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Just got my B.A. I'd like to teach on a junior high level. My hair is a little past mid-back. Does anyone here know if teachers are required to cut their hair? Thanks
Hi Phil,
If you were in Germany, I'd say, no problem at all. From what I know about the US, that depends upon the region/county, the school (eg whether it's private or public), etc. If you are in a region where school teachers are sought after, you should be in luck. There are one or two experienced school teachers who post on this board regularly, they'll give you more in depth info.
Just a general recommendation: At the interview, I would NOT raise the "hair" subject AT ALL, they'll tell you if they have to. Instead, go through the internet site of a prospective school and check their "handbook", or "manual", or "regulations" for terms including "dress code", "grooming code", and "hair". You also might ask the secretary (not the principal) for a school handbook or school policy book after the interview (without telling what you're looking for).
I'm confident you'll find a school where your input is valued independently of your hair style. - What subjects will you teach, and what subject did you get your BA in? Do you speak foreign languages?
Good luck!
Hans-Uwe
Hi,
I plan to teach either History or English. I actually majored in Sociology. Should've majored in History now that I think back, but it's all good, I'll be going for my masters in that. Unfortunately I don't speak another language, except for a touch of Spanish. From what I understand though, in the catholic school system, all you need to teach is a B.A., which could be in anything, and 12 credits in Education. But supposedly they'll still let you teach without the 12 Education credits, as long as you're in the process of getting them. I've even been considering possibly teaching in Europe, I know European countries are always looking for English teachers. Hey lets face it, Europe also has a much better metal scene than the U.S., lol. I'm also trying to find another band.
Hi Phil,
the reason why I asked about language skills is that many bilingual schools in the US are private AND do not have hair codes. That would include many German-American and French-American schools. This kind of school requires teachers to be bilingual, though.
If you are planning to travel to Europe, shoot me an e-mail by clicking on my user name at the top of this post. - After a stay in Europe you probably get better chances to choose between the more interesting posts.
Good luck!
Hans-Uwe
I teach in Georgia and before that Alabama. Public schools have never said a word about my hair. I would not have been allowed to grow it out in the private school (Catholic) that I taught in for 12 years before that, and I am told that in the elite (expensive) private schools in Atlanta I would be required to cut my hair.
Public schools pay very well here, and we have some good ones, so I am just fine. What area do you live in or are you considering teaching in?
Robert
I plan on teaching here in NY, either on Long Island or the NYC area. I'll be applying to both public and catholic schools. I'm just worried about the catholic schools though. But from what I understand, teachers within the catholic school system are in greater demand as opposed to public schools, so, maybe they wouldn't give me a problem. I don't know how "conservative" the catholic schools are in NYC and Long Island.
Just a gut sense--I have relatives in NYC and Long Island, and having visited there enough over the years, I think you won't find this to be a problem. Be confident, and do not bring up your hair. You are not there to talk about your body parts. You are there to interview as a professional educator. Those are the topics worthy of conversation.
Confidence in yourself goes a long way. Let us know how it goes. Right now should be prime time for hiring teachers.
Robert
I have no idea, really. But one teacher and one substitute teacher at my high school have long hair kept in a ponytail. My district might just be lenient about that, though.
As long as it is a public school, I would say no. Private schools I can't speak for. I taught at the middle school and elementary school levels part time this past year and no one said a single word about my hair (or even my multiple facial piercings). Although rules may vary based on demographics, but I'm still confident that public schools won't mind since it's often hard to find good teachers these days. It's the quality of the teacher, not the appearance that matters. Keep in mind though, you'll still want to look presentable and professional, which is 100% possible with long hair. Comb it, keep it clean and neat, tie it back and you will not have a problem.
-Ardroth
One of the music teachers at my daughter's elementary school has long hair and a beard, and one of the other parents mistook me for him once. I've posted this before, but this question tends to repeat. The bottom line is that only private schools are likely to be a problem.
