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Charter schools appeal to some parents because of what is seen as a stricter, perhaps more exclusive environment in which their children can learn. One of the ways in which some schools seek to set themselves apart is by enforcing uniforms and dress codes. But when those uniform codes cross the line into religious discrimination, the label "charter" should not protect a school from the consequences of its actions
Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Massachusetts is under fire for writing up an eighth grader because she was wearing a hijab. It says a lot about the reason the student was written up when one notes the teacher who described the infraction called the headscarf worn by Muslim women a "jihab." (It is difficult to ignore the similarity between the word the teacher used and "jihad," which many Westerners interpret as meaning violence.)
In 2017, the same school had a policy of banning hair braid extensions. The parents of then-15-year-olds said their twin daughters, who are Black, were punished for wearing extensions while white students hadn't been punished for violations of hairstyle regulations. In that case, public outcry rightly forced the school to abandon the policy.
One has to wonder, would a Christian student -- for example, a practicing conservative Mennonite or even conservative, traditional Methodist among many examples -- be written up for wearing a head covering or veil to Mystic Valley Regional?
Alex Dan, the school's superintendent, said the situation was mishandled, and the school issued a statement:
"We understand how our handling of the situation came across as insensitive and look forward to using this moment as a learning opportunity to improve our policies and procedures."
Perhaps the school will, indeed, improve by rethinking the degree to which its policies --and enforcement of them -- negatively affects students. The damage is done not only to the student being punished, but to the other students who learn such discrimination via "policy" is acceptable. That is a lesson no child should learn.