Parent criticizes school hair policy that she says ‘stinks of institutional racism’

Dress codes are standard at most schools, typically requiring students dress presentably if not professionally.

But Attica Scott is saying Butler Traditional High’s hair policy doesn’t just go too far, it “stinks of institutional racism.”

Scott’s daughter, an incoming sophomore, went to the school’s registration and was handed a copy of the policy, which forbids dreadlocks, cornrows (though the school wrote cornrolls), hair twists, braids and any styles that are “extreme, distracting or attention-getting.”

“I don’t understand why we’re going to focus on something like natural hair styles when we should be focused on education,” Scott told The Courier-Journal. “They specifically outlined hairstyles that are worn most by black kids.”

Scott, who is a Kentucky State House candidate, posted the policy on Twitter calling out the Jefferson County Public Schools, but that school district’s Twitter account pointed to Butler Traditional High for the specific policy.

Butler’s twitter account then encouraged parents with questions to call them about any dress code policy.

Most people reacted by tweeting at the account that the policy reeked of racism and made black girls especially feel unwelcome.

The school district issued a statement Thursday that Butler officials would hold a meeting Friday afternoon to discuss the policy, account to the Courier-Journal.

“We will provide guidance to our schools to ensure their policies are not obtrusive, do not conflict with board policy and most importantly do not infringe on the many cultures embraced across our school district,” the statement said.

Scott also tweeted a dress code policy from another school in the district that mentioned nothing about the prohibited hairstyles at Butler.

This story was originally published July 29, 2016 at 8:11 AM with the headline "Parent criticizes school hair policy that she says ‘stinks of institutional racism’."