A Dauphin County mother, Stephanie Robles, is advocating for change following a dispute over hair length rules at St. Margaret Mary Catholic School in Penbrook, where her son previously attended kindergarten.
Robles, 34, stated that her 5-year-old son was prohibited from attending classes due to his hair length, which school officials deemed in violation of student conduct policies. Despite attempts to comply, including braiding his hair, Robles refused to cut it and withdrew him from the school shortly after the academic year began, citing her son’s distress about attending.
The school’s code of conduct specifies that boys’ hair must not exceed 2 inches in height, must be neatly groomed, and outlines prohibitions against certain styles, including blunt cuts and spiked hair. In light of the situation, Robles is now advocating for the CROWN Act, legislation aimed at preventing discrimination based on hair style or texture in Pennsylvania, believing it could have influenced the school’s decision.
The Diocese of Harrisburg responded, stating that Robles was informed of the hair policy well before the school year began. Additionally, following the incident, Penbrook police contacted Robles after concerns were raised about her social media posts. While no threats were found, police advised her to be cautious in her comments regarding the situation.
Robles expressed dissatisfaction with the school’s handling of the matter and called for changes in leadership. The diocese reiterated its commitment to taking all perceived threats seriously in the current climate of school safety concerns.
