These written reprimands will go into the employees respective files. To achieve our mission of providing a world-class education to all MPPS students, we must continuously strive to improve and acknowledge when we have not lived up to our own high standards. Under the Fourteenth Amendment, courts frequently conclude that a students hairstyle is a form of free expression, or that policies in question violate a students rights to freedom of expression or equal protection. Librarian On Last Chance Agreement After Cutting Students Hai The librarian who cut Jurnee Hoffmeyers hair was reprimanded by the Board of Education, who agreed to place her on a last chance agreement, in which she would almost certainly be fired if she violates it again in the future. Regardless, their decisions and actions are unacceptable and show a major lack of judgement. The student was horrified and ran out of the classroom in tears. The investigation included interviews with district personnel, students and families, as well as a review of video and photos, including posts on social media, the district said. The district failed to properly train, monitor, direct, discipline, and supervise their employees, and knew or should have known that the employees would engage in the complained of behavior given the improper training, customs, procedures, and policies, and the lack of discipline that existed for employees, according to the lawsuit. The father of a 7-year-old Michigan girl whose hair was cut in school without her parents' consent has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the school district, a librarian But the district did not say who performed the independent investigation, and Laster said neither Jurnee nor her parents had been contacted by independent investigators. She was crying, Hoffmeyer said. "Jurnee had long, curly hair prior to it being cut off," the complaint states. Read more:Department of Civil Rights deeply concerned about Mount Pleasant girls haircut by school stafferMichigan school district says girl, 7, asked to have her hair cutMichigan girls haircut by school staffer modern-day scalping, says National Parents Union. She was afraid of getting in trouble for getting her hair cut., I asked what happened and said I thought I told you no child should ever cut your hair. She was afraid of getting in trouble for getting her hair cut. The key takeaways in both reviews are consistent. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. When asked, she said a classmate used scissors to chop her hair off on the bus., However, two days later, Jurnee arrived home with her hair on the other side cut as well and told her father that her teacher did it., Jimmy told at the time: She was crying. Hoffmeyer is working with the National Parents Union, a national network of parent organizations and activists that advocate to improve the quality of life for children. Two days later, Jurnee returned home from school in tears with all of her long curly hair cut down to within a couple of inches of her scalp. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. This may violate the students liberty rights because the school could be infringing on their right to free expression. Hoffmeyer is working with the National Parents Union, a national network of parent organizations and activists that advocate to improve the quality of life for children. In a statement released late Tuesday, District Superintendent Jennifer Verleger confirmed Hoffmeyers story, adding the childs teacher was aware of the library employees plan to cut the students hair. I got mad and hung up, said Hoffmeyer who is Black and white. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Legal Statement. "I've pretty much grown up with only white people, myself. 7-year-old Michigan girl whose hair was cut by a teacher, the Mount Pleasant Public Schools Board of Education said, Mom objects when 4-year-old son not allowed to wear braids at school, Many Ethnicities founder creates products for different hair types and textures. It alleges that the biracial girls constitutional rights were violated, racial discrimination, ethnic intimidation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and assault and battery. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). But it has nothing to do with White, Black, or Bi-racial. Jurnees mother is white. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days, Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Firefighter dies battling blaze in downtown Buffalo, mayor says, Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, feds say, 20,000 people may have been exposed to measles at Asbury University revival, Prosecution wraps its case at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, The Crown Act challenges hair discrimination, The Crown Act seeks to protect against hair discrimination. The haircutting was done without permission from the students parents or consulting with school administrators. Two days before the recent settlement conference, defense counsel filed a motion seeking the cases dismissal. There could be a few reasons why the teacher cut Jurnees hair. The district did not specify how long the agreement would last. According to Hoffmeyer, her library teacher, Ms. Moggs, assisted and/or agreed with another teachers assistant, Ms. Jacobs, who allegedly cut Jurnees hair with scissors. Th investigation found no racial bias, the school board said. She kept asking me what she could do to make it go away.. She said but dad, it was the teacher. The teacher cut her hair to even it out.. "I asked what happened and said, 'I thought I told you no child should ever cut your hair,'" Hoffmeyer said at the time. "After that teacher cut her hair, she was so embarrassed. As a result of the districts investigation, the employee who cut the students hair will be placed on a last chance agreement during which time any future violations will likely result in termination. Piper also wrote her clients were entitled to qualified immunity. