Winlock Teacher Stands Up to Bullying by Letting Fourth-Grade Student Buzz Hair

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Some teachers will go to great lengths — or short cuts — for their students’ well being.

One of those teachers is Tori Nelson at Winlock Miller Elementary School, who let one of her students buzz her hair after he was bullied for his haircut.

On Monday, the student, fourth-grader Matthew Finney, sat outside Nelson’s classroom and was visibly upset. He refused to come in or take his hat off. He eventually told his teacher that another student had laughed at him because of a bald spot that was visible after a weekend haircut.

School policy forbids wearing hats, so Nelson tried to get him to remove it and come inside the classroom to learn. First, she offered to let him take a few minutes to regroup and join the class. He didn’t want to do that. Next, she asked if he wanted to go home and take the rest of the day to regroup.

Matthew wasn’t interested in doing that either.

“So I said, ‘Well, what if I let you cut my hair? … And then if he makes fun of you, he’s making fun of both of us,’” Nelson said.

Matthew was surprised and unsure if his teacher was serious.

She told him if he took his hat off and came into the class, he could cut her hair after lunch.



The fourth-grader made it through the morning. During lunch, Nelson’s regular hairdresser and fellow school staff member went home to get her clippers.

After recess, both fourth grade classes gathered to watch as Matthew cut his teacher’s hair.

“It was a pretty fun moment for all of us,” Nelson said, noting that Matthew, who is normally pretty shy and reserved, was like a “rockstar” afterward.

Matthew confronted his bully after cutting Nelson’s hair and told him if he makes fun of him for his hair, he’s making fun of Miss Nelson, too.

It’s not the first time the teacher has helped her students stand up to bullies in creative ways. She said another student was once being teased for wearing the same outfit multiple days in a row, so she wore the same clothes for about a week and a half.

“If a kid needs something that’s going to make their day better, then who am I to deny them that?” she said.

The Winlock School District’s motto is “Be the Difference.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” she said.