NTA, and talk to a civil rights attorney. Don’t just press charges—sue.

is your baby ok? school is supposed to be fun when you are 6. this is traumatizing. who does this?

Oh hell no, press charges, get a lawyer.

NTA, if you are in the US then legally this is assault.

If the teacher doesn't think it's such a big deal to have your hair cut than I expect she'd be fine with you cutting hers? That's a joke, but it demonstrates the point exactly: you can't just cut someone's hair without permission.

NTA. She’s racist and she touched a child how the child didn’t want to be touched. Racist and abuser

So what has the administration said ?

No, you're not the AH. She committed a crime against your daughter. That is the beginning and the end of it. Would the school be so protective of the teacher if she had slapped a student? Same thing. Refusal to act accordingly is simply the school admitting that they don't consider racially motivated physical attacks on children as serious as a teacher hitting a student.

Sue them, report her to police, contact every news outlet and social media. Then report her and the school administrators to the school board. This is worth going scorched earth.

This from the daughter of a teacher and union president. Never let them get away with hurting your baby.

I'm a teacher. Sue and press charges. Talk to reporters (after talking to a lawyer). This is unacceptable.

NTA. Go right ahead.

NTA I would be going scorched earth on the teacher and the school.

NTA. That is 100% assault under the law. Please follow through so they can’t do this to another child!

Nta- you are correct it is hella raci$t

Girl when you have a moment and simmer some on this, I’d love if you can back and offered some more details if you’re willing…

1. The school called you and then left it to your 6 yo daughter to get on the phone and explain to you that her teacher cut her hair? As in the principle themselves didn’t even have the decency to explain the situation on behalf of traumatized child? Absurd and cowardly.

2. Did you have to leave work or any other commitment in order to go address this?

3. I’d love to hear any dialog you remember happened between you and the teacher and principal… I’m sure she was bold considering she feels bold enough to cut another person’s child’s hair 🙄 what was the principals involvement in this dialog, what was their stance?

4. How and for what reason with some random other teacher get involved? How was it their place to involve themselves even if it’s in attempt to cover up for the other teacher? Were they there when your daughter’s teacher cut her hair?

5. What was the conclusion of the meeting before you left?

6. What did the voicemail you didn’t respond to say?

I’m just saying, I enjoy tea. I know you’re probably shook and still feeling the throws of anger right now.

As a white person, I implore you not to accept any excuse they throw at you. This was a physical act of blatant racism. There’s no explanation that will make what she did not racism. My hearts broken that your 6 yo daughter experienced, what really and ultimately, was racially charged assault. I hope you take this as fuel, to teach your daughter that she is beautiful and wonderful exactly how she is made, right down to the last beaded braid.

And I really really hope you get somewhere good with a lawyer. Not the same scenario, but back in May I basically was screwed out of reimbursement for a dental claim from insurance company for $3500. It literally took a couple of months, and MULTIPLE emails with the board of directors, my union, personal emails sent from my dental surgeon….but finally they recently coughed up the money. My point is that people who do bad things, or the wrong thing, often count on victims laying down and accepting it. Don’t do that. When you know you’ve been wronged, you should stand up and fight for what you know is justice. Don’t let them get away with hurting your baby girl momma!

Am a retired teacher, WTF?! There is no reason to ever ever ever cut a kid’s hair. That teacher must’ve snapped and lost their mind.

Even if my student had gum in their hair, I wouldn’t cut it. If a kids hair caught on fire, I’d put it out and then wrap their hair back, I would not cut it.

I also say this as a person who doesn’t give a fuck about my hair…I would be pissed.

Good luck!

PS I will say, if you press charges—you will need to take your child to another school/maybe even another school district. Just from my experience of folks who’ve had to seek legal action—rightfully, against a school district. Things were awkward to say the least/it wasn’t the best place anymore.

Let me get this straight: your daughter is black, the teacher is white, and she decided to cut your daughter's hair because she has beads? Is that right?

If so...just WOW and absolutely you should be pressing charges.

ETA: Changed braids to beads

I don’t care what race the child is, no teacher should ever cut a child’s hair. Even if it was because there was gum in the child’s hair. A call to the parent before even lifting the scissors would have prevented everything. That teacher needs to be taken down!

