News

Horseheads Hair Stand-Off Follow Up

Updated Monday, October 15, 2012

HORSEHEADS---(WENY) Last week we told you about Violet Bantin, a 5-year-old who was given a letter to take home from school saying the faint purple streak in her hair violated the Horseheads school code of conduct, and she needed to either cover it up or get rid of it.

This story received a tremendous response from people on both sides of the issue on our facebook page.

Some of those responses are what pushed Violet's mother, Crystal Adkison, to take further action.

Crystal Adkison started an online petition last week, urging the Horseheads school district to change it's hair color policy after her daughter was singled out at school.

Adkison has said that she feels the policy takes away a child's ability to freely express themselves.

She also said that the school went behind her back by sending Violet to the nurses office, and putting her hair up.

Adkison has since taken her daughter out of the Horseheads school district following comments posted to this story on the WENY facebook page.

Adkison claims, someone who works at Violet's school posted that Crystal needed to see a shrink for putting hair color in her daughter's hair.

"It's one thing to disagree with me and another to do it in such an unprofessional manner. And so, that's what made me not want to put her back in that school at all. So I did put her in a different district.", said Adkison.

There's been no response yet from the district other than the statement released last week reiterating the district's code of conduct.

Superintendent Ralph Marino is scheduled to hold a roundtable discussion tonight in Erin.

Adkison has said that she may attend.