Girl suspended from school for dying hair pink — yea or nay?
This is a great topic, sure to get people buzzing. In case you missed the story, check out the headline over here, “Pink hair gets girl suspended.” The story comments are already starting to build up.
Mountain Grove Middle School student Amelia Robbins said she dyed her hair pink to honor her father, who died of cancer when she was 6 years old. She says that to her, pink is the cancer color. The 12-year-old said that when she finished 6th grade with pink streaks in her hair, school administrators warned her not to continue wearing the color.
jim63129 says, “Heather Lawson, Rules are rules. I don’t have a problem with someone showing uniqueness, but they should realize there may be a price to pay for their actions. The girl made her statement and the school made their statement. Time for 7th-grader to lose the pink hair.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the coin, McCarty77 argues: “I wonder if the school realizes it’s 2008 and not 1992? With time comes change and with technology comes change. Young kids have the right to express themselves.”
Pop on over to the story and join the discussion, or comment here.
Here’s a link to the story on the web site for KYTV, Springfield, Mo. — with video.
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
Christine,
You asked, Is there a male father-figure in her life who is making her feel valued and loved as a female? That would have been her father that passed away from cancer,thus the pink hair did you not read the artical?
I am the parent of a 7 year old with a mohawk. The school says they don’t like it so he needs to cut it I disagree completely. If my child is an A student and does not act up in school and expresses his individuality in this one harmless way what is the problem? His hair does not hurt anyone and if a child is distracted from the teacher, it probably isnt just the hair. The newness of his hairstyle will wear off and kids will get on with their lives in about a week, just like they do with Christmas toys! Schools tell our children to be individuals and not to fold to peer pressure to dare to be different, yet when they dare, they are told CONFORM! So which is it? Studies show my child who choses to be different has less of a chance of falling to peer pressure because he’s already used to not being like everyone else. Not to mention lets look at all the “different” people who have made this world what it is! Einstein was thought to be stupid as a child, then insane with his ideas. J.K. Rowling was told multiple times her book would never sell and she is filthy rich now. Mozart, Columbus, the list can go on and on! I would rather my child learn to be different and that its okay to think differently from the whole! I want him to explore new ideas. He is an individual and if others want to copy him, let them it doesnt hurt anyone and if many are doing it, its not a distraction anymore since everyone has the same thing! My son is very intelligent, obedient, and defends his morals and his beliefs even when he’s out numbered. I’d say he’s already better off them most of the sheep at school, who are just following the herd. Another thing I attended a private school with uniforms where our hair was the only thing we could use to be different and it was allowed for boys to have long hair, and girls to have colors in their hair. It never distracted anyone and everyone in my graduating class now makes over $50,000 a year. Here in my small town where everyone has to have the “normal” look, over 60% of graduates do not go on to college and end up in low paying jobs. Being different and facing the challenges brought upon by being different helped my classmates become stronger and decide they were going to make their dreams happen and fight for them, I don’t think my son would do bad to learn those same lessons.