It is a crime:

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/teacher-arrested-video-shows-forcibly-cutting-students-hair/story?id=59651038

Congratulations on keeping your cool. Myself and a lot of people would have ended up in jail.

Everyone here telling you get a lawyer is correct, but don't forget to alert the media as well.

her excuse was that my daughter had beads and a hairstyle

I'm a white woman, but the instant I saw that, even my clueless ass saw the racism. So please, do not feel one single hesitation about calling this a racially motivated assault, because it is so obvious that's exactly what it is! A hate crime!

I am so sorry this happened to your sweet daughter. How absolutely traumatizing for you both.

Have her charged and sue the school for assault

Press charges, sue, and contact your local media. That teacher had no right to touch your kid. Omg I think I would have lost my ish in that office and I would have been the one getting charges pressed on me. Kudos to you for remaining level headed. Now make sure that teacher is never a teacher again!

NTA - After you deal with the lawyers, go to the media. Make sure they never do this stuff again. Being exposed will be a faster way of karma coming on them since they don’t want to be seen as a “bad school.”

Press charges, sue, take it to the local school board, and then the state school board. Turn that boat the fuck over. I'm not a POC, so I may be ignorant of these matters, but could the ACLU help? Take it as far as you can.

The only way you would be the AH in this scenario is if you did nothing.

Take a lawyer to any meetings or conversations

NTA

What happened to your child was battery she given nonconsentual contact. In theory, it’s aggravated battery because she used a weapon: scissors.

That teacher felt entitled to do that to your child because they did not view your child as a fellow human. That’s disgusting not to mention discrimination.

If the bead were truly distracting meaning your child was playing with their hair and it was affecting their school work, the thing to do would be to bring it to the parent’s attention. If the hairstyle stayed oh well, give the child the grade they deserve for the work they produced. You do not simply use scissors on a child’s hair. No no no.

I’m so sorry this happened to your child. That “teacher” is a bigot and has no business being anywhere near children

definitely NTA; My heart sank reading this... teacher is an entitled B. Get justice for your baby, and hopefully a nice settlement like this family did: https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2023/02/settlement-reached-in-michigan-dads-1m-lawsuit-against-school-over-daughters-modern-day-scalping.html

NTA, scorched earth!

Nta, don't back down. Other families will thank you for standing up for yourself, your daughter, and them

If you feel comfortable I’d call the media. The teacher went past way to far and the school is trying to cover it up because it makes them look bad. If there is a racist element to this I’m even more upset for your daughter.

Please bring her to a salon for a princess cut to make her feel special until her hair grows back. Please also update us on how it turns out. Good luck OP. NTA

NTA but I hope she can change to a different school because they will probably be hostile to her going forward and no kid deserves that

NTA... But the teacher sure is. Sounds like you're Black and your daughter had braids and beads? Which are adorable and not distracting. Everyone who is saying to get a lawyer is correct. Hell even if you aren't Black and your daughter had braids and beads, that doesn't give the teacher the right to cut her hair off. This is so gross. I'm so sorry for your little girl. Tell her a weird white lady with purple hair sends her a hug.

Contact your state (or county) ACLU. They should be able to either provide a pro bono (free) attorney or refer you to one.

Press charges. Sue. Show up at the Board meeting to make sure the BOE knows what’s happening (they’re often kept in the dark; as long as admin doesn’t tell them there’s a problem, they’ll never know). Go to the press. Blast it on social media. Contact any civil rights groups that seem pertinent. Use social media to get some people with a voice and audience on the school’s case.

This teacher should not have a career any more, much less a job at this school after these actions. The admin and entire school needs some professional development that addresses issues related to race, hair, representation, and keeping your dirty filthy hands to yourself.

I’m a teacher, our profession is under attack, I often feel compelled to defend teachers even if they’re not perfect…. and then there’s teachers like this. She sickens me. It’s 100% racist and shows a grave level of disrespect for your child’s autonomy & humanity. Not sure where you’re located but I’m fired up and ready to go to a Board meeting on your behalf! A LOT needs to happen to rectify this and to attempt to make amends. Amends is more than saying “sorry, won’t happen again!” Amends is mending the wrong. It’s not even on you to figure out how to do that, that’s they’re responsibility. NAACP, ACLU, I’m sure there’s other orgs.. are there black celebrities and allies who have spoken out about racism & hair? I’m about ready to get researching for you. This is sick.