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. A Michigan father has moved his 7-year-old biracial daughter from one school to another after the child's hair was cut on separate occasions by a classmate and a teacher. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. We will aggressively defend against these baseless allegations in court and will not allow this to distract us from our mission to provide every child a world-class education that prepares them for college and careers.. He added that he also received a call from the school district's superintendent about a week later offering to have "I'm sorry" cards mailed to the family but "got mad and hung up" on the call. Jurnee Hoffmeyer, 7, arrived home from a Michigan school last month with an unwanted haircut from her teacher, sparking outrage from her father and the community alike. ICE Limitations. The union has called on the school to issue a formal apology to the family "for violating their rights and cutting Jurnee's hair without parental advisement or consent" and "formal consequences to the educators and staff who decided to act without parental permission, guidance or consent.". The librarian who cut Jurnee Hoffmeyers hair was reprimanded by the Board of Education, who agreed to place her on a last chance agreement, in which she would almost certainly be fired if she violates it again in the future. According to the complaint4, Jurnees school has long hair regulations, but it is not clear what those regulations are; however, it is likely that the school has implemented a policy to prevent excessive hair growth. Pleasant Public Schools, we strive each day to ensure our students can learn and achieve in an inclusive, safe environment free from harassment, discrimination, bigotry or intolerance. This undated photo provided by Jimmy Hoffmeyer shows his daughter Jurnee Hoffmeyer, 7, after a classmate and a teacher cut her hair on separate occasions. Jurnee, seen here at age 7, is biracial. The incident occurred just after the boy returned home from school; his parents were made aware of it when he returned home. / MoneyWatch. September 17, 2021 / 6:05 PM Some private schools may have a dress code or code of conduct that includes stipulations about hair length for students, while others may not. Who did they talk to? Mr Hoffmeyer asked on Friday when the results of the investigation were announced. Most schools have a dress code that teachers are required to follow. After a fellow student cut her head off on the bus on March 24, she returned home with one side of her head cropped open. Oh, hell NO!! "All of this because her hair didn't look how they thought it should, wasn't done to their standards. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users She now attends another school. The district is located about 150 miles (241 kilometers) northwest of Detroit. She offered to have Im sorry cards mailed to Big Lew arrived at the boys house to get his mobile barber business working. Jurnees mother is white. Superintendent Verleger has also personally apologized to the family on behalf of the school district. All rights reserved (About Us). Mount Pleasant Public Schools full statement is below: At Mt. All rights reserved (About Us). The best degree for an elementary school teacher is a bachelors degree in elementary education. Both are being reviewed for further disciplinary actions in accordance without school policies and procedures.. That probe included conducting interviews and reviewing video footage and photographic evidence. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The teacher who cut it also is white, said Hoffmeyer who has two other daughters, ages 8 and 4. Hoffmeyer, who is Black, said in March that his daughter Jurnee arrived home from Ganiard Elementary in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, with much of the hair on one side of her head cut. WebMichigan school district says girl, 7, asked to have her hair cut. She brought in professional shears and special barrettes.Jurnees teacher was also aware of the library employees plan to cut the girls hair, Verleger wrote. The librarian who cut Jurnee Hoffmeyers hair was reprimanded by the Board of Education, who agreed to place her on a last chance agreement, in which she It alleges that the biracial girl's constitutional rights were violated, racial discrimination, ethnic intimidation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and assault and battery. About 4 percent of Mount Pleasants 25,000 residents are Black, according to the U.S. Census. He said he was told the school would talk to the parents of the classmate involved in the first haircut and that a note would be placed in the teacher's work file. After allegedly pressuring a student into getting a haircut, a California teacher was fired and charged with six misdemeanor counts of child cruelty. Jimmy Hoffmeyer, who is Black and white, said that in March his daughter Jurnee arrived home from Ganiard Elementary with much of the hair on one side of her head cut. Jimmy Hoffmeyer, who is Black and white, said in March that a classmate used scissors to cut one side of his daughter's hair. Our main purpose with the independent investigation has been to bring the facts to light, learn from this incident and make our district even stronger. First published on September 17, 2021 / 6:05 PM. Jennifer Gieszinger began teaching part-time at a Tulare County high school in August. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The school staffer who cut Jurnees hair is also white. Investigation Finds No Evidence Of Racial Bias In Jurnee The teacher has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is being investigated. As your board, we have made every effort to address this matter with the seriousness and care it deserves and with the transparency our community expects.. