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REAL LIFE

8-Year-Old Girl Was Stopped From Having School Picture Taken Because Of Her Red Hair And Her Parents Are Angry

Date November 25, 2019

Author By Charlyne Baker

The Paragon Charter Academy, established in 1998, presents itself as a tuition-free charter school that accepts Michigan students. However, they were linked to a major controversy when they made a choice to exempt a young student from picture day. This school story is worth consideration.

School story about red hair

Mother LaToya Scott shared a post on Facebook about how her eight-year-old daughter Marian was not allowed to take class pictures because of her red hair.

The mom added she was very "livid" because she had seen other children with colored hair in the school but she felt that because Marian was black, she was being discriminated against.

According to WILX, the principal of Paragon Charter Academy insisted that Marian's red extensions were against school policy. However, the girl's father Doug said that it was much more than that.

Doug added it was 'upsetting" that Marian didn't get her 3rd-grade photo taken because she was denied a school photo. He said:

All of this is uncalled for, they didn't even call us. Marian didn't leave the house, go on the street and get this done on her own, no - she's 8 years old, we did this ourselves in our own home and there's no way I felt like this would happen.

Doug also wondered why it was okay for Marian to continue to be in classes that day meanwhile the school felt that the girl's hair was a distraction for pictures. If she's not a disruption to the class, then why is she a disruption to the picture?

As Marian's family story continued to gain momentum online, many social media users agreed with the parents that the girl was treated unfairly.

School policy on hair

A spokesperson for Paragon Charter Academy Leah Nixon spoke with Today and explained that the school ensured they informed families about their policies beforehand to remind them about what would and wouldn't be allowed for picture day.

Doug and LaToya said they were unaware of this rule but according to Today, they hoped their daughter would get to take her own pictures at a later time.

One can easily understand why these parents were so upset about their child being left out of such a momentous occasion. Any protective parents will want to prevent such a scenario especially if they suspect there's a form of discrimination.

We hoped the girl had an opportunity to take her own photos later. What a controversial story! Who is right? Is it really against school policy? What do you think? Share your thoughts in comments.

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