Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for October 2, 2008 HERRIN HAS IT

...a haircut controversy.

Mohawk or Military? 6th Grader Suspended Over Hairstyle Controversy

By: Arnold Wyrick

HERRIN, Ill. - Eleven-year-old Brian Pierce of Herrin's love for the military is obvious. His affection for our soldiers stems from several family members who served. Every day he wears camouflage clothing, even to school.

Brian's mom says becoming a soldier is all her son thinks about doing.

"He's pretty much full military dress, his hair, his clothes. He's been this way for as long as I can remember," said Tammy Pierce of Herrin.

But, Brian's hair landed him in trouble with school leaders at Herrin Middle School. He used to wear what is known as a "high and tight"; the school district called it a Mohawk.

Now Pierce's mother is questioning why there was no problem with her son's hairstyle back in grade school. And why there was no problem with his hairstyle when he started at the middle school back in August. But this past Friday the school district suspended her son for his haircut.

"They said he could dress military if he wanted to, but he could not have the military haircut. And if that was an option we choose then he was suspended. He could not return to school indefinitely until his hair was fixed," Pierce said.

"It's just hair and I don't know who told them or what but it just made them mad I guess. And that's when I knew that they didn't support the troops because they even admitted it was a military haircut. But it's not allowed at that school," said Brian.

On the suspension papers, school leaders sighted Brian's hairstyle as one that draws attention.

That doesn't matter to Brian, he's not giving up on his dreams.

"I'm going to become a U.S. Marine. They save our country almost every day, and they fight for freedom," he said.

That freedom is something Brian and his parents say was taken away from them when the school district forced them to cut his hair.