Mom asks school district to clear-up controversial student hair policy

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. Damaris Duarte says she has had the same hair color and style for several years but was sent to In School Suspension Thursday because of her hair. (WOAI.com)

Damaris Duarte says she has had the same hair color and style for several years but was sent to In School Suspension several weeks ago because of her hair. (WOAI.com)

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Published: 9/28/2010 11:03 pm

Updated: 9/29/2010 6:41 am

SAN ANTONIO -- Parents of an O'Connor High School student are calling for changes in Northside ISD's rules regarding what is allowed when it comes to students' hair and their appearance.

News 4 WOAI first brought you the story of Damaris Duarte in August, when the honor student says she was sent home because of her hair. The teen's parents addressed the school board during a public meeting Tuesday night.

"I would like to see some clarification to the current hair police," said the student's mom, Sally Duarte. "I would like it to be administered fairly at all schools."

Duarte's daughter began the school year with a two-toned hair style. She says it was the same hair style her daughter's had four years, until the new principal at O'Connor High School considered the honor student's hair a distraction. The school district described the girls hair as brown in the back with a blonde "zebra type" stripe in the front.

Duarte's daughter eventually dyed her hair brown. The concerned mom says she believes NISD's dress code is too unclear hen it comes to hair. A school district spokesman told News 4 WOAI principals at all District schools have discretion for what they will allow in the dress code and what they will not allow.

The Duarte's are asking the NISD School Board to make the District hair policy more uniform at all schools.

Duarte ended her plea to the School Board saying, "The bottom line, please address this dress code policy, so that we all avoid having our students out from class, when they really should be in class, especially when they are taking AP courses."

The School Board members could not respond to Duarte's request during the public meeting. However, the concerned mom encouraged the Board to look at neighboring school district dress codes which outline specifics on what type of hair colors and styles are forbidden in schools.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of News 4 WOAI (WOAI.com)

SupahNinja - 10/1/2010 11:21 PM

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the principal at O'Connor is crazy! all the students hate her because she completely changed the dress code. ms. horras is 100% against highlights of any kind. she brought back ISS, which O'Connor hasn't had in years. she is taking kids out of class over guys wearing cargo shorts or girls with a scoop neck shirt. O'Connor is a school where you have to walk outside to different buildings for each class. so it gets hot during the late summer/spring. but she gets mad at us, but then wears everything we aren't allowed to wear. with our old principal we never really had to worry about dress code or anything like that, so everyone was happy and O'Connor had good TAKS scores, so there was no need to crack down. but this lady has made everyone miserable.

sly1976 - 9/29/2010 8:38 PM

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Why is it even the school/ school district's business to tell people what to wear or how to have their hair? If a parent says it is ok then that is all that matters. I went to high school from 1990 to 1994. During those years I saw people with mohawks, blue hair and other thinga and none of that was ever distracting to the students. What was distracting to us was some teachers with way out of date hair and loud colored clothes. The parent of this student really should speak out and get more parents to speak out. The schools need to get off their high horse and realize that their sole job is to teach not to dictate fashion.

AnnieS - 9/29/2010 7:32 PM

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I'm not sure what the point is of having an NISD dress code, if the individual principals have the authority to accept or reject some parts of it. A dress code is a dress code for a reason, to ensure that the learning environment is free of those distractions. It certainly doesn't seem right that a parent could read the dress code, walk into the school, and see it being violated because the principal decided not to enforce some rule. If each school is allowed to have their own dress code, then it shouldn't be called "NISD dress code" and should be labeled as a school dress code. Of course, then the school would have to specify exactly what is and isn't allowed, so there are no questions. The problem with that is that you will get parents wondering why something is allowed at one school and not another, and then the same problems will occur that have occurred because of this incident.

smartypants - 9/29/2010 7:10 PM

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Look sweetie first off, I do think you hair color looks nice. With that being said it is not very appropriate for the school setting. I mean if your parents want to let you color that for the summer hey that is great express your individuality however your feel fit. Now while school is in session the point is rules are rules, and no matter how many times you looked up in the Thesaurus to try and make yourself sound educated it is not going to change the fact that rules are still rules. Now when you are a big girl and run your own business or what ever it is you plan on doing in life, you can color your hair what ever color you like. For now, and the way I tell my children as well these are the rules of the game and you need to learn to abide by them in order to succeed in life. Now I can admit I don’t know exactly what is in O’Connor’s student hand book, however I know it is clearly stated in our hand book at Taft High school that all hair colors should be of natural color. I'm sorry but I really don't understand how much more clearly does that statement need to be for a parent and an AP student to understand.

duarte - 9/29/2010 6:47 PM

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Donoho's comment was interesting, but he did not see the complete picture here. "I am known for my hair" is like "I am known for my smile." Identifying characteristics are not "distracting" in the classroom and that follows perfect logic. Being an honors AP student is also relevant. She is being eductated to be intelligent, articulate and respectful. The point is this type of student contributes positively to the learning environment. She is not a negative distraction. As for the child and parents not knowing the hair violated policy, that was the point of requesting a clarification. Contrary to the false assertion repudiated clearly by the photo, a highlight or different highlights are permissible on different campuses and in this case on this campus if a different principal is in charge. The point of the request to the board was to make it clear so all can follow the same rule. Keeping the issue in context, this is not about drugs, teen pregnancy or the dropout rate. But it is about parents and students having clear rules, it is about the rules applying fairly to all and it is about the unfairness of wanting to punish a child without a warning or notice to the parents. Those things go on permanent school records and nobody wants to put another impediment to a child going to college because of someone's capricious use of their discretion. We can always do things better an entering a dialogue to get there is appropriate and should be welcome.

donoho - 9/29/2010 1:41 PM

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First of all, Demond I listened to the news clip of this woman, and the woman quoted did not say "hair police..." she SAID "hair policy..." so please get it right. I remember when this "story" first broke, the girl said "It's not a distraction! I'm known for my hair!" which is not logical from an "AP" student. If she's "known" for it, it's a distraction. And oh, by the way, Mom, what has her being an "AP" student got to do with anything, except she really should have known better, if she's really bright? Kids need to get a clue about the real world. In a competitive job market, she's NOT going to be anyone's choice to hire with zebra hair, and they don't have to tell you why you don't get a job. Dress codes and other policies at the discretion of the principal are the real world. For those who "applaud her parents for following the rule and then taking it to the school board" pah-lease!!! They are swallowing camels and choking on gnats, folks. If they want to take something to the school board, it should be something significant, not some discretionary policy that shouldn't impact education. Someone will always have the right to make rules. You can follow them or go somewhere else. So why doesn't mom home school this princess? 91111 and woaireader02, right on!

LisaPowers - 9/29/2010 1:25 PM

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Well, our school keeps it pretty simple - no dyed hair at all. So, this wouldn't have been an issue if she'd just stayed natural. On the other hand, WHO CARES??? Seriously, hair color is a problem? Why? I don't know why schools have to be so draconian about innocent things like this. When I was in college people routinely had hair in all manner of colors (including blue, orange, green, and hot pink) and I can't remember any of it being a distraction.

OU812 - 9/29/2010 12:03 PM

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If this student was a president, she would be Baberaham Lincoln!

Esther - 9/29/2010 11:50 AM

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Give me a break Brutal. She is an honor student w/some highlights in her hair. I don't see how her hair, which I think looks nice, is distracting. I could understand if it some crazy blue or purple, but this is insane.

brutal truth - 9/29/2010 11:46 AM

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If your kid wants to look like a freak at school so be it. Parents allow their kids too dress and look like fools at school, oh well. Maybe the schools should all adopt a uniform policy.

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