A southwest Florida counselor stirred up controversy after he picked up a pair of hair clippers and shaved a student’s head in school, according to affiliate NBC 2.
School officials at Harns Marsh Middle said that 11-year-old student Danny Valdes' haircut was too distracting and gang-related. The student was placed into in-school suspension.
Valdes’ head was designed by his stepfather, who owns a barbershop, for a Miami Heat game that he attended. His head was designed with the Miami Heat logo, Miami skyline and 305 writing.
"I wanted to get my hair like that to show how proud I am of my Heat," Valdes told NBC 2.
Valdes attended the Miami Heat game during his winter break but kept the haircut when he returned to school last week.
The assistant principal then called the boy's stepfather, Arnaldo Fernadez, to notify him.
"I told her when he gets home from school I'll cut his hair and I'll make it toward their regulations," Fernandez said.
A school counselor then shaved the student’s hair with a pair of hair clippers so he could return to class, saying his stepfather said it was OK.
The 11-year-old student agreed to the haircut so he wouldn't miss class, but his stepfather said he never gave the school permission.
The school district released a statement on Friday saying:
"While the school counselor followed the wishes of the student and instructions of the student's stepfather that were provided over the phone in the presence of several witnesses, the district acknowledges the action taken by personnel were not appropriate."
The boy’s mother is upset at the situation and said she will be switching her son to a different school.
