Suspended over 'Ray-hawk'

Ellenton seventh-grader Zachary Sharples loves the Tampa Bay Rays. So much so that he got a Mohawk that has (perhaps unfortunately) become the rallying hairdo for the surging baseball team.

That style might be hot at the Trop. But it didn't go over so well at Lincoln Middle School.

The Bradenton Herald reports it this way:

Before Zachary went to bed, he made sure to wash off the dye so he wouldn't get in trouble at school the next day.
But the boy's 1-inch mohawk still earned him an in-school suspension Monday, said his father Kevin Pennington. Zachary was told he violated dress code.
"I did nothing but sat there," Zachary said Tuesday. "We couldn't talk, it was stupid."
Zachary was given two choices by the school, Pennington said.
He can either shave his head to be allowed back into his classes, or let his hair grow out - in in-school suspension.

See the full story here.

View tampabay.com readers' RayHawk photos

Comments

[Heidi]

Seriously?! Don't schools have bigger problems than this? Is there more to the story? I don't see this as a problem. I had two students last year with mohawks all year long. It wasn't a problem AT ALL.

[Mark]

I completely understand the schools viewpoint... but you would think they would allow a reprieve durring the month of October. They can go back to their standards (Which I agree with) after the Rays win the Series.

[Brad]

Hey, I personally find this whole mohawk rally thing ridiculous and wouldn't let my kids do it. However, it is even more ridiculous that this school would suspend an individual for something as inane as this.

So a shaved head is fine? That makes no sense.

[King Gator]

At least they didn't make him sleep with a teacher. Tampa Style!

[Paul]

He should just say its a religious statement showing his dedication to his god. Then they'd probally give him the day off and allow others to get mohawks.

[Pinellas Teacher]

OK. Yesterday a boy in my school was wearing high heals and makeup...it caused a distraction...nothing was said or done......I say "BFD" to a blue Fohawk.

[Dave]

Kids were wearing Mohawks 30 years ago and the world didn't collapse.

These administrators need to grow up a little.

[Joe]

A fohawk gets you in trouble these days what about the kids wearing there pants to there ankles.. Couldn't expect anything less from a Florida school since there one of the worst in the nation because there worried more about this stuff

[Adam]

The more I read stories like this, the less sympathy I have for Florida teachers. I know they are underpaid, but they *behave* like they are underpaid. It's like they are so upset over their place in life that they have to exert their authority over someone else to feel more important.

liberal hippies

what a joke .. getta life lincoln

[Jay]

Joe, I'm more concerned about your grammar and misspellings than this kid's haircut. Do you have a Florida education? Did they not cover "their" versus "there"? Or proper punctuation? The irony is that you're berating an educational system that apparently failed you too.

[Al]

I agree with the school. The Native Americans had Mohawks...look what happened to them.
Did you see Saddam's hair when he was caught? All disheveled and unkept. Outrageous! He clearly deserved what he got.
Every day we Americans should strive to impress the world with our haircuts because there is nothing more important than a haircut that impresses other people.
Look at Wall Street. Those guys all have really nice haircuts, and I respect them.
Look at Al Qeada, always covering up thier hair with turbins and not showing it off to the world. How disrespectful! I'll bet it's because they have really nice haircuts and they don't want to share them. That's why we're over there.
George Bush always has a nice haircut, that's why he's been president for 8 years.
I'm going to get my haircut right now because it's important to the world.

[Ed]

Do Brad and Susan Thurston work at the school. Maybe the Rays owners will go to bat for the poor kid so he does not have to sit in isolation till his hair grows back. Then again Sternberg is most likely too busy giving the owners of Stubhub a reach around.

[David]

There has got to be more to this story. If the school caused a disruption and interrupted this childs learning experience because of his haircut, then shame on them. If the student was being disruptive, then punish him on those grounds, and not because of his haircut. A haircut does not make a child a problem.

[Bobbi]

1st of all, I am Fl. educated so any & all mistakes well...now you know. 2nd, I don't know what the dress codes are, however, I love the fact that Zachary was not only showing his support for his passion (something that most kids don't have) but also, enjoying one of the few positive events of our days!