I've been teaching in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia for 24 years. During that time, I've had long hair quite a few times. No one in the administration has ever said anything about
it. I agree with the previous posters: In this day and time, we are in desperate need of quality teachers; consequently, most administrators are looking for competent, well groomed individuals for the job.
On a side note: Oddly, this past year when my hair was growing out and had passed my shoulder blades, a number of my ninth graders kept telling me to get a haircut.
At my junior school here in London, I remember seeing two of my male teachers with mid back length hair, tied in a ponytail
Things might have changed since I was in school (1986), but in the public system of Fairfax County, VA there was no restriction. I recall 3 longhaired teachers. One of them, however, cut his hair when the superintendant came to visit. The other two tended to be disliked by the administration and parents, but this might have been more due to the fact that they had "far out" hippie ideas. I very briefly had one as a teacher, and he did some funny things like have us play with potatos. I was sad to see him go because the replacement was a real jerk.
I think the other posters are right when they say your best chance is in the public schools though. Most private schools are either conservative religious or preparatory. The former is religiously biased against hair, and the latter wants to project a "corporate" image. You will find the occasional "progressive" or "alternative" private school though.
I'll tell you for sure in about a year and a half(!!!) as I'll be looking for a job in teaching, and my hair will have grown back by then to a good extent.
Good luck with it, and hold your ground!
Bragi
No idea really, it would depend on the school board. I haven't seen a male teacher with long hair around here. But I know that many metal musicians are teachers, like Lord Worm from Cryptopsy for example.
One of the teachers in my High-School dressed in sweats and barely groomed himself (at least it looked like that). He was one of the best math teachers, though.
As long as you don't wear any Death Metal T-shirts or do anything "crazy" like dye your hair or have a mohawk, you should be fine.
I teach in a public school. I had very short hair when I was hired. I didn't begin growing mine until I taught for 10 years and built a good reputation. I would not have interviewed as a new teacher with long hair.
In most states, I don't think a public school could make a teacher cut his hair, unless it is part of a dress code for students/teachers. You might have difficulty getting a second interview with it long, depending on who does the interviewing. (There are so many little things that can turn someone off to you during an interview...) I think I've heard that some public schools in Texas don't allow male students to have long hair.
You mentioned getting hired in Catholic schools. I went through 12 years of Catholic schooling. None of the schools I attended allowed male students to have long hair (the same would apply to male teachers). If you do get hired in a Catholic school, remember that they could change the dress code whenever they wanted.
If your hair presents a problem, then you might want to consider cutting it. Then regrow it down the road after you've built some positive teaching experience.
Good luck to you.
One of the issues I had in my teacher education program was that one of the "dispositions" upon which I was marked was "professional standard of appearance". This is an entirely subjective category. One of my professors convinced me that I would fail student teaching if I kept my hair waist-length. I ended up getting a trim to just below my shoulders. I let the stylist convince me to add layers. I told her I still wanted to be able to tie it back and she didn't listen. With the layers, I could not tie it back and ended up student teaching looking far more like a longhair than I did with a waist-length pony tail! I worked hard, dressed well, and in the end I got excellent evaluations, including "professional standard of appearance" from all of my cooperating teachers. The only appearance related feedback I got was from one assistant principal who didn't like my bushy beard!
I am now looking for a permanent middle or high school mathematics teaching job here in Ontario (anywhere). The layers have grown out, so I will go to interviews with my hair tied back for a formal look. I admit it was a nice change to have layers and shoulder-length hair for a while, but I miss my long hair, and I have no plans to cut it again.
I wondered why you weren't around the forum for a while. Did the layers look good? What kind of style was it?
Removing over a foot of hair isn't a "trim"...that is a "cut" =:-)
I wish you luck in your job search. The hair will be an issue in some school districts, but not at others.
could you please share a pic of how your waist-length hair was and how it is currently.
I can understand your need to get part of it cut more than your decision to put in layers. As you found out, layers can be very problematic. I'm surprised you did this.
