15 months ago
MOUNTAIN GROVE (NBC) -- A twelve year old star student has been suspended from school for dying her hair pink in tribute to her deceased father.
Seventh grader Amelia Robbins has found herself back at home at the start of the school year due to her hair color, which she chose to honor her father, who died of cancer when she was six years old.
Robbins dyed her hair pink over the summer with her mother's permission. Which wasn't enough for school administrators, who warned her at the end of her six grade year. At the time, the middle schooler sported pink streaks.
When Robbins returned with her whole head dyed, administrators suspended her. "He said you're suspended until you can change your hair. I don't feel like I should have to, because i'm expressing myself as an individual. Because they constantly tell us be different, don't follow the crowd," Robbins said.
According to the school handbook, administrators have authority over potential distractions. Said Principal J.T. Hale: "We want it to be equal for everybody, nobody getting any more attention than anyone else and we just go on with the process of education."
But Robbins wants to get on with her education, too. "I really want to get back to school so I don't have to make up too much work" she said.
The family is speaking to an attorney, and weighing the option of getting a tutor until the issue is resolved.
Young Robbins believes it's worth fighting for. "I think he's probably really proud, because I'm fighting for something," she said.
NBC