[Cheryl]

I agree with the school 100%. My husband jokingly asked my son if he was going to get a mohawk. He said immediately...no my school wouldn't allow it. Common sense. The mohawks are ridiculous. I was at the playoffs games...and I thought it was a hoot to see the kids with the faux hawks, the wash out blue hair, and the fake mohawks on hats...but getting a real mohawk...different story. The best was the guy who had the white cockatoo with the blue faux hawk...lol. Anyway, the real mohawks...very degenerate. Not a very good image for Tampa Bay.

Absolutely insane. Teachers do not get my sympathy any longer. How many working people are wearing these to work without anything happening? The kid shows support, as so many of us are in Tampa Bay and they take his learning time away from him? This is what is wrong with schools today. They focus too much on crap and not teaching our children what they need to. Now we know why those educated in Florida are the way they are. No stress on education instead it's on appearance. This boy has my full support as does his family.

What a joke. His mohawk may have caused comments the first day or two but when you publicize it the attention will be much greater. It's not too often our local sports teams make the playoffs, and in this case it's history. We should be encouraging our children to support our teams not putting them in suspension for something this silly.

[James]

Are you kidding me. My taxes are paying for these people to suspend a kid over a haircut. It's not a gang thing you idiots. Stop wasting my money. Instead of chasing kids like this, apply the lost time and money to teaching like you're suppose to.

"Not a very good image for Tampa Bay."

Cheryl have you ever actually looked at Tampa Bay? Haircuts are the least of our troubles.

[Sim]

Good job Lincoln Middle School. Don't worry about teaching kids reading, writing, arithmetic, instead teach them no matter what they do in life they will only be judged by their appearance.

How is shaving his head the solution??

[to poster 10:41]

Both myself and my husband are in professional fields where we would absolutely lose our jobs if we showed up in a mohawks. We've always taught our kids that school is their job...and to treat it as such. People downplay the importance of image. Most people see these kids with mohawks and think...punks. You can scream they are being shallow...all you want, but it is the truth.

[Cheryl]

to poster at 10:45

LOL...you do have a point

"Most people see these kids with mohawks and think...punks. You can scream they are being shallow...all you want, but it is the truth."

Yes but shouldn't we be teaching our children that looks are not important? The "image is importance" argument takes you down a slippery slope where kids demand the most expensive clothes and jewelry while neglecting the importance of non-materials.

[Cheryl]

to poster at 10:56. Putting forth your best personal image is completely separate from being materialistic. My kids always look their best, without being materialistic. We live within our budget, which lately...is a Walmart budget.

[Teacher in Pasco]

I wish my kids would wear a "rayhawk". It would at the very least show that they were dedicated to something positive.

[Steve]

Uh, excuse me, Pinellas Teacher (9:45 a.m.), but it's "heels" not "heals." And you're a teacher, huh? Kind of sums things up, don't you think?

[poster]

I personally know these people, Zach did nothing to warrant in-school suspension for his haircut, his father Kevin has one as well, all he did is show up to school and they gave him suspension, Zach had said to the principal good thing it wasn't blue and the principal replied saying if it was blue they would have expelled him. Are you serious!!!

[John]

Come on people, why are you insisting on chastising the teachers? The in-school suspension was an administrative decision. You know, done by those people who have 12 month jobs when kids are there for 10 months. Talk about overpaid. I realize that many administrators are very good but, the administrator/teacher ratio is way out of wack. Send all administrators back to a real classroom once every 5 years, for a whole year, so they can stay in touch with reality.

[Amanda]

Hey Steve, take it easy. I had a biology teacher in middle school that couldn't spell worth a hoot, but was a BRILLIANT scientist and a fantastic teacher.
As for this whole situation, it's ridiculous. It's a one-inch mohawk. Who cares? Really, how "distracting" could that be? I understand, though, that's part of the school's official dress code. Even so, an in-school suspension is really too harsh. Maybe a warning? Tell him he had to have it shaved by the next day, or the end of the week? (Or, ideally, by the end of the playoffs!)

[Jon]

the mohawk should be allowed as long as the Rays are still alive. Once the season is officially over, then go back to the standards.

[kris]

I believe there must be more to the story. Perhaps there was a warning to all students the week prior that a 'Ray-hawk' would result in suspension.

But in todays world this sort if ignorance is, sadly, almost expected.

