Body piercing in schools

[Lace Neil Singer]

Also, schools tend to ban everything rather than just singling out one type of body mod, cuz otherwise people could complain that they're being picked on. It's a lot easier to have a blanket ban on all body mods.

If you go to school, you are a child. You are being taught more than just educational subjects; you are being taught about following rules and restrictions. There are always going to be things in life that you can't do, or that you are going to be judged by. Maybe not fair, but life isn't fair. Take the damn nose piercing out and either leave, or stfu.

[MadMike]

a guy loaded with tats and piercings or someone well groomed and treats their body as more than just a canvas.

Yeah, I suppose that's how a lot of customers think, and it's a shame they worry more about trivial things, like how someone wears their hair, than about more important things like how they do their job. I've seen some idiots at my job, and putting them in a suit doesn't make them a better work. It just makes them a dressed-up idiot.

Maybe in another generation or two, people won't be so closed-minded.

[Amanita]

^I can only hope. I've got no problem with dress codes saying long hair must be tied back or put up- at my job, I have to tie mine back, and in others it might need to be contained for safety or hygeine reasons.

But why the hate for having long hair in the first place, especially when it's gender-biased? Are girls then forbidden from having short or "masculine" styles? How does hair length affect one's ability to learn? IMHO, Sexist and outdated rules like that have no business in the school system.

[HYHYBT]

They can put things in the dress code all they like, but IIRC, if the student can prove that they are a member of a religion then the school can't really do much about it. The only allowances they are for really, are religious jewellery and clothing such as headscarves for Muslims, kippah/yarmulke for Jewish folk and so forth.

They *can*. But that, by itself, is not a legitimate reason for doing so.

If you go to school, you are a child. You are being taught more than just educational subjects; you are being taught about following rules and restrictions. There are always going to be things in life that you can't do, or that you are going to be judged by. Maybe not fair, but life isn't fair. Take the damn nose piercing out and either leave, or stfu.

That's no excuse for having extra rules just to have them.

[Greenday]

Maybe in another generation or two, people won't be so closed-minded.

LOL Oh you. False hope is so adorable.

[Rageaholic]

If you go to school, you are a child. You are being taught more than just educational subjects; you are being taught about following rules and restrictions. There are always going to be things in life that you can't do, or that you are going to be judged by. Maybe not fair, but life isn't fair. Take the damn nose piercing out and either leave, or stfu.

I've always found this reasoning amusing. It's basically justifying pointless rules and restrictions by the presense of other pointless rules and restrictions. How about just doing away with pointless rules and restrictions?

Yeah, I suppose that's how a lot of customers think, and it's a shame they worry more about trivial things, like how someone wears their hair, than about more important things like how they do their job. I've seen some idiots at my job, and putting them in a suit doesn't make them a better work. It just makes them a dressed-up idiot.

Maybe in another generation or two, people won't be so closed-minded.

This times 100. I hate how people are so judgmental about stupid shit like how you dress. I've raved about this before on here, but when you look outside the box, it's stupid to think that what people wear has anything to do with how they will work. It's why job interviews suck the big one.

[Amanita]

The thing with having pointless rules and restrictions just for the sake of teaching kids about rules is that it can backfire. Kids aren't stupid. Sooner or later they begin to question rules and restrictions. Kids do want rules and limits (even though they might not admit it), but at the same time, they want the rules they are given to be fair, and to make sense to a reasonable degree. Arbitrary rules restricting hair length or piercings, which are based on moral judgements rather than legitimate safety concerns are going to come across as BS.

When kids are given too many restrictions and rules simply for the sake of having rules, than I believe that is counterproductive- it can lead to the attitude that rules in general are stupid and unfair, so why should they be respected?

[Nyoibo]

They're called tramp stamps for a reason; the tattoos look incredibly trashy.

This pisses me off no end, it used to have a real spiritual meaning but it's been co-opetd by the unlerned and unwashed masses and stripped of its meaning.

