Six-Year-Old Boy Grows Hair Long for Charity, Public School Suspends Him

A 6-year-old boy in San Antonio has been placed into in-school suspension to start the year. Why you ask? Vandalism, fighting, maybe bad language?

The first-grader has gotten into trouble for violating the Blanco Independent School District dress code because of his long hair and earring. Long hair that he planned to donate to children suffering from cancer.

KENS5 News reports that Gareth Shand was planning to grow his hair long to donate it to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

The district's parent-student handbook says boys cannot wear earrings. It also requires they have their hair neat, clean and well-groomed.

Gareth's mother Kandi Shand said she plans to challenge the school on the suspension, on the grounds that her son has the right to express himself freely.

In addition to having to deal with the district, Gareth says since moving to the area from South Carolina he has been picked on by other kids for his earring.

The San Antonio Blanco School District is not commenting on the issue.