Haircut Policy Nets Lawsuit Print
Wednesday, April 06 2011

An Indiana junior high school's haircut policy has landed the school and its basketball coach in federal court.

Patrick and Melissa Hayden recently filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, arguing that the Greensburg Junior High basketball team's haircut policy should be declared unconstitutional after their 14-year-old son was kicked off the team last fall following his refusal to cut his hair in compliance with the team rules. Team rules require players' hair to be above their eyebrows, collars and ears.  The Haydens contend that the policy violates their son's rights and also discriminates by gender because it doesn't apply to female players. 
 
"What they're trying to do here is teach [their son] a life lesson, which simply is that you fight for what's right," Ron Frazier, the Haydens' attorney reportedly told news media sources. "This is classic David versus Goliath, and they want their son to understand that."
 
School district officials say the policy didn't violate the boy's rights, partly because extracurricular activities are considered a privilege, not a right. They say he wasn't denied an education or kicked out of school.
 
—Source:  wthr.com (Indianapolis)