Students sent home from school for having pink hair for breast cancer awareness

by Sarah Rice (srice@wsbt.com)

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pink hair for breast cancer northwood

At least a dozen students at Northwood Middle School dyed strips of their hair pink for breast cancer awareness. The school sent them home and said they can't return until the pink is out of their hair. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Oct 9, 2008 at 3:59 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 9, 2008 at 5:59 PM EST

WAKARUSA — At least a dozen Northwood Middle School students were sent home Thursday after showing up to school with pink hair. But they say they did it to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The school doesn't allow colored hair because it's against school policy.

Parents say they were shocked, especially since breast cancer hits so close to home.

"I was told that I may not make it," Cindy Miller told WSBT News.

Seventeen years ago Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"They found out that due to the breast cancer it damaged my heart so I've also had a heart transplant six years ago. So that's why she thinks the cause is so important," Miller said.

To show support for breast cancer awareness, Miller's daughter Brooke and her friend Mercedes dyed strips of their hair pink. Many of their classmates did the same. But when they went to school they say support was the last thing they received.

"He told us we could not come back to school until the pink was out of our hair," said student Mercedes Lechlitner.

"I feel badly because truthfully I think that it's a great idea," said Northwood Middle School Principal George Roelandts.

But Roelandts says no matter the reason, colored hair is against school policy because it's disruptive.

"In school, when no one else has green, pink, or any other colored hair, any few students that show up with it, we'd like to make sure the focus is on the teacher in the front of the classroom," said Roelandts.

But parents like Miller disagree.

"To me it's rude. It's like a slam," Miller said. "I had breast cancer. What's wrong with my daughter standing up for me?"

"It's not like it's gang colors or things like that. It's a good cause and they're trying to be good kids and I want to encourage that," said Kris Lechlitner, Mercedes' mom.

"If that's truly the intent, I think there's a way we can do it within schools that would absolutely raise the awareness and still keep control in a building," said Roelandts.

The school nurse at Wakarusa Elementary School recently died from breast cancer. Students say they also put pink in their hair in memory of her.

Hair stylists went to Penn High School on Tuesday to put pink hair extension in students' hair. They raised more than $3,000 for breast cancer research.

On Thursday, stylists went to Marian High School. They'll also be at Mishawaka High School next Wednesday.

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