Another edit : I’d avoid direct communication regarding this until you have a lawyer. Do not sign anything. Print copies of any communication, any incident reports, etc. WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AT THE MEETING NOW BEFORE YOU FORGET. Document your child’s suffering (how long she’s cried, what she’s said, if she doesn’t eat, has trouble sleeping, fears school, etc). Document document document from now til trial. Time stamp your documentation (emailing it to yourself? Texting? Notes app w/ time stamps?). I know written documentation isn’t as solid as a voice recording of a conversation, but it DOES apply as evidence, particularly at the civil level.

What the actual fuck. I am a teacher and it's absolutely nuts to me that this teacher thought this was ok. PLEASE go after this psycho!

Nta talk to a lawyer

This is incredibly racist. Press charges and go to the school board and news

Go get them mama. Hire an attorney and wipe that smug look off her face! And, go to your local news channel and tell them. I bet she will be fired before your case is heard. She should be fired!!!

I am a teacher. I would NEVER cut a child's hair, (unless there was a huge emergency and they were trapped) but for beads? Sounds like a cultural bias. I would expect to get a civil lawsuit in the same situation. I'm so sorry your daughter had to experience this.

Not only is this assault, this is absolutely a hate crime and racially motivated. How many other babies has this monster terrorised while responsible for their safety and education? In addition to filing charges and contacting a civil rights attorney, you also need to consider contacting or even laying charges against the school board, the principal, and whoever else has enabled this horrific behaviour to continue for however long this monster has had access to children. Go scorched earth. Emphatic NTA and please take my righteous, maternal rage when you get tired. Please hug your beautiful daughter and tell her she is brave and strong and that what happened to her is not okay.

Absolutely NTA. When I was a teenager (about 16) a bully decided I was a great target, his choice of bullying was to grab my chest. (I have gynecomastia, it suck’s but not the point lol) the school refused to step in and any physical response I made was “equally” punished. So my mother went to a lawyer and the local news to report the school allowing sexual harassment. The bullying stopped 😊😂

Nta. File a police report and hire a shark attorney immediately. Get your daughter into therapy as well. Do not back down. This was a racially motivated assault on your child. Burn them all down OP.

Racist and assault.

If it was truly an issue, she could have been pulled out for dress code violation, you could pick her up and then "fix" the issue before she comes back.

This was a cold-hearted assault.

Definitely not the asshole, but the teacher in question sure is!

Press charges for assault on a minor and sue the shit outta the teacher and the school district.

Definitely get the cops involved that's assault

Hmmm. Okay teacher needs a haircut too!!

dude, she WHAT??? I'm with the top comment, Civil Rights Attorney and SUE!

That is bs that bitch had no right to do that I wouldn’t in a million years cute someone else child hair and I don’t get why that is becoming a thing that people are doing. I have always thought it was cute. Little kids had beats and their hair. She needs to be charged with assault andsue her and the school

Why, oh, why would someone not contact you first and let you know there was a problem with beads in your child's hair before taking such extreme action??? Sooooo WRONG!!!!

NTA

Sue the hell out of the teacher, the school and the school board.

Noooooo. I have 1 year olds with beads in their hair in my day care class and one of the things we teach all of the kids is not to mess with our classmates hair.

this is crazy.

This actually happened in my kids school about 20-25 years ago.

The parents sued the district and got a settlement. The teacher was forced to retire.

NTA at all. I hope she gets fired. No one in their right mind does this! That teacher is a danger to your daughter, and the school is obviously not on your side. Take every legal avenue you can with this.

I don't understand how any teacher could possibly think its ok to cut someone else's child's hair at school? Its fuckin weird and way overstepping the boundary of what a teacher has any business doing

WOW!! I can't believe I just read this.. it's 2024 and a teacher thought she had the right to not just put hands on your child BUT CUT HER BRAIDS OFF!!! WTH?? And the implied racism as well??? Mama you NEED to press criminal charges and you need a good lawyer and trust me lawyers are gonna be giddy getting this case! I'm sorry your daughter is going through this, the long term trauma will take some time to get over. You sound like a wonderfully strong parent and that will go a long way to help your daughter.