Conformity is undervalued, at least in the Godley Independent School District (Home of the Wildcats!).  Via Popehat, 12-year-old Chris McGregor learned this lesson when he was banned from the classroom for being, well, different.

But on the first day of class, school officials confronted him. The dress code requires boys’ hair to be above the shoulders.

“We try to be fair,” said Godley ISD Superintendent Paul Smithson. “However, there are standards in life, and Godley ISD’s chosen these standards for the dress.”

Chris has long hair, like the Brazilian soccer players he hopes to join someday.  It’s not that the Superintendent Paul Smithson suffers from hair envy, but that he’s concerned for Chris’ welfare. 

“We try to be fair,” said Godley ISD Superintendent Paul Smithson. “However, there are standards in life, and Godley ISD’s chosen these standards for the dress.”

No word on boxers versus briefs as yet, always a controversial issue in the gym locker room and on prom night.  But the hair question isn’t a matter of arbitrary rules, but one of school safety.  And as Superintendent Smithson is well aware, it’s his responsibility to make sure that no student is harmed under his watch.

But Smithson said the hair rule protects students and reflects community standards. “There’s a reason in Texas they’re called ‘independent’ school districts,” he explained. “Bullying’s a big thing, and we want to make sure everyone’s dressed appropriately, someone doesn’t bring attention to themselves so that someone says something to them, and all of a sudden we have a problem.”

Demonstrating why he was chosen to be the Big Guy at Godley, Smithson’s got his finger on the pulse of pre-teen bullying: It’s the victims asking for it.  Bringing attention to oneself is like begging for a good whupping, Texas style.  Smithson isn’t about to allow one of those trouble-making victims to cause a bullying problem in his district.

What’s particularly curious is that someone who has reached the academic pinnacle of school district superintendent can publicly express a rationale based on the statement, “there’s a reason in Texas they’re called ‘independent school districts.”  Is there a reason in Texas they’re called “bullies”?  Is there a connection, any connection, between the celebration of independence and the elevation of conformity?  I could go on, but since it’s unlikely that Smithson will stop by to answer, it seems rather pointless.

As long as we’re on the subject of effectively addressing bullying, there’s one point that remains to be addressed.  Chris McGregor, being a mere 12 years of age, is required to attend school, though I note that it’s a good idea as well.  That said, he may well be subject to the Godley Independent School District version of “asking for it.” but it’s not like he’s got a lot of options.  Since the district has chosen to place the onus on the non-conformist, that long hair hippie freak, rather than on the bully, the only choice is for Chris to cut his hair, grow twelve inches and be capable of beating the living crap out of any potential bully or suffer the indignity of in-school suspension.

Contrast these circumstances with the workplace bullying hand-wringers, who are adults, capable of choosing their place of employment and, provided they don’t have overly “refined” sensibilities, purportedly mature enough to withstand the withering scrutiny of their non-conformist choices.  Does it not give rise to some wonderment that there is a group dedicated to criminalizing people who hurt one’s feelings in the workplace while children are subject to official punishment by school administrators?  Will these emotionally overwrought crusaders stand up for Chris McGregor?

Update:  I just got off the phone with Chris’ father, who is looking for a lawyer to vindicate Chris’ right to a free appropriate public education and the right to express himself by his hairstyle without being left to pick between a haircut and in-school suspension, which means that he won’t be given an adequate education or allowed to participate as a normal middle schooler.  If there are any educational or civil rights lawyers in the Forth Worth area interested in taking on this case, please let me know and I’ll put you in touch with the McGregors.