7-Year-Old's Henna Tattoo a Big Problem for Mom

Another school lesson has ended poorly, this time in Texas. Houston's Ed White Elementary School held a Multicultural Day earlier this month, with the school explaining via email that the kids would learn about cultures in places ranging from Spain to Israel. The email, in parentheses, stated that the children "will be doing henna," a plant-based dye that's traditionally painted on the body in India, reports Click2Houston. Tammy Samour's husband read the email and didn't know what henna was. He does now. Tammy Samour, who didn't read the email, says she's outraged after her 7-year-old Leah came home from school with henna tattoos on her hands. "Somebody tattooed my daughter without my permission."

Samour is particularly incensed because the activity occurred the week before Christmas week. "We have family photos, opening presents, church, and she is going to be wearing that on her hands throughout the holiday." KHOU reports the Clear Creek Independent School District offered to Photoshop Leah's hands in those holiday photos, but that wasn't enough to appease Samour. "Exploring other cultures is a wonderful thing. But tattooing another culture's expressions on my daughter is not acceptable. It's upsetting to go through Christmas with another religion's celebratory symbolism all over my daughter's hands." The district says it regrets not spelling out what henna is in the email, and says it will "certainly will do a better job in the future to make sure that parents are informed." (More Texas stories.)