Boy, 4, may be further punished for hair

MESQUITE, Texas, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- A 4-year-old Texas boy whose long hair has been the subject of an ongoing dispute with the school district may be sent to in-school suspension, officials said.

Mesquite Independent School District officials said Taylor Pugh, 4, who has been learning solo in the library since the battle over his hair length began in November, may be forced to continue his pre-kindergarten education at Floyd Elementary School's in-school suspension next week if he continues to violate the dress code with hair that reaches past his shirt collar, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.

"There would be people checking on him from time to time, but it wouldn't be the same attention he has now," district spokeswoman Laura Jobe said of the difference between the boy's current library setup and in-school suspension.

The school board ruled Monday that Taylor could return to class if his hair was arranged into tight braids that did not extend past his collar. However, his parents said the boy's hair takes too long to braid and the stress causes his scalp to bleed.

The boy's parents said they are continuing to appeal to officials to return their son to class without having to cut his hair.