Jason Smith, principal of Stonybrook Intermediate and Middle School in Indianapolis, Indiana, understood that feeling. And that’s why one of his students, Anthony Moore, had no idea how to jump into action.
Moore wore a hat, which is against the school dress code. After the student spoke with the dean of the school for about 30 minutes, Smith was asked to come inside.
“I sat down next to him and asked, ‘What’s wrong? Why are you being slandered, why are you refusing to take off your hat? This is a similar request,’ Smith said.” And he explained that his parents wanted him to get a haircut. Was taken away and did not like the result. ”
Smith said he and Dean felt her hair was fine. “But you know he’s 13 years old [or] That said, a 14-year-old, and we know that social acceptance is more important than adult acceptance.
“I said to him, ‘Look, I’ve been cutting hair since your age.’ And I showed him pictures of my son’s haircuts, which I did, and some of them were cutting hair at a college lodge by me. And I said, ‘If I run home and get my clippers and fix your line, will you go back to class?’ “Smith said. “He hesitated but then he said yes.”
So in the snow, Smith went back home to get his clippers and brought him to his office fee to line up Moore’s head while his parents were asked for consent to touch his hair.
Maureen’s mom, Tawanda Johns, said her gestures were wonderful.
“He (Smith) handled it very well so he wouldn’t get in trouble at school.” “I’m glad he was able to handle this … without being suspended from school.”
“Being a black man myself and going through that culture and you know, I think girls are important at that age, who [means] Appearance may matter later. He was afraid he would laugh and we’re sure no one would notice, but he was looking through his lens, ”Smith said.
Smith made sure to check on Moore all day, and found out he was learning and not his hat after the touch-up.
“All behavior is communicative and when a student is struggling we need to ask ourselves what happened to this child instead of what is wrong with the child,” Smith said. “There is a need to try to meet the child and indeed, the future of urban education depends on the same question.”
Smith said that usually the result of not following the dress code would have been a suspension at school or taken by a parent, which Smith said would have prevented him from standing in front of the classroom teacher and teaching him. It deserves it, so it will work really well. ”
.
