Dec. 15, 1964 - Unmoved by the angry protests from the parents of a Westbrook High School student who was suspended for wearing Beatle‐like bangs, Connecticut state education authorities refused to order that the youth be reinstated with his present haircut.
Dr. William Sanders, State Education Commissioner, who temporarily laid aside more pressing matters to consider the suspension of 15‐year‐old Edward T. Kores Jr. (left), advised the Westbrook Superintendent to invoke Connecticut’s compulsory education law to get the youth back in school.
Edward, a freshman at Westbrook High School, was suspended Nov. 13 by School Superintendent Arnold D. Oliver for wearing his black hair in bangs, Beatle fashion. However, unlike the British singing group, he has his hair trimmed in the back and on the sides.
The student was warned by one of his teachers to comb his hair to one side or face suspension.
Edward, with the backing of his father, Edward Kores Sr., a carpenter, refused to change his haircut. His father denounced the subsequent suspension as an invasion of personal rights.
“I don’t believe my son is offending good taste,” he said. “And besides, nobody has ever called him a Beatle. He isn’t even a Beatle fan. He just likes to wear his hair in bangs.”
Westbrook’s Board of Education voted unanimously last Thursday to uphold the suspension. Yesterday Mr. and Mrs. Kores went to Hartford and met with Dr. Sanders after trying unsuccessfully to file a complaint with the State Commission on Civil Rights.
After hearing their case, Dr. Sanders pointed out that a state law required all children to attend school until the age of 16, which Edward will not reach until February. Today, a spokesman for the Commissioner said he has written the Westbrook School Superintendent, instructing him to seek the cooperation of Westbrook’s Town Counsel in enforcing the law against the family.
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