Woman Says School Told Her Grandson Would Need To ‘Cut Off His Long Hair Or Wear A Dress’

A woman is fuming after her grandson's school told her he would have to cut off his long hair or 'wear a dress'.

Randi Woodley, who is the legal guardian of four-year-old Michael Trimble, says she was called into the boy's school in August to discuss his 'distracting' hairstyle.

Speaking to KETK, Woodley said Tatum Independent School District superintendent Dr. J.P. Richardson told: "I could either cut it, braid it and pin it up, or put my grandson in a dress and send him to school, and when prompted my grandson must say he's a girl."

Sharing a post about little Michael on Facebook back in August, Woodley definitely said she would not be cutting the boys hair.

KETK

She went on to write that she was surprised her grandson's hair was considered 'a distraction'.

"I was totally confused by the word distraction," she wrote. "Considering it's his natural hair; no colouring, no extensions. His natural hair."

The post has picked up a lot of support from other parents has had almost 100 shares.

A change.org petition has been launched by family friend Rachel Raye who says that after initially being told Michael's hair was a 'distraction', his grandmother braided his hair but the school said this wasn't acceptable, either.

In part, the petition reads: "Randi, his grandmother then had his hair braided. Guess what? Now that's a problem too. Fast forward to yesterday... she's now being asked to pin his hair up."

So far, the petition has almost 6,500 signatures.

The school's official dress code policy reads: "Student's hair shall be clean and well-groomed at all times and shall not obstruct vision. No extreme style or colour (neon, etc.) Only natural hair colour shall be allowed.

"No symbols, letters, or extreme designs cut in the hair shall be permitted.

"No ponytails, duck-tails, rat-tails, male bun or puffballs shall be allowed on male students.

"ALL male hair of any type SHALL NOT extend below the top of a t-shirt collar, as it lays naturally."

But Woodley says the rules are discriminatory against black kids and insists she won't back down.

She told KETK that she will be attending every school board meeting, adding: "I will fight to get all the rules changed."

When asked for comment by CNN, the school district refused to comment.

Topics: US News

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19