Boys denied school enrollment because of long hair
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Two boys whose families say they follow a traditional Italian faith
that bans cutting hair before the age of 13 have been barred
admittance to government schools because of their short
ponytails.

from - http://www.star-telegram.com/news/doc/1047/1:STATE54/1:STATE540118101.html

Boys denied school enrollment because of long
hair

By Susan Parrott
Associated Press

DALLAS -- Two East Texas boys whose religious beliefs
forbid hair-cutting until age 13 have been barred from
attending a public school because their hair is too
long.

Parents David and Korey Tuttle of Spring Hill said their
religion, called Stregheria, is a form of Italian
witchcraft which prevents hair-cutting until the boys
reach 13.

At that point, 8-year-old Justin and 10-year-old David
can cut their hair as part of a belief that they put
away childish pursuits and take on adult
responsibilities. The boys have 4- and 5-inch long
ponytails.

However, the policy at Spring Hill school district, which
they tried to transfer to from Hallsville, forbids boys'
hair from touching the collar.

The Tuttles could not prove their objection to the hair
policy is based on a religious belief because the oath
is recorded in a secret family diary that cannot be
shown to outsiders, Korey Tuttle said Thursday.

"Written proof does not exist in our religion," she said,
adding she has sent a letter about the school's policy
to the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties
Union.

Korey Tuttle said she will home school her two sons in
the meantime.

Spring Hill superintendent Mike Crossland did not
immediately return phone calls placed by The
Associated Press on Thursday.

Crossland told the Longview News-Journal that he had
called the Tuttle family to confirm the boys were being
home-schooled. He said the hair policy was not
discussed by administrators or school board members
after the boys were turned away.

Tuttle said her sons would rather be in public school.
"They don't understand what the big deal is," she said.

Will Harrell, executive director of the state ACLU, said
he did not know of the case but said the family could
have grounds for a lawsuit.

"That is within their protected right to religious
freedom," he said.

Two federal district courts in Texas have ruled against
school systems in similar cases, Harrell said.

In both cases, Harrell said the courts ruled that a
student has to show only that the belief is rooted in
religion and sincerely held beliefs, and that the school
dress code "has a coercive effect which operated to
prevent free exercise of those religious beliefs."

In October 1997, the state Supreme Court ruled in an
unrelated case that schools have the right to suspend
male students who won't get a haircut.

The decision reversed an appeals court ruling that said
the Bastrop Independent School District violated the
law in 1990 when it suspended Zachariah Toungate,
who had a 7-inch ponytail in the third grade. Toungate
did not claim religion as a reason for his long hair.

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On the Net:

American Civil Liberties Union, Texas affiliate:
www.aclutx.org