Little Boy Suspended for Long Hair

[Racket_Man]

Okay, lookie here, you made me spew coffee TWICE within thirty seconds.

Which I guess means I need to start learning from my own screw ups.

Being in the SCA for thirty years, and also being an old metal head from the eighties, long hair does not even register as a gender identifying trait to me. That we are here in the year 2011 and people are still worrying about some fashion stigma from decades ago truly baffles me. Hair should be clean, and it should be free of creepy crawlies. Beyond that, I don't get why it would even occur to anyone to make a fuss over it.

Long hair on a man has been in and out of fashion for hundreds of years. Why is it such a big deal that people are hassling children about it?

I would bet that some of the schools admins are a little older in age and remember (with bad memories and long hair envy) all that "long haired hippy freak" stuff from the late 50's on into the 60's.

thoughout most of the 20th century the "proper hair" fashion for men has been on the short side.

I have hair down to the middle of my back (that took me 10 years now to grow) and I thank whatever diety that where I live long hair is NOT an issue. I think mostly because of the native population. now if I were still living in Chicago, I would be TOLD to cut it off and look "business professional". how is MY long hair (even if it is pulled back AND neat AND clean AND hairsprayed) different from females having their hair back in a bun or a ponytail (in the stereotypical librarian style)??

even with it pulled back it kinda looks like I am semi bald anyway.

why is it that women can have short "page boy" or (for you older folks) in a Dorthy Hammel style or short short (not buzz cut or sever butch) style and long hair on men is somehow not acceptable.

going a little further why is it acceptable for women to be able to wear what is (comptemparily) mens clothing in a business setting ie. dress pants, suit coat, a button down shirt with a cutisey "tie" ala Victor/Victoria but if a non Scotsman show up in a kilt or "dress/skirt" type outfit all hell breaks loose ala Phill Donahue?

[Gravekeeper]

I have hair down to the middle of my back (that took me 10 years now to grow) and I thank whatever diety that where I live long hair is NOT an issue. I think mostly because of the native population.

I had it down to my ass during my hippy new age phase. But thats not exactly a problem in multicultural pot smoking British Columbia. Though I can claim enough Cherokee to legally qualify if I really wanted. >.>

[Jester]

Also, Jesus had short hair historically. >.>

There is actually much debate about that point. But of course, there is no empirical evidence for either side.

[Gravekeeper]

There is actually much debate about that point. But of course, there is no empirical evidence for either side.

Not really. A man of his race and culture in his time period traditionally had short hair. Simple as that. Nothing in the Bible mentions him sticking out in any way ( In fact, there are passages mentioning how much he blends in with a crowd and how ordinary looking he is ).

Its more correct to say there's no empirical evidence for him specifically having long hair as opposed to looking like any other dude of the time. -.-

[RecoveringKinkoid]

He probably had short hair. And it was probably a bit on the kinky side.

I feel pretty confident he wasn't a pretty, blue eyed white man with long blond hair.

Which is most likely how some of these "OMG LONG HAIR ON A MAN! SATAN WALKS AMONG US!! WHAT'S NEXT, A WOMAN IN A PANTS SUIT?" crowd probably picture Him.

[anakhouri]

They could possibly get him on neatness; in the video, his hair did look a bit crazy

Because it's curly. Khan's hair is curly, and I can't get a brush through it; I comb it after his bath but if it is a humid day it looks kind of frizzy and nothing I can do will change that. I'm hardly going to put some kind of non-frizz chemical crap on the head of a child.

Personally I thought the kid's hair looked fine.

[MrsEclipse]

My only opinion on the long-hair dress code thing. If you have to go to a particular school, I don't think they should be able to dictate things that affect you outside of school. For example, making a boy cut his hair affects him all day, every day. Growing it out over vacation is possible but it won't get very long before he has to cut it again. As long as he takes care of it, it should be tidy and that should be enough. Make him comb it, tie it back, use conditioner, but don't make him cut it.

Very different from a uniform you don't like. Dorky pants affect you for eight hours a day, five days a week, not counting vacations. Hair doesn't have that privilege.

