In Our Schools Today

Eighth-graders Win Challenge--English Teacher Loses His Hair

MS 577 teacher, Thomas MacDonald, and student, Max Feinberg, shave their heads - and raise awareness about breast cancer.             

Eighth graders at MS 577 won a challenge recently, and their English teacher lost his hair!

Students at the Brooklyn middle school recently participated in a fundraising drive to raise money to fight breast cancer. Their English teacher, Thomas MacDonald, told them if they met their goal, he'd shave his head. They did-and he did.

Students raised $2,700 by selling lollipops and hosting a movie day, among other activities.

"Losing my hair is nothing compared to what thousands of women go through every year," Macdonald said.

"It was for a good cause, to raise money for breast cancer, and very brave of Mr. Macdonald to want to shave his head," a student, Mariah Ragghoonanan, said. "He had nice hair."

So did her classmate, Max Feinberg, who decided to shave his head as well.

"It happened as a spur of the moment, impulse action," Feinberg said. "My hair was gone. It was a big price, but at least I had a choice. For people with cancer, the choice is a matter of life or death, not just hair or no hair."

Students donated the money to various cancer organizations.

"$2,700 is an expensive hair cut, but worth every penny," a student, Jakub Taraska, said.