Below is my written response to the school's authority (sent on early February 2009) based on the kid's mom letter/discussion on an alopecia forum.
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5th February 2009
Our Ref. No.: aasc/asia/oletter/01FEB09-01
Mrs. A.,
UNITED STATES
Mrs. A.,
Hello. It is brought to my attention (from a letter written by Sharon Lesakowski- attached for our reference) that a student has quit your school due to the school authority’s refusal to allow him to wear a head covering even though he is diagnosed with alopecia areata (Hairloss due to a medical condition).
The excuse given by the school authority is almost absurd, laughable and mostly unprofessional as per the context given by Mr. Wiley, Assistant Superintendent on a return phone call to Sharon Lesakowski that Jonathan’s way of dealing with his affliction (wearing a bandana) was not acceptable.
This may not be a perfect analogy but it is good enough to reflect a medically illiterate faux pas. It provides an impression that as if the school will penalize a student for flashing gang signs where as the student is actually deaf and communicating in sign language. In this case, it is a student being penalized for promoting gang image where as the student is actually suffering alopecia and requires a head covering to protect his scalp. I believe that you are aware or at least read about alopecia areata. Even though alopecia areata is not a life-threatening or infectious disease itself, covering the hairless area especially the scalp is more than just a psychological comfort to the alopecia patient. Technically, Jonathan’s option of wearing a bandana has physiological reasons behind it. The physiological aspects, a bandana:
1. Keep the head warm during winter.
2. Keep the head (skin) from over exposed with UV during summer.
3. Keep the sweat from going into the eyes due to the loss of eyebrows and eyelashes.
As long as the attire does not offend others in the school, a bandana (with no offensive symbols or design) is not a violation a dress code or district policy given a medically certified condition as what Jonathan has. The school’s policy in Jonathan’s case (his rights) is itself a violation of the United States Constitution’s Bills of Right. In addition, the school’s policy discriminate alopecia patients (in general) of the right to protect their scalp with a bandana. About 2% of the human population and up to 5 million peoples in the
As an education institution, the school has failed to provide a comfortable environment where knowledge is to be imparted without partiality and favour, in this case to Jonathan (for wearing a bandana to protect his head). As an alopecia patient myself, I felt insulted and discriminated by the excuse given by the school authority. Equating bandana wearing in general to promote gang image itself is an unacceptable reason and an insult to community of alopecia patients and patients suffering hair loss due to secondary effect (like hormonal problems, burnt victims, cancer patients).
Personally, I hope that the school authority and responsible personnel to provide a full public apology to Jonathan and his family, nothing short of a personal apology and also issue a public apology via local media. I strongly believe that being in the education profession, one should be courageous enough to admit and apologize for the mistake done whether by moral obligation or work ethics.
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