Little Jabez Oates is an adorable little boy with his long wavy hair and big smile.
Both he and mum Jessica love his long shoulder-length brown hair, and the tot has never had his hair cut short.
However, after just a week after he began kindergarten in Texas, the four-year-old was sent home because of his long locks. Mum Jessica was astonished to learn that Jabez would not be allowed back unless he got a short haircut.
"He's never had a haircut. It's just kinda part of his identity," she told WDSU News. "I don't believe that short hair should be required to get an education.”
The school policy states that all boys must have a haircut above the eyes, ears and neck unless parents can provide evidence that a long hairstyle is worn for a “religious or cultural” reason.
Boys are not allowed to wear ponytails or hair accessories, but Jessica tied Jabez’s locks up in a bun for school to prevent his hair getting in the way at school.
Here is BHISD school policy and here is young Jabez Oates. Should he cut his hair or is policy, as his mom contends, "sexist and outdated"? pic.twitter.com/HuQYQwK8kN
— Tom Abrahams (@TomAbrahams13) August 21, 2017
Jessica held a meeting with the school administrators to discuss the issue, and streamed it on Facebook Live.
“The principal called me and said that he will be forced to cut his hair in order to go to this school district," she said.
“To me, that is blatant discrimination against something me and my child believe in," Jessica explained to the administrator.
"I just want my child to get an education," she continued. "It's something extended to every other child in this community, we live in this community, and we're a part of this community.
"And I'm not understanding (sic) how long hair would exclude my child from an education in this school district."
Jessica also queried the reasoning behind the school’s stance on long hair, asking what it had to do with education.
Houston Boy Told He Can’t Come To Kindergarten With Long Hair, Jabez Oates’ Parents Refuse To Budge https://t.co/vKcTIC4X4i
— Inquisitr News (@theinquisitr) August 22, 2017
"Was it any harder to teach him because he has long hair?” she asked. The school administrator replied that the school board was responsible for this particular policy.
Her video created an intense discussion online, with some parents taking her side and others disagreeing.
“You are basically telling your child it's OK to not follow rules, and somehow your child is entitled to have long hair and not follow rules when the rest of us have to?” one wrote.
Another offered support, writing: “No one should be judging a mother for how they raise their kid, or limiting them to where their kid can get an education over their hair when it's a public school.”
Jessica later updated her post writing: "UPDATE: I was just told the superintendent does not wish to have a meeting, and that Jabez will NOT be allowed in school.”
Over to you, mums – what do you think?
