The mother of a 7-year-old girl is not happy with her daughter’s school after the young girl was recently sent home with henna tattoos on her hands.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
The lesson was part of a school celebration of different cultures, including those of Spain, India, Israel, Australia, and the U.S. “Learning about culture is awesome, but I don’t want it tattooed on my daughter, it is not our culture,” Samour said. The school did alert parents to the agenda for Multicultural Day, including a note that students “will be doing henna,” but Samour says only her husband saw the email, and that neither of them knew what henna was.
A mother is upset that her daughter came home from school with these henna tattoos on her hands. (Photo: KPRC/FamilyPhotos/CNN)
Since researching the practice, she told KHOU she was unhappy to learn henna has ties to Hindu and Muslim faith. “It’s upsetting to go through Christmas with another religion’s celebratory symbolism all over my daughter’s hands,“ she said.
The timing, she said, is particularly upsetting. “We have family photos, opening presents, church, and she is going to be wearing that on her hands throughout the holiday,” she told KPRC. Though she has tried to remove the henna from her daughter, Samour says she hasn’t been able to scrub it off. The designs typically last anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks.
The school district has apologized to the family. “This is intended to celebrate diversity and not to be divisive,” Elaina Polsen, director of communications for Clear Creek Independent School District, told KHOU. “We certainly regret that we could have and we should have provided additional information as far as henna artwork.”
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
It is actually not just used for hindu faith. They apply it for weddings and other celebrations. My dd who is Christian and was a missionary in India had henna applied to her hands as well as her bridesmaids in her wedding to incorporate her and her husbands time serving in India and loved part of their culture. She would not have done that if it was just for a Hindu religious ceremony. It is also considered beautiful. I believe it started in poorer villiages where the bride couldn't afford jewelry so they used henna. Pakistan decorates their hands for weddings with henna as well and they are a muslim country.
the school should have done a better job in informing the parents what they were going to do and not applying henna without parents permission. I really don't blame the parents. Not everyone knows what henna is nor want it on their children.
-- Edited by Lindley on Tuesday 22nd of December 2015 11:28:28 AM
That should have required a full description and a consent form.
Absolutely.
But, I would not have been upset. I love henna and I love having my hands "tattooed". But there are people that have sever reactions to henna. And no, it doesn't come off with soap and water. It has to wear off. This was a bad decision...
__________________
America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
That should have required a full description and a consent form.
Absolutely.
But, I would not have been upset. I love henna and I love having my hands "tattooed". But there are people that have sever reactions to henna. And no, it doesn't come off with soap and water. It has to wear off. This was a bad decision...
I have allowed DD11 to get henna tattoos at a birthday party, but the mom called and asked me ahead of time. She was suprised I knew what it was b/c none of the other mothers knew, but I laughed at her and asked her if she had actually seen DD11. DD11 is a quarter Indian (INDIA Indian) and looks more Indian than any other member of the family. She got that gene in spades. She has the dark complexion, the long, black hair.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
Not everyone knows what henna is though. Not because they are stupid but because it is not part of the culture where they live. The parents weren't upset about the school teaching different cultures but that they applied it without their permission. Some kids have very sensitive skin and could get allergic reactions to certain things. The school should have sent home information about what they were planning to do so the parents can be more informed and a chance to decide if they wanted their child to have a henna tattoo.
It would not occur to me to be upset or to want permission for this. It is just pretty designs on her hands, I bet she loved it.
I have had it done, multiple times. It is as religiosity as you make it, which is not at all in my case.
It would not occur to me to be upset or to want permission for this. It is just pretty designs on her hands, I bet she loved it. I have had it done, multiple times. It is as religiosity as you make it, which is not at all in my case.
That dont wash off. Thats the problem. Would you care if someone dyed your kids hair? Same difference...
__________________
America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
It would not occur to me to be upset or to want permission for this. It is just pretty designs on her hands, I bet she loved it. I have had it done, multiple times. It is as religiosity as you make it, which is not at all in my case.
Some kids has sensitive skin. My two granddaughters do and it could break out. This is not something a school should do without parents permission.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
It would not occur to me to be upset or to want permission for this. It is just pretty designs on her hands, I bet she loved it. I have had it done, multiple times. It is as religiosity as you make it, which is not at all in my case.
For me, it has nothing to do with the cultural aspect. These are MINOR children. A school must have parental permission.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
Tattoos on your hands? Alrighty then.
That's where henna is commonly applied. How do people (in general) not know this?
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
Tattoos on your hands? Alrighty then.
