Teacher 'reassigned' after viral TikTok of five girls braiding his hair in class draws criticism

A Maryland teacher has been 'reassigned' after a video he posted of female middle schoolers braiding his hair drew criticism.

Marquise White of Prince George's Schools is not allowed back in the classrooms while his TikTok post, which has been watched 7.3 million times, is investigated.

White says there is 'nothing weird' about the video, in which five middle school girls remove his braids as he sits back and eats a satsuma.

Some viewers say the scene is 'innocent' and 'harmless,' but critics say it is 'too intimate' and that he should lose his job.

Marquise White says there is 'nothing weird' about the hair braiding because students saw him as a 'big brother' 

School rules say nothing about makeovers in classrooms.

But they do assert that staff must respect students' boundaries, behave appropriately, and be careful not to record videos of schoolchildren.

A school spokesman told DailyMail.com that the teacher has been 'reassigned out of the classroom pending the outcome of the investigation.'

White, a science teacher at Maya Angelou French Immersion school in Hillcrest Heights, outside Washington DC, has 774,000 followers on the platform.

He regularly posts videos about education and his strong connection with students.

He refers to them as his 'besties' and posts footage of playing darts and other classroom fun.

He livestreamed the unbraiding on May 3 and posted a TikTok on May 5 with a narration about the ensuing controversy.

'There was quite a discourse in the chat, which had people saying this was inappropriate, and other people saying this was completely fine,' White says.

The students had all finished their schoolwork, so he ended class 10 minutes early, he said.

There was 'nothing weird' about the unbraiding, as the students have known him throughout his four years at the school, he said.

They treat him as a 'big brother or father figure,' he added.

White is a science teacher at Maya Angelou French Immersion school in Hillcrest Heights, outside Washington, DC

White is seen eating a satsuma and holding an iguana during the hair unbraiding

'If I was a female teacher, those people wouldn't be in the comments saying "Oh, this is weird",' he said.

'To me, it's literally just hair. It doesn't have to be weird. Some people have never had cool teachers, and it shows.'

In the four-and-a-half-minute video, a group of four or five students works diligently on White's hair, using combs to untangle the braids.

Meanwhile, the teacher sits back in his chair, works on his laptop, eats fruit, and at one point holds an iguana.

Most of the online comments were supportive of White.

But critics say he has crossed a line with his students, that physical contact was not appropriate, and that lesson time was for learning, not hairdressing.

One commentator said it was 'too personal.'

'Always remain professional at the work place,' wrote another.

'This a boundary that you don't cross.'

The case comes amid growing concerns about what takes place in America's classrooms.

Parents, students, and teachers must balance everything from appropriate classroom conduct to the use of cell phones and social media in a time of deep political divisions and strong opinions.