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. WRSX 91.3 Port Huron is off the air due to network issues. "She said she didn't have the authority to do anything," Hoffmeyer said in reference to a conversation he had with the Ganiard Elementary School principal. Other schools have drawn unwanted attention for policing the hairstyles of students of color. Jimmy Hoffmeyer, a father in Michigan, is suing the school district in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, because a school employee cut his daughter's hair. The bill would establish legal protections for Black people against discrimination due to hair color. In 2018, a New Jersey high school student wasforced to cut off his dreadlocksto compete in a wrestling match. Mr Hoffmeyer took his daughter to a barber, who gave her an asymmetric haircut to help even out her hair. Two other employees were aware of the incident but did not report it and have been officially reprimanded. Jurnee Hoffmeyer arrived home from Ganiard Elementary in Mount Pleasant with hair missing just before spring break, her father, Jimmy, said in April. A teacher in Michigan is accused of cutting off a students hair because of his biracial skin. District administrators also performed an internal review of the incident. Michigan school district confident facts will prevail in $1 million racial discrimination lawsuit in girls haircutting incident, Father of girl, 7, who had hair cut off by school staffer files $1 million lawsuit alleging racial discrimination, Even as local efforts increase, hair discrimination is still legal in Michigan, Department of Civil Rights deeply concerned about Mount Pleasant girls haircut by school staffer, Michigan school district says girl, 7, asked to have her hair cut, Michigan girls haircut by school staffer modern-day scalping, says National Parents Union. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court in Grand Rapids against Mount Pleasant Public Schools, MLive.com reported. Jurnee Hoffmeyer, 7, arrived home from a Michigan school last month with an unwanted haircut from her teacher, sparking outrage from her father and the After the haircutting incident, Hoffmeyer removed Jurnee from Ganiard and enrolled her in another school. She said she didnt have the authority to do anything, he added. A Michigan father has moved his 7-year-old biracial daughter from one school to another after the childs hair was cut on separate occasions by a classmate and a teacher. All three employees have apologized, the board said. Some feel that the teacher was justified in her actions, while others feel that she went too far. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The father of a 7-year-old Michigan girl whose hair was cut by a teacher without her parents' permission has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the school district, a librarian and a teacher's assistant. Mr Hoffmeyer is Black and white, and Jurnees mother is white. The barber arrived with his mobile barber shop to fix the boys hair. To achieve our mission of providing a world-class education to all MPPS students, we must continuously strive to improve and acknowledge when we have not lived up to our own high standards., Father of girl, 7, who had hair cut off by school staffer files $1 million lawsuit alleging racial discrimination, Even as local efforts increase, hair discrimination is still legal in Michigan, Department of Civil Rights deeply concerned about Mount Pleasant girls haircut by school staffer, Michigan school district says girl, 7, asked to have her hair cut, Michigan girls haircut by school staffer modern-day scalping, says National Parents Union. Hoffmeyer said the girl who cut Jurnees hair and the teacher who cut it are white. "We are confident that the facts will prevail given our district's appropriate and aggressive response to the incident and the findings of the third-party investigation that was conducted," Bond said in a statement. It is also New Jerseys preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. I know alot of yall want to kno more but this is all I can say at the moment but will update when I canjust want to keep ppl aware in the mean time. The barber trimmed Jurnees hair for free and said further work would be done to even out the hair once more grew in. With the investigation concluded, we can now move forward together as one MPPS family and community dedicated to helping all students achieve and succeed. However, there are no specific rules about teachers cutting students hair. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Hoffmeyer said he received a call from the districts superintendent about a week later after the schools spring break. Later, the schools principal told him the most that could happen to the library teacher was a note in her work file, Hoffmeyer said. The school district where a staff member cut the curly hair of a biracial 7-year-old student this spring said Friday that an independent, third-party investigation found no evidence the incident was motivated by racial bias.. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Hoffmeyer says the classmate and the teacher are white. This incident has caused a lot of uproar, with people on both sides of the issue. She offered to have Im sorry cards mailed to the family, he said. This degree will give you the knowledge and skills you need to be an effective elementary school teacher. Following the incident, Hoffmeyer is appealing for justice for his daughters hair cut at school. We are confident that the facts will prevail given our districts appropriate and aggressive response to the incident and the findings of the third-party investigation that was conducted, Bond said in a statement. 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