That's where henna is commonly applied. How do people (in general) not know this?
flan
Most people who want to be employed aren't tattooing their hands. Just saying.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
Tattoos on your hands? Alrighty then.
That's where henna is commonly applied. How do people (in general) not know this?
flan
Most people who want to be employed aren't tattooing their hands. Just saying.
Depends on the profession. I could never work for such a Conservative employer.
If she had come home with an intricate face painting of a butterfly, would she have been upset?
Have they never been to a vacation spot? There are "henna" places all over the place.
I might not like it if it lasted for weeks and we were having pictures made.
But there was an email informing of the events. It's no one's fault but her own for not reading it.
This wouldn't bother me.
It wouldn't bother me to teach how to wear a sari, or a yomica or belly dance or any of the things done on a daily basis in other cultures.
It isn't just used as a religious thing.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
It would not occur to me to be upset or to want permission for this. It is just pretty designs on her hands, I bet she loved it. I have had it done, multiple times. It is as religiosity as you make it, which is not at all in my case.
Religious or not, cultural learning or not - the school should not be applying something to my child that won't wash off for WEEKS without my consent. And I actually love henna tattoos, but I'd be pretty pissed off it I was wanting to get pictures done and that was on there.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
If she had come home with an intricate face painting of a butterfly, would she have been upset?
Have they never been to a vacation spot? There are "henna" places all over the place.
I might not like it if it lasted for weeks and we were having pictures made.
But there was an email informing of the events. It's no one's fault but her own for not reading it.
This wouldn't bother me.
It wouldn't bother me to teach how to wear a sari, or a yomica or belly dance or any of the things done on a daily basis in other cultures.
It isn't just used as a religious thing.
Email does not equal permission.
No. It isnt.
But if she had read the email, she would have known and could have sent a note or told the teacher she did not want her daughter participating.
There are lots of things done as a class, should there be permission forms for everything?
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Good grief, do you know how many emails I get from the school, room moms, PTO, different teachers. It would be very easy to miss that. And doing something like that should require actual permission.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
It would not occur to me to be upset or to want permission for this. It is just pretty designs on her hands, I bet she loved it. I have had it done, multiple times. It is as religiosity as you make it, which is not at all in my case.
Religious or not, cultural learning or not - the school should not be applying something to my child that won't wash off for WEEKS without my consent. And I actually love henna tattoos, but I'd be pretty pissed off it I was wanting to get pictures done and that was on there.
That's my only problem with this.
However, it could circumvented by showing the process with real henna then using washable markers to apply designs to the kids.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
It would not occur to me to be upset or to want permission for this. It is just pretty designs on her hands, I bet she loved it. I have had it done, multiple times. It is as religiosity as you make it, which is not at all in my case.
Religious or not, cultural learning or not - the school should not be applying something to my child that won't wash off for WEEKS without my consent. And I actually love henna tattoos, but I'd be pretty pissed off it I was wanting to get pictures done and that was on there.
That's my only problem with this.
However, it could circumvented by showing the process with real henna then using washable markers to apply designs to the kids.
Yes, this would have worked.
__________________
LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
Tattoos on your hands? Alrighty then.
That's where henna is commonly applied. How do people (in general) not know this?
flan
Most people who want to be employed aren't tattooing their hands. Just saying.
Most people know that henna fades after a week or two.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
Tattoos on your hands? Alrighty then.
Yes. They're beautiful. I was a bridesmaid at a Hindu wedding.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
Tattoos on your hands? Alrighty then.
Yes. They're beautiful. I was a bridesmaid at a Hindu wedding.
You're not a child...
__________________
America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
I am also surprised there are people who don't know what henna is. I would have wanted to know ahead of time for the same reason as OP, so it doesn't coincide with family pictures or something. My girls both have sensitive skin, so I would have wanted to do some research on it first too, just to see what to expect.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Make sure you spell correctly or the spelling police will use it against you instead of a real argument...
No kidding.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
As part of last week’s Multicultural Day at Ed White Elementary School in Seabrook, Tex., students had henna, a traditional Indian body art often used as part of celebrations, applied to their hands. But when Tammy Samour picked her second-grader up after class last week, she wasn’t happy to see the decorations. “I asked what that was, and [my daughter] said, ‘Henna.’ And I said, 'What is henna?’” Samour told KPRC. “Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission.”
Seriously? What is henna? Just how ignorant is this mother?
I've had my hands tattooed with henna. It's intricate and beautiful.
Tattoos on your hands? Alrighty then.
That's where henna is commonly applied. How do people (in general) not know this?
flan
Most people who want to be employed aren't tattooing their hands. Just saying.
Most people know that henna fades after a week or two.