[Nancy]

How about polling the parents to see if the temporary hair style is offensive or distracting in their opinion? Personally I would rather see a child supporting a sport and his community than require that he shave his head and, in effect, support a potentially racist stereotype. If the administration is so worried about distractions, perhaps they should take a look in the mirror and see how distracting their actions have been. Do we no longer foster freedom of speech and individuality in our schools? How sad!

[JD]

Can't he argue that he was trying to cut down the transmission of head lice?

[Curt]

Hey Kris there is more to this story.The principle is a Boston Red Sox fan. He knows his team is going down so he took his frustraation out on a little kid.

[fireprincipal]

The principal of this school should be fired immediately!!! Forget individuality and freedom of speech and all of that. What is boils down to is that this principal does not care about his students and their learning. Schools should be about the students and not the parents, school board, haircuts, etc. As a teacher this would not be a distraction in any way to my teachings and I would love it if sy students showed support of their team. Things like the Rays being in the champioship is what brings communities closer together. Fire the principal for not caring about the students and hire one that has a love for students and love teaching students.

[Amanda W.]

LOL 10:45. I couldn't have said it better!

[Dawn]

Home school. If a school has nothing better to do then to punish a child over a damn haircut, then it's time to close them. Give me more money while I find more ways to punish your children needlessly. What is this child going to do, pluck a hair and stab someone with it? Our schools are no longer learning institutions they are concentration camps. Parents stand up for you children!

[T. Yeti]

"Posted by: Joe

A fohawk gets you in trouble these days what about the kids wearing there pants to there ankles.. Couldn't expect anything less from a Florida school since there one of the worst in the nation because there worried more about this stuff"

Coming from someone who obviously never graduated from anywhere.

[JAR]

Suspending the kid is really stupid. I'm getting a kick out of adults going back and forth over proper English and spelling errors. We have become so dependent on spelling correction programs that we don't even bother to edit the dumb mistakes that the programs make. What's even better is you can tell when a reporter uses it and their editor misses it.

[mm]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Dr_Dug]

Obama hates Ray Hawks too.....

[Emme]

I saw this kid's hair cut.You can't be serious about him being suspended.What other important decisions does this principal make?How to sort his paper clips?Let's close schools and have kids learn on line.Save money.No more adminstrative salaries.No more kids being killed by buses.No more expensive school overhead.No more teachers molesting students.There is really no good reason to have them anymore.

[MD]

This is not something a student should be suspended over. Administrators overlook swearing, girls dressed like whores and boys wearing pants around their ankles and t-shirts with massively inappropriate sayings. Who cares how a student's hair is cut and styled? Lots of kids have weird cuts or colors. It causes some talk for 5 minutes and then it becomes old news.

I think it's absurd this kid will have to sit in ISS until either his hair grows back or he shaves his head. Talk about a disruption in one's education, not to mention such a ridiculous penalty for having a passion about something that goes beyond his own self, which few kids today even understand. If I were his parents, I would lodge a formal complaint against the county. Idiotic things like this are far too commonplace among admin because they've no clue what is going on or relevant anymore.

And people wonder why I quit this profession. Look at who is calling the shots and it's no wonder teachers are overwhelmed. Too many idiots at the wheel...

[TTT]

With the amount of kids dropping out of school this is a joke!! The administrators need a wake up call. I do not care how the kids (or teachers) are dressed as long as they learn (or do their jobs). What a joke!!!!

[Art]

"A mohawk is an unusual haircut, and it draws comments from the kids," she (the district's director of secondary schools) said. When students start commenting on it in class, "it's hard for teachers to calm them down."

If that's true, those teachers are clearly inept at completeing the most basic tasks of their jobs. A teacher has to settle down almost every class he/she teaches every single day. If that cannot be accomplished, that teacher needs to go back for more training. Or find a new job...

[terminator]

Manatee County school district folks are a bunch of blooming idiots.
First they want to CUT their teacher salaries, then they want to RAISE teacher healthcare premiums, now they want to put a kid in CSI for a mohawk?
Oh yeah, almost forgot, the district covered up for some black kid star QB at Lakewood Ranch last year even after he was caught with a loaded gun.
the mucky mucks at the Manatee district dropped the ball and the kid kept right on playing until this summer....when he shot and killed some dude!
Brilliant!
It's guys like Manatee who give FloriDUH public education a bad name.
They should be taken out and lined up in front of a firing squad for being so stupid!

