Principal Takes Boy For Unwanted Hair Cut Without Parent's Permission

[matcom]

<snip>

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A high school principal could be in trouble for taking one of his students to a barber shop -- without permission of the pupil's parents.

"Students should not be taken off of campus by any staff member without parental permission," said Rigo Chavez, district spokesman.

Rio Grande High School Principal Al Sanchez said he thought Fidel Maldonado Jr.'s hair style -- the number "505" and a Zia symbol shaved into the back of his head -- was a gang haircut. The Zia, a sun design on the state flag, can be traced to a symbol on a 19th century Zia Pueblo water jar. 505 is New Mexico's area code.

Sanchez said he thought he was doing Maldonado, 15, a favor by taking him to a barber instead of suspending him. "I said, 'Do you want to just go to the barber and cut it off?' He said, 'Yeah.' I said, 'Let's go,"' Sanchez said.

It was not clear if the hair style was connected to a gang.

Fidel Maldonado Sr. said the law was broken when the principal took his son off campus. He said he is considering legal action.

"For him to take my son and take him out of school without my consent, against his own will, is wrong," the elder Maldonado said.

http://www.wftv.com/education/10457498/detail.html

[BikeWriter]

1. He forgot to CYA! Shame on him.

[ZombieNixon]

2. "It was not clear if the hair style was connected to a gang."

:wtf: Umm...yeah, it's pretty clear. It's not. Having the state's area code as well as the *state symbol* (the Zia is not just the emblem on the flag, but a symbol for the state itself) is not gang-related. :eyes:

Having said that, I do think he's insane to have that shaved into his head. o.0