Florida

Child Sent Home From Florida Private School Due to Dreadlocks

What to Know

  • Clinton Stanley Sr. shot video of his son, Clinton Jr., being kept outside of A Book Christian Academy in Apopka on the first day of classes
  • The school handbook says that all boy’s hair must be “tapered cut, of the collar and ears” and specifically says there are to be no dreads.

The father of a young child is seeking answers after his son was sent home on the first day at an Orlando area private school because of his dreadlocked hair.

Clinton Stanley Sr. shot video of his son, Clinton Jr., being kept outside of A Book Christian Academy in Apopka on the first day of classes – posting it to Facebook and igniting a social media debate.

“We are living in the real world. Everybody's different, everybody looks different,” Stanley Sr. told NBC affiliate WESH-TV. “We are all Christ like, so if you are telling me that if Jesus comes to your door...his hair is long."

The school handbook says that all boy’s hair must be “tapered cut, of the collar and ears” and specifically says there are to be no dreads. The school’s director says since it’s a private school, they have that right.

“Short shorts on girls are popular, but they can't come here with them,” said John Book. “You can see my school it's probably 95% black - obviously I am not a racist.”

Book said the child will be welcomed back if he cuts his hair, but the family declined that offer.

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