A third-grader at the Paragon Charter Academy in Jackson, MI, was not able to have her school picture taken like the rest of her classmates.

The school told 8-year-old Marian Scott to return to class because her red braids violated school code. 

Her parents were never informed by the school. They found out when their daughter came home crying and saying she felt singled out when she wasn’t allowed to have her picture taken, reports WILX News10. 

“It’s upsetting you know,” Marian’s father, Doug Scott, tearfully told New 10.

“All of this is uncalled for, they didn’t even call us,” he said. “Marian didn’t leave the house, go on the street and get this done on her own, no - she’s 8 years old, we did this ourselves in our own home and there’s no way I felt like this would happen.” 

Still, the Jackson County School is defending its actions because the Academy’s handbook states that students’ hair color must be natural tones to get their photo taken, News 10 reports. 

“If they would reached out to us and say come get her...she’s got a hair issue, we need you to change it, that’s not allowed - I would have been fine with why this happened but they didn’t reach out to us,” Scott said. “They let her stay in school… so if she’s not a disruption to the class, then why is she a disruption to the picture?”

While the handbook clearly states the rules, it does not include what course of action is taken if a student violates it. 

The school’s principal, Ben Kriesch, told News 10 that students with a hair color or style violation are given a week or so to get it corrected, which is why Marian was allowed to remain in class. 

On Sunday (October 5), the school reported they sent out a recorded message to everyone to reiterate the dress code policy ahead of picture day. 

Scott said he never received it and added, “Had I seen the email, I probably would have told Marian’s mother to not do it, but I guess I think it’s good that this happened because now people are going to get the opportunity to see what is really going on.”