7 year old with Mohawk?

Question

My 7 year old wanted a Mohawk, so I let him have one. It's not shaved down to the skin on the sides, and he doesn't wear it spiked to school. His teacher just emailed me to say that it's a distraction to the class and told me that I should cut his hair. She couldn't give me one example of how it's been a distraction. Ethan is a very intelligent, well spoken, talented child...I can't imagine that his hair is going to change any of that. What should I say back to his teacher? Mind you...I don't want to be mean to her because I'm afraid she'll take it out on Ethan through the school year, but I do want to get my point across that Ethan's hair is my decision as his parent. At some point maybe we'll be forced by the government to let government agents dress our children, and cut their hair..and heck, why don't they just go ahead and raise them while they're at it....but for now, his hair cut should be left up to the person that's paying for it and raising the child.

Answer 1

I can assure you that a child with an unusual hairstyle is a distraction and it can also be very negative for the child. Kids will tease him, make fun of him, not include him, call him names, etc...........I am sure you do not want that. That may very well be what the teacher is trying to tell you or she is trying to stop it before it does happen.......and it definitely will happen.

Answer 2

If the teacher did not demand that you cut Ethan's hair, but just suggested it, then tell her it is a family decision that you and Ethan intend to enjoy. Let her know that he will probably grow tired of it soon enough and then you and Ethan will decide on something different. Keep in mind however, that you put your child at risk for being judged by his appearance. And if you don't work some sort of compromise with the teacher, she may take it out on Ethan. Teachers are not above that sort of thing because nobody is. Since Ethan is only seven years old, he may not know how to appropriately handle being negatively judged or slighted by the teacher. My son is 17 and has worn a mohawk but I know at his age he can handle people's prejudice. So for Ethan's own protection, you might consider saving the mohawk for summertime.

Answer 3

Groovy, but - schools have rules, and wearing unform is one of them - including hairstyles. I know he and you like it, but don't let him get into trouble for the sake of it!. You know it. Go for it in the summer hols!!

Answer 4

seriously i think you are the coolest mom ever for letting your kid have the kind of hair he wants. forget that teacher, she/he has something stuck up there you know what!

as long as its not dyed purple or any other color of the rainbow, and its not spiked or anything it is NOT a distraction, and you should complain to the princple for emailing you this nonsense.  dont back down!!!

Answer 5

Teacher can pound sand.

And kids aren't gonna tease him for having a Mohawk, they're going to love seeing it.  and Remarks about it would be jokes, not teasing.

Answer 6

ITs a hairstyle its fine...I mean as long as he isn't spiking it to the point where it could be used as a weapon or something.

Answer 7

I would politely tell the teacher that your son likes the mohawk style, and that you are more conservative about how he wears his hair to school so he does not go with it spiked, but that it is cut so that he can wear his hair how he wishes in his off time.

I find it absolutely absurd.  I know exactly what you are talking about, too, because my son (8) has a mohawk.  It was shaved to the scalp on the sides, but now has grown out a bit.  When it is not spiked, you can hardly  tell-it certainly would not be a distraction.  Thankfully, we homeschool (imagine that-a Christian conservative homeschool family with a son that wears a mohawk, spiked and sometimes even dyed green! (wash out dye)...LOL).  

I know some boys that wear their hair cut short, but just above the ears and at the nape of the neck it is even shorter-sometimes cut to the scalp.  This is the same thing, only the patch is narrower.  I would be close to suggesting that I am certain a teacher has to have more important things to worry about.  Unless she can provide an example of someone raising their hand and saying "I can not concentrate on math because of Ethan's hair style"...well, tough.  It is freedom of expression, which even children have.

Answer 8

I let my child wear a mohawk during the summer but not during the school year. He always ask me why and I tell him he is there to do his work not to be a fashion plate. But, that's just me. I don't really think the school should be telling you what to do with your kids hair. I would talk to her and say you have it that way for religious reasons, but don't say you are christian because then they won't care....she'll back off then...lol.

Answer 9

does he have a mohawk because you like it that way or because HE wanted it that way? How important is that haircut to you? These are important factors. If the hair style is not a big deal to him, then save yourself and him the trouble and just cut it. If it's really important to HIM and he doesn't want to cut it because he really likes it, then explain to the teacher that unless it states somewhere that it is against school policy to have a mohawk then you won't be cutting his hair.

If I were you I would check in your schools handbook and make sure there isn't something in the school policy about it because if there is, then you really won't have much choice. Some schools do have things like this in their policy.

Answer 10

Ethan's teacher is a as* hole! If I where you, I would let him keep it, and just ignore her!

Answer 11

Tell her what you wrote there:

his hair cut should be left up to the person that's paying for it and raising the child.

Unless she can give you a valid reason why you should cut it, it's not up to her.

Answer 12

That is ridiculous, I work at an elementary school and we have had at least 3 or 4 boys every year with mohawks and at least one of them does spike it. As long as it is not against school rules I would honestly contact the principal, she is out of line in this situation. A child's hair is the least of our worries unless it contains lice LOL.

Answer 13

I agree with you. But on the other hand, teachers can be very cruel if they wish to the child in question. Think about it. If the child is going to be ostracized by the teacher then maybe you should cut his hair or better yet make an appointment with the Principal and the teacher and discuss it .

Answer 14

I agree with you totally.  We lived in Kansas and my son wanted a Mohawk so we gave him one.  Geez--you think that we abused our child or something the looks we got especially on a military base.  In the summer we would spike it and dye it when school was out.  They made us shave it off because it was a distraction to.  So we got a change of station to Georgia and we shaved it off because we didn't want to have a hassle.  Well you guys are going to laugh at this one.  He told the teacher that he wanted to grow his mohawk back and she said that he couldn't grow it back because it would be a distraction well my son being MY SON told the teacher that "when was she going to make all the black girls take the beads out of their hair because all he hears is KACHING KACHING.  lol  I thought that was the best.  But anyway got way off subject on that one.  I totally agree with you if they want him to wear a certain hairstyle then they should pay for it.  I think that any child that can wear a mohawk should be able to.  Good Luck on the school system

Answer 15

First, I wouldn't reply via email.  I'd write back and ask for a chance to talk in person.  It's very, very difficult to communicate about sensitive issues like this electronically - I'd do it face to face.

I think your approach should be this:  "I understand that you're uncomfortable with my son's hair style.  Please understand that while I respect your role as an educator, I'm equally uncomfortable with the possibility that you might judge my son's talents and aptitudes by your reaction to a personal style choice."

Unless there's a dress code in force already, I'd stand my ground.  But I'd be as polite and kind as possible.  And since he's 7, I can only assume that he has an existing school record to show if he's well-behaved and accomplished or not.

If all else fails, you might want to make a joke - his hair style doesn't indicate what kind of brain is lurking beneath!

Good luck.

Answer 16

Go into the school and speak with the teacher face to face. It could very well be that he is playing with his hair or that the other kids are teasing him about it. While it is very important to allow our children to be individuals and to express themselves, it is equally important for them to learn that there are appropriate ways and places to put those expressions out there for public view.

Have you forgotten just how mean children can be to each other? Especially if there is something that makes them stand out from the crowd. So don't jump to the conclusion that this teacher is stifling your child, she just might be trying to protect him.