When you work a job where you have to build clientele, pitch projects, teach, give presentations, it matters a whole lot how you look. Who am I going to take more seriously: a guy loaded with tats and piercings or someone well groomed and treats their body as more than just a canvas.

The guy who is articulate, hard working and knowledgable about his field.

[daleduke17]

Arbitrary rules restricting hair length or piercings, which are based on moral judgements rather than legitimate safety concerns are going to come across as BS.

They are not arbitrary rules. Piercings can lead to injuries during physical education classes as one bit of a safety concern. Also, they can distract the students because they'll be more concerned about Tina piercing her nose than learning. Fights can also start from the piercing (the pierced being insulted then striking back). So, it is easier to say "no piercings except one set in the ears".

Again, don't like it? Deal with it. There's more important things to worry about than the school saying no to wearing a piece of metal in your nose, lip or eyebrow.

[blas87]

Actually Lace, I think my tramp stamp is embarrassing if anyone I don't know very well sees it. I make sure to always wear a long enough shirt.

[Nyoibo]

They are not arbitrary rules. Piercings can lead to injuries during physical education classes as one bit of a safety concern. Also, they can distract the students because they'll be more concerned about Tina piercing her nose than learning. Fights can also start from the piercing (the pierced being insulted then striking back). So, it is easier to say "no piercings except one set in the ears".

Then you say "no piercings at all", not "no piercings except those we don't mind"

[lordlundar]

The guy who is articulate, hard working and knowledgable about his field.

And you're going to know this when you're just meeting said person for the first time how?

Therein lies the trouble. First impressions do mean a lot in a profession which requires meetings, and usually this person is going to be the major, if not the sole representative of the company. At first sight, if I see my representative looking like a member of a motorcycle gang or a prostitute, at the very least, I'm going to think that the company who sent them is feeling that I'm not worth the time and/or effort to put a serious effort in. Remember, when you're talking with a client/customer, they're not seeing you, they're seeing the company.

Yes, being professional is a big deal, but that encompasses how you carry yourself in all manners, not just a few. You're not just representing yourself, you're representing your company in a deal, so if you don't care about your appearance, how does your client/customer know you care about the work you're doing?

[blas87]

This is probably weird, as I am notorious for being so, but I always judge hair stylists by how they look.

My cousin owns her own salon, and she has piercings everywhere on her face, generally has a scowl that looks like a rough bitch and not very approachable. She also is very overweight (that isn't the issue) but is in extreme denial and always wears clothes that are more suited for a person several sizes smaller. I would never want someone who looks like her doing my hair.

I don't judge hair stylists by weird hair colors, because I have had them before, but if they don't look natural (as in a human lightning rod on their face) or friendly or like they know what they are doing, no way no how.

[KnitShoni]

They are not arbitrary rules. Piercings can lead to injuries during physical education classes as one bit of a safety concern. Also, they can distract the students because they'll be more concerned about Tina piercing her nose than learning. Fights can also start from the piercing (the pierced being insulted then striking back). So, it is easier to say "no piercings except one set in the ears".

Again, don't like it? Deal with it. There's more important things to worry about than the school saying no to wearing a piece of metal in your nose, lip or eyebrow.

If they're going to ban piercings due to a safety concern, they can't allow some and ban others. Earrings can cause injury just as well as any other piercing. There's also the issue of the double standard that usually accompanies allowing only earrings: They're usually only allowed for girls. As for fights, if people banned everything from school that could potentially cause a fight, there would be no school.

[Amanita]

^Or the kids would look like those child-soldiers from "Dark Angel", wearing regulation shaved haircuts, hospital gowns or shapeless grey sweatsuits, and plain flip flops or sneakers, no individuality allowed.

If the "no piercings" rule is based on safety, then say so! And ear piercings should also be disallowed. My martial arts instructor used to insist that earrings come out during class too- he had seen even tiny, discrete hoops and studs ripped out when somebody's hand or hair got caught. And females are just as vulnerable to that kind of injury, so why bring gender into it by allowing ear piercings for girls but not boys? As far as being distracting goes, ear piercings on guys have not been all that shocking since at least the 80's- Boy George, anyone?