An Arizona mother recently withdrew her son from a Phoenix school after being told that his hair violates dress code. According to ABC15, Brittany Anderson pulled 12-year-old Nasir from Teleos Preparatory Academy because the school wouldn’t allow him to wear braids.
“I received a called from a teacher stating that my son’s hair was against the school uniform policy,” she shared on Facebook. “He is clean cut with 2 french braids going to the back. The teacher told me I need to come and pick him up from school and basically could not return until his hair was no longer the same.”
While the school’s handbook does allow braids for girls, it states “no shaved heads, Mohawks, rat’s tails, pony tails, or braids” for boys. “If the hair is maintained, what’s the problem?” Anderson asked. “It’s not like it’s keeping him from learning.”
Anderson ultimately decided to withdraw her son from the school, but before pulling him, she went to the office to try to get some answers. “I asked the teacher how are these kids able to freely express themselves if your trying to prohibit them from doing so? Of course the teacher had nothing to say,” she shared. “My son is 12, no behavior issues, well mannered and is no trouble at all. So I asked the teacher and the front office staff if braids are a form of being in a gang or does it signify that my son is at all gang affiliated? Still no one had anything to say, except for one who [said] that there are not enough parents who challenge the handbook.”
In response, the prep school said they are sticking by their policy. “As is the case with many public schools in Arizona, Great Hearts has a dress code policy for all of our academies. We are transparent about this policy and it is clearly stated in the Family Handbook, which is provided to parents to review and sign before their child starts school with us. We take great care in fairly and consistently upholding our policies for all students,” they said in a statement.
“We understand parents have a choice about where their children attend school, and some may not agree with our dress code policy, which is certainly their right. We’re sorry to see this family leave the Teleos Prep community, but we fully respect their decision to do so.”
Did the mom make the right move, Roommates?
TSR STAFF: Myeisha E.! @myeisha.essex
