An Orlando private school is threatening to expel a student if she does not cut and shape her natural hair. Faith Christian Academy is a PreK-12th grade private school located in Orlando, Florida. 12-year-old Vanessa VanDyke has been a student at the school since 3rd grade. School administrators have given her one week to comply, or she will be dismissed from the school indefinitely.
According to the school’s dress code in the student handbook, “Hair must be a natural color and must not be a distraction.” Vanessa wears her hair in a fro, which has caused some students to tease her. “First of all, it’s puffy and I like it that way,” Vanessa says about her hairstyle. “I know people will tease me about it because it’s not straight. I don’t fit in.”
The school seems to be considering her hair a distraction after the family reported that Vanessa was being teased for her hair. Sabrina Kent, Vanessa’s mother, told WKMG,
“A distraction to one person is not a distraction to another. You can have a kid come in with pimples on his face. Are you going to call that a distraction?”
“There have been bullies in the school. There have been people teasing her about her hair, and it seems to me that they’re blaming her.”
School officials have not responded to questions surrounding the incident. Vanessa has decided she will keep her hair the way it is, saying, “I’m depressed about leaving my friends and people that I’ve known for a while, but I’d rather have that than the principals and administrators picking on me and saying that I should change my hair.”
kayela says
Proud of this little girl
Talia says
Way to go “Faith Christian Academy” taking sides with bullies. WWJD?
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ediemae says
This kind of thing pisses me off to no end. Let’s keep it real! This is not about her hair as much as it is about her having individuality as an African American young lady. With this world being full of so many issues including suicide of teens due to bullying, gun violence, domestic violence, child molestation – these ADULTS are concerned about “distracted hair wearing” PLEASE!! This young lady is showing her individuality through her hair – is she carrying a weapon, being disrespectful, threatening anyone with her actions? What the hell!!!! I’m so tired of the bull!!! She should not have to move out of her comfort zone at school because of teasing from these low self-esteem carrying folks. Wake up people!
Lolo says
I support all women who choose to maintain their natural or curly hair, however, in this instance and judging only from the pics above I would say her hair does not look neat. Vanessa can keep her natural hair but tie it up for school or choose a plethora of hairstyles that will allow her to keep her hair neat while maintaining the school code of conduct.
I had natural hair as a child (I was only allowed to relax my hair when I got into my teens) and my mother insisted that my hair should be in plats/braids or cornrows for school – I always felt it made a huge difference in my appearance.
MommieDearest says
It is not mentioned in this particular article, but in other reports the school dress code is quoted. It states that all students’ hair must be a natural color and cannot be worn in mohawks, rat tails, have shaved designs, etc.. or be a distraction.
Her hair fits within those guidelines. Her hair did not become a “distraction” until some kids started teasing her and she (rightfully) told the administration. Why they decided to blame the victim and require HER to change instead of dealing with the behavior of the bullies is total LAZINESS on their part and unacceptable.
Why should she have to put her hair in a bun or a ponytail or cornrows? Straight haired girls (naturally and NON-naturally) get to wear their hair loose and free, so why can’t she? I’m sure that straight-haired girls with hair down their backs who fling it all over the place (possibly striking people in the face with it) aren’t told that they have to “secure” their hair, so why should she? Why is the onus always on US to make OTHERS feel comfortable?
I’m proud of Vanessa for standing up to the real bullies- the school administration. They should be ashamed of themselves.
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