[TechRider]

School admins are still cut from same cloth as they were 35 years ago. Just trying to exercise control to prove that they have power.
"Those that can't, teach. Those that can't teach, become administrators."

[tim]

Stop attacking teachers over this decision. This came down from the principal and other administrators, NOT the teacher.

[Maria]

Personally I find it really irritating that a haircut that would normally get kids in trouble and would label them as punks is suddenly okay to conservative folks just because they're fired up about baseball.

[Jay]

ALL the boys should get mohawks. What will they do then? I guess schools don't promote team spirit anymore. Does being in school make you a second class citizen? What a waste of school resources

[ed]

again, this country needs to get over itself

[evan]

There should be only one Adminstrator city wide handling all apparent dress code violations.
In the current system,each Principal decides on his own if the code was violated,while at the same time another principal would allow the student to attend class with the same "hair do".
Rules should be enforced fairly City wide in the system.

[Carmine]

I read the story and the family is moving at the end of the week, and the boy will be changing schools. Hopefully he dyes it blue again, since he has to sit in ISS for it, he may as well go all the way.

The admin. past the rule, the princapal had the option on what to do. He is the jerk in the story.

To the poster who said they would lose their job for getting a mohawk, IF you are in the profesional field fine, but I would look for a new job, field to get into.

To tell your kids that school is their job, I pity your kids, never having an chance to actually be kids.

I teach my kids to be respectful, and that teachers are not there to baby sit them, not that they can't have some fun in school and as children.

They both, to date have been main stays on the Honor Roll or better.

life is to short not to have some fun.

[Opinion Master]

exactly, how does a mohawk make one appear to be a 'punk' or a 'deliquent'?

when I was in school, the whole wrestling team got a mohawk to show unity. I know of 2 (two) of those guys that became criminal, some became and still our in law enforcement, a few went into the military, one who currently works for the FBI, quite a few started succesful business' in the area, myself, I chickened out of the whole mohawk thing, but never was arrested.

[King Gator]

I'm just glad the reign of terror by the "Tampa Cut / Mullet / Business in the front, Party in the rear" is finally over. I welcome the Ray-Hawk with open arms, even if it means we have to sacrifice a few middle school kids. The cause is bigger than ISS. Go Rays - Red Sox Suck!

[Teri]

This is crazy!! WOW people it's just hair, we are so uptight in this country anymore!

[morganan]

If the Rays don't give this kid a free ticket to a playoff game, something is wrong ....also, isn't it interesting that at least fifty people got worked up enough to write in about this issue, but barely any about the debate last night. Go Rays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Teri]

You are so right King Gator!! LMAO
I mean it's just a hair cut folks, but at least it isn't the Mullet! Now that is just plain ugly! LOL

[Teri]

OH and GO RAYS!!

[Kevin]

My name is Kevin and I am the father of Zachary the "Ray Hawk kid." I would like to clear up a few things. First, the teachers had nothing to do with this...it was the administrators. The same administrators that never called my wife or I to let us know that he was in an in-school suspension because of his Ray Hawk. My son is a good kid, he has great grades and doesn't get in trouble. My family and I are baseball fans, always have been, and when you have something going on in this area that's this special you get caught up in the moment. Thousands of people are getting it done — including the St. Petersburg City Council — and my son was begging me to let him do it. I never really thought the school would have an issue with it because the Rays were doing so well...but apparently I was wrong. I know they have rules and I always tell Zachary to respect them. But whose authority is it to decide that his hair is offensive? Who makes that judgement?

I have seen things in schools that are a lot worse. Some people do not understand that sports fans get into their teams and their colors and they enjoy the ride! This is something that may never happen again. So really ... is it going to hurt to let a kid cut his hair in a Rays Hawk and show his support to the team? He's not bringing guns into school, he's not starting fights, he is supporting his baseball team and he is staying out of trouble.

[Hardhat0038]

my god, they can't keep the teachers from diddling the students, and they are worried about a haircut? Losers.

[Hardhat0038]

Sounds like a freedom of expression violation.

