tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post845263926687111998..comments2024-01-30T12:13:22.632-05:00Comments on Don Mills Diva: I'll give you something to fight forDon Mills Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733674458423525738noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-76153540290102179982008-03-06T21:11:00.000-05:002008-03-06T21:11:00.000-05:00All absolutely true. Plus, we model behaviour for ...All absolutely true. Plus, we model behaviour for them, and if we react to not agreeing with a teacher by throwing a tantrum, what does that teach the kid? That they don't have to respect the teacher or the school rules. And plenty of kids have enough trouble with that without their parents showing them it's just fine, starting at a young age. <BR/><BR/>I think talking with your son about how you think his hair is fine for home and play times but that you are going to respect the school's right to dictate dress codes and how sometimes we need to follow rules even if we think they are a bit silly is a far more productive way to go here.kittenpiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05215443551546036909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-22449286431060571022008-03-03T09:39:00.000-05:002008-03-03T09:39:00.000-05:00Came over from Blogher links... and great post. I ...Came over from Blogher links... and great post. I will admit as I was reading it, that I was thinking how lucky I am that my son goes to a school that doesn't get all up in arms over a silly mohawk (I mean, who cares, really???) but you are totally right - there are lots of kids in the world who have REAL problems.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16486438725653025356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-929161236695843252008-03-03T01:13:00.000-05:002008-03-03T01:13:00.000-05:00I agree completely and totally on this one. Very ...I agree completely and totally on this one. Very well said! Plus, this was a Charter school, they were there by choice, so if they were more interested in his hairstyle than his education, they could have just sent him to the regular public school. There's a time and a place for everything, even mohawks.Shelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12851446861098955538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-31631108411845205972008-03-02T11:05:00.000-05:002008-03-02T11:05:00.000-05:00I love your perspective on this. In my opinion it'...I love your perspective on this. In my opinion it's a pretty stupid rule, but as you've stated so well, it's a teachable moment for a parent to say "hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do"...an important thing to grasp as early as possible!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-37792994157078916262008-03-02T09:16:00.000-05:002008-03-02T09:16:00.000-05:00I love that this didn't get mean and snarky. You h...I love that this didn't get mean and snarky. You have a bunch of lovely, mature readers, hon!tracey.becker1@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09606831315390042198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-85519063699063848272008-03-01T23:23:00.000-05:002008-03-01T23:23:00.000-05:00I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with yo...I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you here. A hair-do is just a hair-do. The only people being disruptive are the people complaining. Think about it...kids in school may Oooo and Aahhh for a day a two and then they'll get over it.LunaNikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13981677669711596784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-18084065270527384942008-03-01T16:35:00.000-05:002008-03-01T16:35:00.000-05:00Hmmm, I'm surprised at what you've written in this...Hmmm, I'm surprised at what you've written in this post specifically because of what your post on Tuesday was about. My guess is that this was something that the child really wanted and the mom/parents just gave in because it was not a big deal to them. Some children really do care about their appearance, even at that young age. <BR/><BR/>And why shouldn't they? They are individuals and should be allowed to express their likes and dislikes as long as it isn't harming anyone else. Why is such a big deal to the school? Isn't it the school that is making a big deal of this, which is leading to the disruption in the classroom? <BR/><BR/>I don't exactly disagree with anything you wrote in general. But in this case, I think the school is overstepping their boundries, for reasons previous commenters have already mentioned. They said in the article that nothing about haircuts are specified in the handbook, so this sounds pretty arbitrary to me. There are better causes to fight for out there, but IMO that doesn't mean that the smaller causes shouldn't mean something to people.caramamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02327695885346537321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-60529559086271064482008-03-01T16:21:00.000-05:002008-03-01T16:21:00.000-05:00Wow, what a great post and great debate. I love h...Wow, what a great post and great debate. I love how everyone is being so cordial and expressing their points so eloquently with respect. It's okay to disagree in this world, and it's been done with amazing grace on this space right here.