Student Who Wants Pink Hair Fights for Policy Change to High School Dress Code

Two weeks ago, Gulfport High School freshman Timothy Jenkins went to class with pink hair. One suspension later, he’s back to his natural black and is making national news as an advocate for students’s rights.

After “multiple warnings” to dye his hair back to a natural color, the Mississippi high school sent Jenkins home. Natural-colored hair is just one of 24 “dress code” policies in the student handbook.(Please, someone tell the principal how hot pink hair is right now.)

According to Timothy’s mother, it wasn’t until her son dyed his hair that the school bothered to enforce the rules. “As soon as he dyed his hair pink, it was like all of a sudden they started cracking down on all the kids,” said Sheryl Jenkins, according to WLOX.

Regardless of the real reason for the policy, Jenkins is taking action. He asked his fellow students how they felt about his hair and has collected more than 250 student signatures to change the anti-dye policy. “The majority of all students have told me my hair hasn’t been a distraction at all,” said Timothy.

The policy rears up an age-old debate: Is it the right of the parent or the school to determine dress code? The teen’s mother insists that if she allows her son to have pink hair, the school shouldn’t mind. “They’re reasoning for him having natural colored hair is to me an infringement on not only his rights, but my rights as a parent to decide for my child what’s best for them,” she said.

For now, the school is holding fast to its policy. The administration released a statement reminding students and parents how policies are generated: “The policies of the Gulfport School District are handled in an openly vetted process that includes business leaders, parents, students, and educators. Action Teams review the polices of the Gulfport School District annually and provide guidance for policies that govern our school district.”

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