[Hardhat0038]

Hey Ed the arseface, why the knock on Sternberg? Mabe if more people would have showed at the Trop during the reg season he would have thought some were actually interested in the tickets.

[Ray F]

Maybe the school administration is full of blasted Red Sux fans and their trying to ruin the morale of our Republic by admonishing the battle dressing of a young tribal warrior!!!

Just like the Japanese police cut off samurai hair knots in the late 1800's to show disrespect.

**they're

[JB]

Just another example of lack of judgment that permeates our society. The principle should immediately be audited re what other dumb decisions are being made. And to think this made the papers is ridiculous. The kids parents should have gone to bat and demanded a hearing with the school board. Kids all over have shown their enthusiasm for the Rays. What a nice change of pace!

[rick]

really,the school system here is pretty funny if you ask me.Let me explain.lets worry about a hair cut that supports r local pro baseball team.if the school system didnt know it every kid dream of becoming a pro ball player LET JUST SHOOT THE DREAMS DOWN.how about this all the kids in school should have sex with there teachers and join a gang i have to much this is just

[Jimmy Mack]

I was always taught in school to have civic pride in your community. I wonder if it would have been allowed if he was doing it for his school team...

[tim]

Kevin, thank you for joining us and providing your side of the story.

[Rsox]

Thanks Curt for a great laugh!

enjoy the next 4 games while you can.

Sox repeat

[Dave]

I remember when being individualistic was considered a fine American trait.

Now you better look and act just like everyone else, or you're asking for trouble, buddy!

[pascomohawks]

Appeal it! Especially to get the disciplinary action off his record.

I am a teacher and my son has been sporting a spiked mohawk for three weeks. He did it to see if he got a reaction from people, and he did. Mostly from me, but I decided to pick another battle instead. That one was too small to waste energy on.

He wanted to break the stereotype of an honor student and be different for once.

Three of my middle school students have had both mohawks and hawkmows...shaved in the middle, and no one has given a referral at my school. I guess rural Pasco is more liberal with codes than uptight worldly Bradenton.

[BC]

Mrs. to poster 10:41,

"Both myself and my husband are in professional fields where we would absolutely lose our jobs if we showed up in a mohawks."

Your profession is obviously not writing. The sentence should begin with 'My husband and I'. 'Both' is superfluous because it is implied since there are only two people being referenced in the sentence. 'Myself' should have never been used in that sentence, but unfortunately many people don't know the proper use of the word.

[Russ]

Skinheads are cool. Mohawks aren't? lol. What about Mullets?

Why do I get the feeling the kid will have some awesome tickets to the World Series?!

[Bonnie]

I would much rather see the mohawks than those baggie pants ashowing the BVDS and cracks! Give the kids a break.

GO RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Russ]

To the person who said mohawks = punks. People used to say that about tattoos and piercings. And black people were thought to all be dirty too.

[go rays and mohawks]

Kevin, I am a teacher and I applaud you for pointing out the truth. I have more issues to deal with in my classroom than what a kid's hair looks like. I believe the problem is that schools are too large. Kids get treated like numbers. The admin. probably doesn't know your kid personally and therefore has to just process them through like a product on an assembly line. If schools were smaller, more admin. could get to know children on a personal level and maybe incidences like this would happen less frequently. :)

[Red Sox Ricki]

This Devil Ray kid needs to learn early about discipline.

[Sharon]

I don't disagree with standards of dress, but during this time when the Rays are bringing the community together and giving us something GOOD to think about, I think schools and businesses should allow quiet support. Certainly a haircut is quiet. Thinking back forty years,when I was in school (in Indiana) boys wore ducktails and no one saw anything wrong with that.

My kids go to private school, so a Rayhawk is out of the question. My son has sported a very tall "faux-hawk" to the last few games and has been able to show support for our Rays. All it takes is a product called "hair glue" and some blue hair spray and you're done!

[Rodger]

Who is the person incharge of suspending chidren that come to school ready to learn? Is is dorothy's scarecrow? or is it just someone that has no common sense and just an unhappy person? hope it's the scarecrow since he still has half a chance.

looks like the school has gone "full retard."

[NBTeacher]

"Our schools are no longer learning institutions they are concentration camps. Parents stand up for you children!"

