When Oak Ridge High School senior Jolani McCanless arrived for class Thursday morning, his spiky hair became a point of contention.

He sported a new mohawk haircut, clipped short with a stripe of longer hair from his forehead to his neck stretched out in points with hairspray.

While his new crest was admired by classmates, and even a couple of teachers, principal Paul Lynch was apparently not a fan of the new 'do, McCanless said.

"He told me I needed to put it down because it was a distraction to him," McCanless said.

The student washed the spikes out in the locker room, but he doesn't agree his hair distracts others from learning. McCanless sported a similar hairstyle in Orlando, Fla., where he lived before moving to Oak Ridge in December.

When contacted Tuesday, Lynch did not wish to comment.

Now left with a limper mohawk, McCanless is considering requesting help from the American Civil Liberties Union about what he believes was discrimination.

His parents are supportive.

"I raised him to believe that if he feels something is wrong to stand up for himself," said his mother, Mel McCanless.

"I wouldn't wear a mohawk, but it's his hair and he can wear it any way he likes," said his father, Charles McCanless.

Assistant superintendent Gerald Landewee said the district's policy regarding student appearance does not specifically address hairstyles, but administrators have leeway to determine whether a hairstyle draws too much attention.

"Basically, student dress that creates distractions is not permitted," Landewee said. "Of course, we know it's not possible to control or assess by written rule every possible attire or grooming issue, but we do have a stipulation in our handbook on reasonable judgment as it relates to the disruption of the educational process."

Cape Girardeau and Jackson schools have similar policies.

Landewee saw the spikes and agreed it was distracting.

"It didn't become an issue, though," Landewee said. "He said, 'OK,' and took care of it. We thought, 'That's great, we have someone who's willing to work with the situation and be mature enough to handle it.' It's refreshing when students will work with you."

Landewee said he was not aware of any suspensions in recent years based on hairstyles.

However, 2002 Oak Ridge graduate Mandy Bresnan said Lynch ordered her and a classmate to the in-school suspension room for a week when she dyed her hair bright red and the friend dyed hers orange.

"I was mad because there's nothing in the handbook about it," she said. "It's a bigger distraction to pull people out of class. It's not like they're sitting there screaming 'Look at my hair, it's different!'"

Bresnan said she was told if she wanted out of suspension, she must re-dye her hair a more natural color. She did.

The school's unwritten policy regarding hairstyles is not consistent, said Oak Ridge senior Shyenne Myers.

"I dyed my hair the same night and I wasn't asked to change it," she said. "I had black, black hair with reddish stripes and he never said a thing to me."

Her hair is now burgundy.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160