Should schools be able to influence hair style etc.?

[Joseph41]

In my school's official dress code or whatever (which I'm pretty sure was on the inside of our school diary somewhere), one of the stipulations was that hair style and colour "should not be in any way remarkable", or something equally absurd, and it always made me laugh.

Aside from the obvious issues of subjectivity, I always thought it was pretty silly. One guy had an ongoing battle with one of my teachers in Year 7 about the length of his hair - they kept trying to make him cut it despite the fact that it was much shorter than the majority of the girls'.

In light of the recent Trinity College saga, my question to you is: should schools be able to punish students for not adhering to various hair-related criteria? Or, in fact, for things like piercings, tattoos and the like?

🤔

[beatroot]

My goodness I find school hair codes to be the dumbest thing ever. How can styling one's hair affect your learning? It can't! This was a huge issue at my school and I found it absurd when the school cared more about our uniforms and hair rather than the terrible quality of education that we were getting. I know there's an independent school in New South Wales (always in the top 20) who don't care how short the skirts are or what hair colour the student chooses. The fact that students at that school are free whatever they want, comes to show that "proper" uniform/hair style and colour does not necessarily equal a great education. Why should the school dictate how you should present yourself? The rules for uniforms are already enough.

just a small rant about an incident that happened in 2017

I still remember this incident from the first day of school last year. I was sitting in the office at first aid, minding my own business, when out of nowhere an Asian student (yes, her race is relevant to the story) and the assistant principal are arguing. The reason why? The Asian student had dyed her hair blonde over the summer holidays. In our school diary, it states that natural hair dyes are fine. The assistant principal still insisted that she should dye her hair back to black because blonde wasn't a natural hair colour for Asians. I find this very hypocritical because I remember seeing girls in my homeroom later on that day, who've either dyed their blonde hair into brown and vice versa. They never got into trouble. Why? Because they were Caucasian. I'm still quite annoyed about this incident and the assistant principal never got investigated for this. It was racially motivated to specifically target the Asian student alone. Pathetic.

Honestly, as long as you've managed to comb your hair before school, do whatever you want with your hair. Dye it green. There shouldn't be any form of punishment at all for simply dyeing your hair or even having it down (huge problem within all girls schools).

[Sine]

I really don't know - I can see both sides here.

My highschool was pretty strict in terms of uniform. For instance, occasionaly year level coordinators would come into homeroom and check everyone's uniform which included checking the colour of our socks. There was restrictions on hair style/colour which was bright colours but "normal" colours were fine. As beatroot as outlined it obviously has no impact on learning which is arguably the most important part of schooling at least for the students. However I think it's important to see it from the schools point of view. They want to make sure everyone and the school is "presentable" to the public and potential students parents for future enrolments and also so they can be viewed as academic, prestigous, etc.

[Aaron]

If you go to a school, you have to abide by their rules. Having limits on hair style is perfectly acceptable in the same way that enforcing a uniform is.

Literally the option in the poll.

Uniform policies and other policy documents are publically available just about on every single school website (at least in the government system). If you don't agree or accept the school's ratified policy, don't enrol your child/ren there. It really is as simple as that.

We live in a world where parents are given freedom of choice (to an extent) as to what school to send their child to. Even in the government school, this is the case. If only every student went to their local school rather than nitpicking... 

I don't think most uniform policies are unreasonable, either.

Students need to remember that the reason uniform policies exist primarily relates to the image of the school. Students walk around the local community and are representative of that school. We must also remember that such rules exist in the workplace too.... which I feel that alot of this is preparing students for.

As a teacher I am sadly the devil when it comes to uniform.. if I see a student out of uniform (e.g. wrong shoes) I ask to see a uniform pass from the YLC.. if they don't have one, I ask them to go and get one. So personally I don't issue the consequences which helps my rapport with students but at the same time I make sure it gets resolved.

Or, in fact, for things like piercings, tattoos and the like?

Would you go to an interview for employment with piercings and tattoos clearly visible? I personally don't have a problem with them but the reality is this contributes to a negative image. The society we live in unfortunately.

[owidjaja]

I'm kinda seeing both sides, like Sine said.

Hair style doesn't really affect your learning but if the school policy says that there are restrictions, then might as well follow it. When a parent enrols a student into a school, the first few documents you sign are essentially legally binding documents that state that you will contribute to the community, follow the rules etc.- read your contracts people!!

I remember seeing that article about the teacher cutting the student's hair- that, I think is crossing the line with reinforcement. I don't know the school that much but considering how it sounds like a high-end grammar school, then they would obviously have stricter uniform policies.

But one thing that kinda annoyed me was the way my school treated one of the male students in my math class. He's Egyptian and for religious reasons, he has a cross tattoo on his wrist (from what I understand, that tattoo is what permits him to enter this local sacred space- kinda like a Church for his religion). Our previous principal and year coordinator was quite chill having his tattoo out but when we changed principals, he told my classmate off for having a tattoo and our year coordinator told him to cover it up with a bandage. He was full-on ranting about this in math because his tattoo is there for religious reasons and has to cover it up but for other students, they can wear a rosary or any other religious ornaments (since I go to a Catholic school).

[Joseph41]

Would you go to an interview for employment with piercings and tattoos clearly visible? I personally don't have a problem with them but the reality is this contributes to a negative image. The society we live in unfortunately.

Depends on the nature of the interview, but shouldn't we be encouraging individualism in students?

(FWIW I genuinely don't know where I stand on stuff like this. Despite OP, can see both sides.)

[S200]

I'm entirely with Aaron here.
The school's image is what the uniform is there for, and if it's in their policy, the have a right to uphold it.
There is enrolment to think of, after all.

Also, individualism can be expressed 100 different ways, through attitude, the company you keep etc. If you want your individualism visual, can't you go in for smaller things, rather than the massive statements like fluorescent and flamboyant hair.
Although, I don't actually know how many people pay attention to tie-knots and tie-pins...