Dawn,

Are you seriously comparing our public education system to genocide camps? If you truly believe this ridiculous metaphor then I am glad that I will never have your child in my class. Also, maybe you should less time on this blog and more time reading CNN or watching the history channel to educate yourself.

haha 6:27.. hilarous

[Ernie]

We are talking about a public school. Aren't we? I'd like to read exactly what this school's dress code is regarding hair style. For all we know, their dress code regarding hair styles might be unconstitutional. This boy and his family might want to fight this one with a lawyer who looking for his/her 15 minutes of fame? I don't the mohawk look, but I don't see where it's offensive or even distractive.

Edit: 6:07 haha hilarous

[Joe]

To those complaining about teachers...last I checked, teachers do not possess the ability to suspend a student. That would be the adminstrator. I am sure the teachers have more to worry about than hairstyles.

[Mike]

Obviously school administrators are RedSox fans!!!

Go Rays!!

If they make the World Series I will be sporting a RayHawk!!!

schools are focused on the wrong thing ....thats why no one graduates anymore!!!

[FINALLY!]

This is disgraceful. Our school systems should have more pressing issues to be concerned with. They are doing nothing but trying to make an example out of this child. I am not a baseball fan of any team, never have been, never will be; however, I am happy that our area has something to be proud of right now and has something positive going on during otherwise bleak times. Although I don’t participate, I find it fun to watch the fans wear the team colors, show off their RayHawks, and cheer on the Rays. It doesn't happen often that the whole Tampa Bay area gets the opportunity come together and just celebrate something. My employer, a major Fortune 500 company, allowed employees wear jeans and Rays jerseys or t-shirts an one day each week, outside of our regular "casual Friday", to celebrate. That is what the "real world" does. (It always makes me laugh when school administrators try to say they are acting in the interest of preparing our children for “the real world” - HA!) If my otherwise conservative employer can relax the clutches of the dress code in the spirit of camaraderie and the team’s success, so can the schools.

With that said, let us all not lose sight of the most disturbing element of this story….this child lost a day of education because of a haircut...a HAIRCUT. How is punishing over a haircut a higher priorty than Zachary losing hours of education in the classroom?!? What is the matter with them?! The administrators should be ashamed of themselves.

Hair. Thats REALLY important. GET REAL!!! Does anyone remember the kid that graduated valedictorian with the mohawk last year. He's well on his way to making WAY more money than any administrator. Get a clue, administration. Why not go after the kids that are really rotten and ruining the well behaved childrens chance at learning? Thats too hard for you to handle.

[this is so lame]

my son attends public elementary school in an upper-middle class neighborhood in pinellas county. i would have asssumed that his school would be upset by mohawks....but THEY ARENT!!!! sooo many kids at school have mohawks. its adorable. the kids look great, showing support for the home team. heck, some of those lil guys had mohawks before the Rays even brought it up. Im proud of our school!

[John]

hey stupid people! It's not the teachers, it's the principal. Most teachers I know could care less about a kid's haircut. What they care about is that the kids behave, pay attention, and have parents who know what the heck is going on.
Too bad too many don't have all three of the above going on.

[Missy]

There really must be something wrong with the school board to let this happen. I see kids in my daughters class with their nose pierced and nothing has been done to them. Nor should anything be done to them, just like nothing should be done to this kid who is being suspended from school for doing nothing wrong. If anything the admin. should get in trouble for him not being in class getting an education. Go Rays and go Kevin and Jen!

[james]

for once i agree with the school administrators---it ought to be outlawed for anyone who wears it---you all look ridiculous and ugly---talk about fanaticism and crowd-mentality---not that far away from what hitler and his followers used to do---also an insult to Native Americans, at least the few that were not slaughtered by your ancestors--and even they would have had too much class to dye their hair an ugly shade of blue--wake up people, we live in the 21st century, and that is a look and an action that is best not perpetuated---and that speaks volumes about who you are and where you are coming from--not really a badge of honor, although authentically American---too bad the rays cant make more money off of your hairdos, they could be even richer--why merchandise yourself for that organization? create your own expression of identity, that would be far more meaningful--rah rah blah blah

[Amanda]

James,
A hairdo ought to be "outlawed"? I can't believe you just compared a style of wearing hair to Hitler's regime, yet you believe a hairdo should be illegal. Oh, and bringing in the slaughter of Native Americans was a nice touch, too. Classy.
Also, we should create our own "expression of identity", as long as it doesn't offend James the Great, right? Is your bastardized version of punctuation your own "expression of identity"? Or are the period, comma, and semicolon keys all broken on your keyboard, and therefore must be replaced with inexplicable dashes?
Or maybe, just maybe, you need to lighten up. Don't worry, these kids with their mohawks aren't going to run all over your precious front lawn.

