquiteblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/01/taylor-pugh-hair-in-french-bra.html

Update (Jan. 13, 2010) - School district sends letter warning of stricter in-school punishment if hair not dealt with.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-hairfolo_13met.ART.State.Edition1.4bc6f6b.html

ORIGINAL BLOG POST:
Taylor Pugh, a four-year-old student at Floyd Elementary School, has been spending every school day isolated from his friends and classmates because of the length of his hair. His sandy brown locks are longer than district policy allows and his original punishment was off-campus suspension. He was denied his education because of long hair.

Now, the district has modified the punishment to in-school suspension. He spends all day with a teacher's aid in a room by themselves. His parents have said he doesn't want to cut his hair and they don't plan to force the issue. The school district claims his long hair is not condusive to a constructive learning environment.

According to Dad, Delton Pugh, he "picks his battles" and believes the school district is absolutely wrong to enforce their 40-year-old policy. In an effort to compromise, the school district has told Taylor's parents that he can keep his long hair as long as it is put into cornrows and kept tight above his ears. His parents have no intention of braiding his hair. They will continue to fight.

This scenario presents a lot of issues. School boards have the right to determine to behavior and appearance codes for their schools as a means of creating a safe and productive learning environment. Similarly, parents have the right to choose their child's appearance as long as it does not interfere with the educational opportunities of other students. So who is right when it comes to Taylor? Perhaps most importantly, this is a classic example of gender bias. The Mesquite School District dress code only stipulates that boys must keep their hair short. Girls do not share this requirement. It is this distinction that, I believe, illustrates the unfair policy of the district. If the length of a girl's hair does not impinge on the learning environment, why does a boy's?

These are pictures from the district website. Clearly, girls can learn with long hair. Perhaps they think boys aren't capable of such feats.

What do you think? Should the district change its policy or should Mom and Dad put education before style and cut Taylor's hair? What would you do?

Original article: http://wcco.com/watercooler/taylor.pugh.hair.2.1420680.html