"Jesus had long hair. Why can't my son?"

A 6th grade boy in the small town of Itasca, TX, about 40 miles south of Fort Worth and just north of Hillsboro TX off I-35, was ordered out of class and into in-school suspension on the very first day of school because his hair is considered too long.

The Itasca Middle School handbook outlines student conduct and behavior including a dress code which details length of hair for both boys and girls.   Girls are allowed to have hair of any length; however, boys are not allowed to have hair longer than shoulder length. 

12 year old Kenneth Frails was in trouble from day one because his straight blondish-brown locks easily extend several inches past his shoulders.  But this wasn't the first time he was in trouble for having long hair.  Last school year, when Kenneth's hair grew long enough to break school rules, he was placed in in-school suspension.  He did not get it cut shorter, so he remained in suspension for the remainder of the school year - approximately 9 weeks.

In an interview with Dallas-Fort Worth TV station CBS 11, Kenneth's mother, Marsha Wisnoski, tells why Kenneth has not had his hair cut:  "He's my son, and I want to teach him to stand up for what he believes in ... I'm mad about it because they're taking his rights away from him."

Marsha went so far as start a petition to get the school district to change it's rule.  She also made multiple signs and placed them in her front yard on Main street for passer-bys to see.  One of them, written with multi-colored markers on white poster board, raised the question:  "JESUS Had Long Hair.  WHY Can't MY SON??"

According to CBS 11, the school district at this point says it won't bend; therefore, Kenneth's mother is considering whether or not she will take legal action by hiring an attorney to stop the discrimination.

MY THOUGHTS on the matter

When I was in high school, I remember letting my hair grow long my senior year.  It was not a rebellious move, it was simply the style at the time.  By the time I graduated, my hair was probably shoulder length.  It was also wavy/curly.  Other guys had longer hair.  I don't remember anyone getting in trouble for long hair, or short hair, or big hair, or weird hair.  As long as you weren't causing trouble in class, all was well.

As a life-long Christian, Jesus was always a role model for me.   Although no one knows exactly what he looked like, throughout the past two thousand years Jesus has typically been portrayed as having shoulder-length hair and a beard.  In general, he was probably a pretty hairy guy.  I couldn't wait until I was older and could grow my hair long and sport a full beard.  The hair came easy, the beard ... not so much.   (crazy genetics)

I don't know if Kenneth and his mother are Christians, but as Christians we are supposed to be subject to the rules and laws of the land under which we live.  We do not glorify God by breaking rules unless those rules are in opposition to the word of God.   We obey God's laws first, man's laws second.  

The Bible says it is a shame for a man to have long hair and a woman to have short hair; however, Kenneth is a boy, and "long" is a relative term.  Kenneth's hair is not nearly as long as some girls whose hair reaches their waist, but according to the school handbook, it is too long, and he needs to get it cut.  Then he can rejoin his classmates and continue learning with all the other children.

I agree.  Yes Kenneth and his mom should stand up for what they believe in, but Kenneth should also follow the school rules. They are there for a reason.  If you don't like them, try to change them, but not by breaking them.  There are a lot of issues worth fighting for in this world, but dare I say that long hair on boys is way down on the list of worth-while causes.

What say you, gentle reader?