[Greg]

Are you kidding me. If I went to that school I would get a bunch of my friends to all get Mohawks just to make the administration crazy. A suspension because of his hair? And the excuse they had was that it is a distraction and once kids start talking about it, it is hard to regain control? Really, when I was in middle school a fight could break out in the middle of class and the only people moving were the fighters. Once they were gone we re-opened our books. I don't think a mohawk would cause that much of a problem. And by the way, I'm in high school so it wasn't like I am talking about way back in the day or anything.

[flanygal]

I spend alot of time in the Mohawk Valley. The Mohawk Indians are from there. The ones I know are very nice people. Have you ever had a conversation with an Indian? The Onondaga's have an awesome restaurant. The Oneida's have a huge Casino. I could go on. I will forward this article to my Mohawk friends.
I'd rather look at a Mohawk haircut anyday, as opposed to someone's pants sagging below their "seat."

[ana]

Ellenton seventh-grader Zachary Sharples loves the Tampa Bay Rays.
since you persist in TAMPA rays...why
not move them across the bridge.. I
frankly will be celebrating the end
of baseball season.. I do not see anything but a lot of disruptive people-- wanting THEIR OWN WAY...

[Marc]

The Mahicans were exterminated for wearing the same hairdo, clearly this boy and any other person wearing a similar hairdo should be executed immediately! Its the American thing to do. If you don't fit in, discriminate, persecute, execute. Whether India, Black, Jew, Irish, Italian or German. One way or another they should all be exterminated because they don't fit into the WASP American System! Kill those Mohawk Lovers NOW!!!

[get over it]

When I first read this story, I sided with the kid and his family. I thought surely the school overreacted and was in the wrong for suspending the kid just for a mowhawk. After seeing an interview on the new with the kid last night, I have a different opinion. The kid was obnoxious and arrogant. He probably got called down about and then mouthed off to principal. That is the problem with today's society. We are so concerned with kids' self-esteem. Letting them express themselves and other such nonsense, that kids have no sense of respect. They think they deserve everything, which they don't. Kids need to learn that whether they like it or not, they are kids, and rules are rules.

[K]

I am someone who also personally knows this family.
Kevin, if you were any kind of a father, you would tell Zach to cut his hair and get his butt back in class.
Life is not always fair. Is it more important to be stubborn because you don't like the rules or is the most important thing your child's education? Stop being a self-indulgent pig and teach your son that sometimes you do have to conform.
When parents do not like the school policies, they can always get involved, go to board meetings and try to change the things with which they don't agree.
When I was in high school in the early 80s, I went in one day with a fake nose ring. My teacher sent me to the office and I was made to take it off. I called mom, very upset. Guess what, she said that there are always going to be expectations and many of them I may not like. "Now take that ring out and get your butt back to class". I did and it didn't kill me. It actually "taught" me something. WOW
K

[Kevin]

Great! we would rather have the kid look like a "skinhead" than to let him have his "rayhawk"! We are on the verge of economic collapse, and some middle school kid's haircut gets this much attention?! Shame on the administrators at this school.

[Allan Miles]

To Zach, Kevin and Jennifer. This is from Grandpa Al. You all know how straight laced a person I am. However the actions of that school principal are ridiculous. He must be a complete introvert. I am proud of Zach for displaying support for what he holds in high esteem. Atta boy Zach. Will talk to you soon. Love Grandpa Al

[JB]

This further entrenches the fact that this is the weakest generation in American history.

[the bob]

ooooooh he goes to my school lincoln!!!!

[MD]

1.) Don't assume that most teachers have a problem with this. Teachers don't make dress code rules.

