Yesterday in Columbia, as everyone was celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, an educator was sent home because of going “over the top” with his costume.

Michael Rice, an English teacher, coach and U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sergeant, reported to his mentoring job at Lower Richland High School wearing a green hat in the style of Shaft and light green “alien” sunglasses. Underneath the cap, he had dyed his short black hair green, also in honor of the holiday.

Rice was called to the principal’s office shortly after the first block of the day ended, local station WLTX-TV reported, and was told by the principal that the hair color was “over the top.”

Clearly, with that hat and the sunglasses, it was dyed hair that was over the top!

Rice explained that he wore his hair that color in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. (No one explained why anyone would need to explain something so obvious.)

Rice says he wanted to give fellow staff members and students “a good laugh.” But the principal wasn’t laughing, apparently having decided that Rice was not dressed professionally.

Seriously. This guy, who works as a 9th grade mentor, helping kids prepare for college, gets sent home over green hair.

When I was in school, we’d have loved such a “deviation” from the norm. It wouldn’t have disrupted anything; if anything, it would have made this particular teacher seem more hip, more cool, and worth more of our attention. Even if only for a day.

It certainly wouldn’t have caused a complete breakdown in the educational process. But learning that the principal actually sent this guy home because of the green hair sure would have.

I bet that’s all they’ve been talking about ever since. Maneuvers like this aren’t exactly what it takes to get South Carolina out of the cellar when it comes to state rankings of educational performance.