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Can a male teacher in a high school setting have long hair? I'm currently going to school to become a high school social studies teacher. I'd like to have my long (I'd like it to look like Vince Neil from Motley Crue, or Lex Luger or Triple H, from pro wrestling). So my question is, have any of you had any male high school teachers with long hair, and do you think this would prevent me from becoming a teacher.
Rich.
I teach middle school science with long hair and a goatee. I was hired because I bust my a$$ at being the best possible teacher I can be, not because of how I look. To teach, you need to demonstrate that you are committed to kids and want to do everything to make a difference in their lives. Having long hair has been a positive---it makes me a bit unique among my colleagues and my students like it. But ultimately, it's all about the kids. Good luck, and congratulations on becoming a teacher!
One of my teachers in high school, a good friend of mine, btw, used to have long hair until about a year ago. He always wore it in a pony tail and, I swear, he looked like Steven Seagull (sp?). I never remember hearing any negative comments from any faculty about his hair, as he is a great instructor and has a really good way of handling students. Unfortunately, because of the crap going on in the education board, the school system here, and the school itself, he is constantly disgusted with the adults in school. When he cut his hair off, I was somewhat shocked (definitely surprised). When I asked him about it, he told me: "I just don't want people here to see the true me." When another faculty member mentioned it, he said "Yeah yeah, just changing the style."
So, from my personal high school experience, yes you can, as long as you keep it neat and are prepared to deal with ocassional talk-behind-the-back from various faculty. I don't think that you will get any negative comments or direct discrimination, unless you live somewhere in Kentucky or a state with greater prejudices than normal.
Demonstrate your skill or whatever is necessary to become a high school teacher. I think that is what gets you in, the looks don't matter. Just keep your hair neat. The longhair high school teacher that I had was pretty respected in my high school; although some administration disliked him for his frank views on the system, he was called upon whenever there was a kid that some teacher couldn't handle.
Rich,
I've been a teacher(high school) for five years with long (middle of the back) hair the whole time. I wear it back in a pony tail. Can you get a job, definately yes. Will it be a hassle, possibly.
The most overt comment made to me during my initial job hunt was
from a superintendant who told me "We're a conservative school, you
understand you'd be expected to wear a tie every day." Nothing too odd about that except that I was in a three piece suit
at the time...
It seems to get a mixed reaction from the students. I get "How
long did it take you to grow your hair that long?" "How long have you
had your hair like that?" "What does it look like down?" regularly and
"Get a haircut!" or "Why don't you get a haircut?" less often, but
with annoying consistency.
Bill
The latter are the usual anti-longhair slurs, of course, equivalent to the "n-word" against blacks, the "f-word" against gays, etc. Slurs are inappropriate in a school or employment setting, particularly if they are "annoying" and "constant". They are inappropriate not only as an offense against the one slurred, but against everyone in attendance, because they degrade the environment of the school or workplace.
You obviously have the upper hand here as a teacher, but an atmosphere where slurs against others are allowed can be devastating to students at risk. For such students' sake, consider that a word with the students who are uttering the slurs might be appropriate.
So that you do not get confused, I have separated the two Bills by e-mail addresses:
senator@sgi.net: : It seems to get a mixed reaction from the students. I get "How
senator@sgi.net: : long did it take you to grow your hair that long?" "How long have you
senator@sgi.net: : had your hair like that?" "What does it look like down?" regularly and
senator@sgi.net: : "Get a haircut!" or "Why don't you get a haircut?" less often, but
senator@sgi.net: : with annoying consistency.
bill@choisser.com: The latter are the usual anti-longhair slurs, of course, equivalent to the "n-word" against blacks, the "f-word" against gays, etc. Slurs are inappropriate in a school or employment setting, particularly if they are "annoying" and "constant". They are inappropriate not only as an offense against the one slurred, but against everyone in attendance, because they degrade the environment of the school or workplace.
bill@choisser.com: You obviously have the upper hand here as a teacher, but an atmosphere where slurs against others are allowed can be devastating to students at risk. For such students' sake, consider that a word with the students who are uttering the slurs might be appropriate.
Yes, sometimes it can get downright scary when someone says, "Get a haircut!", but I do stand-up to that by resisting the hair-cut request or demand!
It's hard to say really. I had a grade 12 computer science teacher with long hair, but then again he has been here for years and started the job with short hair.
I teach junior high Science. I was originally hired with short hair. It's just gradually grown long. I get comments from some students..."why don't you ever cut your hair?" Of course, I get my hair cut every 5 weeks, I just don't get much cut off. I also receive positive comments.
I've never had an administrator say anything.
I wanted long hair in college, but I knew it might affect my student teaching and interviewing. I waited until I had a few years under my belt. My advise to you is to get a job first, then grow it after you have established yourself as a competent teacher.
Some I know cut his hair to get a job (although not as a teacher). Three months on he still had no job - basically, his hair wasn't the problem. A good teacher will always be able to get a job.
Hi Rich.
Yes indeed a teacher can deffinitively have long hairs. The school system is relatively permisive about that. It isn't always easy and there will always be narow minded people that will react to that but this is marginal.
I am a school director in the collegial level and proudly wear a 12 inches long pony tail. Of course, my boss react to it in the begining but as long as I do a good job and that I am clean looking (always wear them in a thight pony tail), this is tolerate so far...
My students find that "cool" and there are many long hair guys amoung them.
If this is what you want, hold on. We have only one life to live and it is important to be who we feel to be.
Jean
Hey Jean...just curious...you say you are a teacher at the "collegial level"...do you mean college? If so, I can't say too much about your typing and spelling skills...example: what is a "thight" pony tail...just curious in california.
It seems clear to me that this person's primary language is not English. He may have perfect grammar and spelling in whatever language he teaches in. If I was writing in a language other than English it would look worse than that. Don't give the guy a hard time. People from all around the world use the internet, and we can't expect them all to have perfect English.
Thank you Al
You understood the situation - I am French speaking and am not familiar as much I would like with English. I am making big efforts on that aspect but encounter difficulties of course.
Yours
Jean