<BR/><BR/>So, my 2 cents? While I personally find Mohawks on kids this young just screams of mom/dad's influence rather than his own fashion sense (but then I'm not a huge fan of mohawks to begin with) I would be surprised if such action happened at my kids' school. But seriously, if it was a distraction and the school certainly had given ample warnings about the potential consequences, then why let it get to the point where they let their kid be expelled??!! I can just see how welcomed this child will be wherever he goes from here. School administration will obviously be on the lookout.<BR/><BR/>It's the way the parents handled this that bothers me the most... who called the press? Why do they need their 15 minutes at the expense of their kid? <BR/>A missed opportunity to provide a valuable life lesson. Graham's mama's got a great head on her shoulders.Karen MEGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10834425321020756655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-50359037691736020582008-03-01T13:08:00.000-05:002008-03-01T13:08:00.000-05:00As much as I am for freedom of expression, when yo...As much as I am for freedom of expression, when you enroll your child you are required to read the handbook and SIGN YOUR AGREEMENT. The parents had to know it was against the rules and they should have honored their agreement. Save mohawks for the summer. If BubTar wanted one, I would say "Hey buddy, you can't wear your hair like that at school, we'll have to wait a few more months." and leave it at that. We'd all survive. ;)Kylahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03311014761113076785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-79734425732807268262008-03-01T04:06:00.000-05:002008-03-01T04:06:00.000-05:00Magnificent! You have concisely and clearly articu...Magnificent! You have concisely and clearly articulated a wonderfully useful and helpful view. Your "I believe there is a value in respecting other people’s wishes and desires, even if you don’t completely agree" reminds me of one of my favorite "coping mechanisms."<BR/><BR/>A former pastor and still-admired man took delight in saying "They have the God-given, and Constitutionally guaranteed, right ... to be wrong." [then he would always chuckle a gleeful chuckle]<BR/><BR/>I love who you are!John-Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12301981965656607401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-16166827854519832832008-03-01T03:15:00.000-05:002008-03-01T03:15:00.000-05:00Amen, Sistuh! Definitely plenty of self-indulgent ...Amen, Sistuh! Definitely plenty of self-indulgent people in N. America. "...proclaims himself a Marxist-Socialist-Anarchist and vows to dedicate his life to railing against the status quo and the bourgeois trappings of his middle-class existence." CLASSIC!JCKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04582581376724478366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-36786660542118525342008-02-29T23:23:00.000-05:002008-02-29T23:23:00.000-05:00Since I read the article and it says that they wer...Since I read the article and it says that they were given 3 warnings about the haircut I guess I can see their point, but it seems silly to cause such a fuss over a haircut. My daugher goes to a school with many different cultures. I suppose you could make a point that ANY of the hairstyles are distracting.<BR/><BR/>But in this case it sounds like the parents WANTED to cause problems.<BR/><BR/>But what are they supposed to do? Keep him home until his hair grows out? Shave it all off? Make him wear a hat? Poor kid.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01979925607834752536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-17242381234280015372008-02-29T20:29:00.000-05:002008-02-29T20:29:00.000-05:00Fantastic post. I SO agree with you - I am SO sick...Fantastic post. I SO agree with you - I am SO sick of these overentitled little show offs and the moronic parents encouraging them.Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13953517447164263617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-68483269486189292072008-02-29T20:24:00.000-05:002008-02-29T20:24:00.000-05:00Thank you! My husband and I saw that today on Toda...Thank you! My husband and I saw that today on Today or GMA...one of those shows and we just got irritated! Why not respect the wishes of a person trying to do their job and teach your child!<BR/>School is a blessing and wonderful opprtunitu to learn, not to make statement about your families "i dont care what people think" attitude. Help to kid to understand that it is about the learning, not what you wear or style your hear.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07843200092492177826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-65173004736810120042008-02-29T19:43:00.000-05:002008-02-29T19:43:00.000-05:00Ooh. I like this. I really like the part about s...Ooh. I like this. I really like the part about standing up for values and teaching kids which values to stand up for.<BR/><BR/>Nice.the new girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947910641549198688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-36911475245061015072008-02-29T17:23:00.000-05:002008-02-29T17:23:00.000-05:00I'm with you.And there's no way the 5 year old is ...I'm with you.