2.) This is ridiculous. What's next? No fat kids in class because there fat rolls are distracting for the kids sitting behind them? If his mohawk isn't tall enough to block the view of the board from behind then BFD!

[MD]

Oops...
No fat kids in class because THEIR fat rolls are distracting for the kids sitting behind them? If his mohawk isn't tall enough to block the view of the board from behind then BFD!

[Russell J. Gorman III]

I was the student in Rhode Island that was thrown out of school at Saint Raphael Academy and had a long stressful court battle that lasted throughout my whole high school career. I had a mullet per say and it was neat, tidy, in a pony-tail, brushed, etc. this hair-do had been apart of me since I was 4 years old and became kind of an identity that I associated with. I was told to cut my hair because it was a health hazard and was a distraction to my peers who were paying good money for their education. This is BS I was an honors student, had many friends, played basketball and averaged 26.8 points per game my freshmen year, etc. my point is that schools think they are congress and have the right to pass any law they see fit, however unreasonable it may be. I agree with one person who wrote that this is because schools are too big and the administration should get to know you on a personal basis. My school had a problem with my hair but when I went to church they still gave me the eucharist, and accepted my fathers money as well as mine (he had same hair as I) without judging me! The problem with this world is that their our too many administrative officials in schools where their job title gets to their heads and they think they are GOD! they feel they can do whatever they feel or see fit, and say its for the good of the majority. I tried the discrimination thing and it got shot down a rule was adopted that students may not wear their hair no longer than the bottom of their shirt collar. But none-the-less I cut my hair went back my senior year, and graduated next to a colored boy (no prejudice here) who had his corn-roes well past his shirt collar but nothing was done to him because he could cry discrimination! This is utter BS, so I leave you all with this, the world and its so called school administration are all communist bastards, and the catholic schools are nothing but bigamist ( most have non catholic teachers and admin.! I have short hair and will never wear my hair long again because its not worth the BS anymore. I am now on my way to being a member of the RI State Police, so I say hang in their kid and wear your hair proud because you are not doing it to make a fool of yourself, you are doing it because of the principle of the matter (cheering on your rays)! good luck and fight it kid! I set the road for you! look up my case for whoever wants to research it on google (Russell J. Gorman vs. Saint Raphael Academy) thanks for reading...

[Russell J. Gorman III]

to the woman who said kids have to follow rules and rules are rules! your an adult and your at work your boss comes up to you and says that your too fat for the company, and you need to take off time to loss 30 pounds so when you have meetings with a big corporation they will be better prone to doing the deal b/c you are a pretty and average sized woman now...so lets get this straight, you would just go home right b/c rules are rules...no you would go home become anorexic and sue the balls off your work! so stick the rules are rules up yours!

[Russell J. Gorman III]

to the woman who speaks of conforming to the rules, if i was the father of that son i would send you a big piece of apple pie for your mouth, so you can sit on your butt and teach your children how to lay down and kiss butt. his son will make something of himself b/c his father obviously taught him to stand up for his rights in america because today prisoners have more rights than even you lady. think before you speak!

[bobby]

he goes to my school in agriscience class and passes out folders.

[Russell J. Gorman III]

to the woman who speaks of conforming to the rules, if i was the father of that son i would send you a big piece of apple pie for your mouth, so you can sit on your butt and teach your children how to lay down and kiss butt. his son will make something of himself b/c his father obviously taught him to stand up for his rights in america because today prisoners have more rights than even you lady. think before you speak!

[Aaron]

I think that other comments made stating that there are larger problems to worry about are correct, but this simple problem being addressed is also right. If it is not addressed, we are teaching kids it's ok to break or bend the rules when it suits a purpose. This is where the larger problems evolve from.

[Cassandra]

First of all Way To Go Rays!!! I just have one question... shouldn't the schools down here be more worried about there slumping education rates rahter than a fanatical haircut? Seriously, I'm from Indiana and 65% graduation is something to be ashamed of. The high school I graduated from had a 98.9% graduation rate. I am absolutely disgusted by the education down here. Some things need to change.

[C]

I have had a mohawk for the last 2 weeks and I am in highschool nobody has said anything to me. I think the school officials should take I class poll to learn how much the other students could care less about the other kid having a mohawk. Its definately not distracting.