Yes, you shouldn't break a rule just because it's incredibly stupid. Generally I have no trouble believing in this rule. But when it comes to schools, I just can't give a fuck. They can suck in as many ways they want, but only until the last bell rings. I'm sorry if this is a little toxic. I grew up in a very toxic environment for twelve years at school. Lots of people still don't believe that schools can be abusive, and while making the kid cut his hair is so not abusive, there is no reason it should be any of the school's business how long it is. I can't give them this. I don't give schools an inch because I know they can take five hundred miles. Sometimes just to have taken five hundred miles. Or five hundred more.

DA DA-DA DA, DA DA-DA DA!

Yeah, I decided to end in song.

[Jester]

Its more correct to say there's no empirical evidence for him specifically having long hair as opposed to looking like any other dude of the time. -.-

Two facts remain.

First, that there isn't any empirical evidence as to what Jesus looked like, hair length or otherwise. And the only strong circumstantial evidence I've seen relating to his looks are that he was probably somewhat dark in his complexion and eye color, since he was unquestionably Jewish. In fact, it would probably piss a lot of Americans off to know that it is far more probable that he looked like an Arab than like a WASP. In other words, Bruce and Tom, he probably looked more like Hassan and Mohammed than like you.

Secondly, that most if not all of the other men on my list did, in fact, have long hair, with evidence to support it.

[HYHYBT]

The fact is that the mother knew there was a dress code and chose to violate it. Dress codes may not seem fair, but there it is.

If it's not fair, it needs to be fought. And just complaining to the principal/superintendent/school board has no effect on such things.

I know *somebody* will chime in with "life's not fair" at some point. People who use that as an excuse to make life less fair than it is or to shut up those who want to make it more fair should be shot.

Schools often get into the habit of making rules for no good reason whatsoever, but just to have them, and any excuse will do. Then people defend them with "life's not fair" and "you'll have to follow rules at work" and "sometimes rules don't make any sense." All of which are true, but none of them are legitimate reasons to make or to keep otherwise pointless rules.

Though actually there's been a lot less of that in this thread than when school dress codes and such usually come up.

[Nyoibo]

If what was quoted is to be believed the dress code mentioned nothing about hair length, only that it was to be neat and tidy, if that's the case she didn't violate the dress code, only someones interpretation of it.

[Jester]

I know *somebody* will chime in with "life's not fair" at some point. People who use that as an excuse to make life less fair than it is or to shut up those who want to make it more fair should be shot.

That's a bit extreme even for me!

I mean, yeah, SOME of those people probably should be shot, but not simply for the reason of disagreeing with your point on this or of using those reasons to disagree.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Protesting thru the correct channels is then what you have to do. Running to the media and pitching a bitch fit is not. It just makes me think this woman is immature and she's growing her kid's hair and piercing his ear just to make a point.

[Rageaholic]

Schools often get into the habit of making rules for no good reason whatsoever, but just to have them, and any excuse will do. Then people defend them with "life's not fair" and "you'll have to follow rules at work" and "sometimes rules don't make any sense." All of which are true, but none of them are legitimate reasons to make or to keep otherwise pointless rules.

Exactly. I don't know why those who break or protest such idiotic rules are villianized. If it's not hurting anyone, what business is it of anyone how lon g his hair is?

[MadMike]

Protesting thru the correct channels is then what you have to do. Running to the media and pitching a bitch fit is not.

Sometimes going thru the proper channels doesn't work. A lot of times, civil disobedience is the only way things get changed.

Yes, I know this is a school rule and not a law, but my point is the same.

[DrFaroohk]

The rule shouldn't have existed anyway. I firmly believe that we as an intelligent race are under no obligation to follow rules that are stupid. I know, disagree, but I really feel that way.

This also falls under my "Don't you have anything better to do?" category. Forget the rules, the interpretation, the motivation, intention, media, Jesus, and all that. You're a school administrator being paid by MY tax dollars. You're supposed to be teaching and administrating. Write on the chalkboard, grade papers, make sure the basketball team has fresh uniforms and make sure the gangs don't get in to deal their drugs.

If you seriously have time to go bitching about long hair and an earring? My friend you need a few weeks after school doing some extra homework. Since you have so much spare time why don't we fire a few of the secretaries and you can take on those jobs too. I think we'll assign you two classrooms as well. Plus you'll be the officiall assistant coach for the basketball team. You get to wash the uniforms and collect the balls after every game. Might as well let the janitor know you'll be doing his job too.

That way you can do the stuff that matters and forget this hair nonsense.