I know you want to “win” but this is not a contest. I am suggesting that the choice of the haircut coupled with the violence is a marker that the child is not getting the right messages. If he was an “A” student or an engaged student, no matter what his achievement level, the haircut would be meaningless to me other than as a sign of who his role models might be.
I am more concerned that this child is getting the wrong message and his potential is being blighted. Many of my generations had a salutatory visit to the local lock up, à la scared straight. If the Mom wanted her child to succeed at school she would be an ally not an cheerleader.
Maybe MOM and dad(Beta) can now get him some tats, to go with the cut!