<BR/><BR/>And there's no way the 5 year old is maintaining his mohawk without parental assistance. Just.let.it.go., people. Let him make his own statements when he's older and they're actually *his* statements.ewe are herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13339650361453626546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-88436853039517247012008-02-29T17:09:00.000-05:002008-02-29T17:09:00.000-05:00I love what you have to say about this issue. The...I love what you have to say about this issue. There are so, so, so many more important issues in the world. I also love your comment about millions of children not having the luxury of a school that cares for its students. I agree that the parents are making something out of nothing on this one. But, I also think the school is making something out of nothing. Maybe the school could also realize that they, too, might benefit from a wider angle lens?Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08585572295277151602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-84649956024472593672008-02-29T16:32:00.000-05:002008-02-29T16:32:00.000-05:00I totally agree with your points and this was a gr...I totally agree with your points and this was a great post! I hope you have a great weekend - see you soon. KellanKellanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07882991320065439298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-19686496626462633782008-02-29T16:31:00.000-05:002008-02-29T16:31:00.000-05:00That poor kid! He just wants to go to school and ...That poor kid! He just wants to go to school and hang out with his friends! Some parents!<BR/><BR/>I had to lay down the law with Eli yesterday about how he does NOT get to pick out a toy everytime we go to the store. Much crying ensued. We went home. The end.erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12037675094496432805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-40438814562030815962008-02-29T16:22:00.000-05:002008-02-29T16:22:00.000-05:00I couldn't agree with you more. Only you put if in...I couldn't agree with you more. Only you put if into words much better than I would have.Queen of My Domainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18385262345740494579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-77536389028922616462008-02-29T14:12:00.000-05:002008-02-29T14:12:00.000-05:00Hear, Hear!!!Hear, Hear!!!SaraLynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15822536105739463960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-49609065591049690062008-02-29T13:33:00.000-05:002008-02-29T13:33:00.000-05:00I think a lot has to do with feeling like so much ...I think a lot has to do with feeling like so much of the world is out of our control that people fight the small and trivial battles so that they can feel they have control over something. Did that make sense?<BR/><BR/>You know what really bugs me (a little off topic) is that Kindergartners aren't allowed to touch or hug eachother. My son is a hugger and he's not allowed to hug his friends at school. Crazy.Life As I Know Ithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09492465378321819342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-34908247906027535022008-02-29T12:49:00.000-05:002008-02-29T12:49:00.000-05:00I'm on the fence on this one.On one hand, don't sw...I'm on the fence on this one.<BR/><BR/>On one hand, don't sweat the small stuff. It's just hair. Give him a different haircut and leave it at that.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, the school needs to relax a little. A friend of a friend cuts her firstgraders hair in a mohawk, because that's what he wanted and they made a deal. If he improved his behavior at school, he could have the haircut.<BR/><BR/>I attended a private religious school through 5th grade. No makeup, no nail polish, no jewelry allowed. And if you didn't like it, you didn't have to send your kids there.Kayrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15397302130308197831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-66438317621270367092008-02-29T12:31:00.000-05:002008-02-29T12:31:00.000-05:00Yes! So many times I think it's the parents pushin...Yes! So many times I think it's the parents pushing their attitudes about fashion and society onto their kids, kids that don't know anything about who the heck the Sex Pistols or the Ramones are, they just know Mommy or Daddy likes this shirt. While it may be cool to rebel when you're a teen but why make your kid be your new poster for angst or ironic humor. And yep, they are way more important things parents could be talking about with their kids, rather than thumbing their noses at THE MAN with a silly haircut.Skiploveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108678447797063372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-454432385331536006.post-3867921445036518202008-02-29T12:16:00.001-05:002008-02-29T12:16:00.001-05:00I have to respectfully disagree with you on this. ...I have to respectfully disagree with you on this. The kid was singled out for how he looks, and by their actions the school is teaching kids that it is okay to discriminate based on how someone looks. If the school had clear guidelines on dress code and grooming, at least then it would be a standard that everyone had to follow and not a demonstration of their authority and instritutional prejudice.<BR/><BR/>I admit this is a topic dear to my family's heart, as my husband has long hair and has many times encountered prejudice due to it. Whether a choice or not, his hair is part of who he is. We try to teach our child acceptance of diversity and to not judge a book by its cover. It's important to be consistent about the messages we send.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com