Eight-Year-Old Girl Denied School Photo Because Of Her Red Braids

An eight-year-old Michigan girl was brought to tears after she wasn't allowed to have her photograph taken on picture day because of her hairstyle. When Marion Scott showed up to school, she was excited to show off her red hair extensions that were put up in a braided bun for her school photo.

Unfortunately, her hairstyle violated a Paragon Charter Academy policy which bans students from coloring their hair and she was told she could not get her photograph taken. She was sent back to class and felt singled out by staff members at the school.

"It's upsetting you know," her father, Doug Scott, told WILX. "Marian didn't leave out the house, go down the street, and go get this done on her own. She's eight-years-old. We did this ourselves in our home, and there's no way I felt like this would happen."

Mr. Scott was angry because the school never contacted them about the issue.

"If they would have reached out to us and say come get her...she's got a hair issue, we need you to change it, that's not allowed - I would have been fine with why this happened, but they didn't reach out to us," said Scott. "They let her stay in school... so if she's not a disruption to the class, then why is she a disruption to the picture?"

The school's principal defended the decision and pointed to the dress code, which bans students from having "extreme hairstyles" and says their hair color must be "natural tones." He explained that Marion was allowed back in class because students who violate the dress code are given one week to fix the issue.

The Scotts removed the red extensions from Marion's hair and she returned to school with her natural black hair. Her family says they plan to get her picture taken in November.


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content