“News” story about middle school administrator who is distracted by eighth grader’s hair here. It contains all the usual plot points: She is “a straight-A student,” which apparently is somehow supposed to make her more of a victim of repressive forces than she would have been if her academic record was below average. She feels that the school’s policy against “distracting” hair styles compromises her individuality. Her father, a local police chief, supports her against the forces of squareness because he does not feel that her hair is “out of control.” Someone, I’m guessing dear old dad, alerts television “reporters,” who compliantly film and broadcast the controversy, with plenty of close-ups of pretty, oppressed Kristen, who “didn’t expect the highlights to be so strong and … plans to tone it down as soon as possible.” Massive press coverage follows. Will media attention lead to a modeling or acting gig for the beautiful and photogenic but persecuted teen? Stay tuned. Or don’t. I pretty much won’t.
Update: My point here is I very much suspect the situation has been manipulated in a way that exploits the girl, and viewers like us. Many public schools have very stupid, repressive rules about appearance conformity. Courts usually support school admnistrators’ draconian rule enforcement because it”promotes discipline.”I don’t defend this, but it would certainly be well known to a police chief. I’d imagine that the dispute could have been resolved quickly and informally if there wasn’t an ulterior agenda at issue.
Update two: The school district apparently caved right away, as well they should have, and it sounds like Kristen missed less than a day of school. Of course dear old dad still had to trot her out to a local school board candidate’s forum, where the press was sure to be, so she could get still more media attention.
–Ann Bartow
