(Columbia) ? Some parents say a Richland One teacher was out of line when she told their daughter to take out her weave and accused her of breaking the dress code.
Elizabeth and Emanuel Ford took their 9-year-old daughter Shatiah to get a weave put in her hair as a way to build up her self-confidence, but they say a teacher at Satchel Ford Elementary School actually made their daughter feel worse when she accused the girl of wearing a wig; not once?but twice.
Like many kids will tell you, it?s not easy being a 4th grader?with school, homework, and trying to be accepted by other kids.
Shatiah Ford is no exception:
?I would have to say, some of the work we do in class [is the hardest part],? the sweet-faced 9-year-old said after school Thursday.
For Shatiah, feeling good about her appearance helps with all those pressures.
?I like having long hair, but it's just that, my hair is short. My real hair is short. And that's why I like having long hair on my head,? Shatiah said.
?She's very shy, she's timid,? echoed her mom Elizabeth.
Shatiah's hair had recently started to fall out due to a perm, so her parents allowed their daughter to get a weave?braided hair woven into her natural hair?over the weekend.
?When she got it, she was like, 'Oh! Look at me! I?ve got hair now!'? Elizabeth said.
But Elizabeth and her husband Emanuel say that joy and excitement turned into hurt after what Shatiah?s Social Studies teacher said to her after class.
?Said she didn't think it was appropriate for a 9-year-old to wear a wig to school,? Elizabeth said.
?I said, 'how is that inappropriate?' Matter of fact, it's not even a wig!?
The Fords say the teacher pulled their daughter aside outside of class and told her she was breaking the dress code. It happened Wednesday and Thursday.
?[The teacher] could have come to me, could have called me on the phone to ask me about the situation,? Elizabeth said with frustration.
Instead, the Fords heard about what happened from Shatiah, who phoned them from school on Thursday not knowing what to do about her hair. Her parents say her confidence has been let down.
?Umm-hmm,? said Shatiah, bashfully.
Richland One School District officials say wearing the weave actually does not break any rules. Mr. and Mrs. Ford were given an apology.
?Everybody's allowed to say 'I'm sorry.' But sometimes, 'I'm sorry' is not good enough,? said Emanuel.
What the Fords really want is for someone to apologize to their daughter.
?We trust the schools to help our kids out when they're away from home, and for a school system to focus solely on a child's appearance?? Emanuel said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Shatiah does get to keep her weave. School district officials admitted the teacher might have gone too far interpreting the dress code when she reprimanded the little girl. They say they will talk to the teacher about her actions.
2/23/2007 6:31:08 PM
