new thread
I go to this very conservative school and i am being threatened to cut my hair with the reprocusions of not cutting my hair being suspension and eventual expulsion. I personally dont want to cut my hair my class representatives wont help by going to the school board and getting the rule changed (note I cant go to the school board myself) and the principal wont listen. I understand there is a hair religion but the school computers wont let me on the site and i cant learn more about it.
Help!
Well, you could use a proxy to get around the school firewall, but frankly, that would just land you in more trouble.
Best idea is to get yourself out of that place, if you can.
JeffL
Jesus, what kind of school is this? I think JeffL is right; you have to choose either your hair or the school. you can't have both. If you absolutely must go to this school, then you'll have no choice but to cut your hair. (how long is it, anyway?)
Seriously? This is crazy! Forcing you to cut your hair threatening with suspension??? Jesus christ, that´s just insane.
When I hear things like these I really appreciate living in Sweden...
Hair Religion is more of a person than a religion. He used to be on here quite a lot, but not so much lately. His website does set out a belief in growing long hair as a religion, but I doubt if your school would buy into it.
I suppose you could become a Sikh. That's a well-established religion. Mind you, I've never met a Sikh who wasn't from India. Their religion requires long hair, but they have to wear it in a turban. One of the other requirements is that they have to carry a knife all the time, which could be a good source of additional fun with the school authorities.
"Mind you, I've never met a Sikh who wasn't from India. Their religion requires long hair, but they have to wear it in a turban"
I know tonnes of Sikh's, not all live in India
BBC religion site
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/customs/fiveks.shtml
There are many tribes in the past who saw hair as a symbol of honour and class, and it has changed as fashions change too. My question is always
if there are girls/wmen at your school do they have the same rules?
If not, why not?
(sexism? hit them with that)
There is, is there, a hair religion?
There is an admirable member of this board who posts as "Hair Religion," and I believe that most of what he has to say is positive and constructive, but I do not believe it would pass muster alone as a religion to protect you from a fascist and oppressive school administration.
The problem is that our "Hair Religion" does not have an articulated general philosophy nor ethics, nor any organizaational structure which validates leadership and provides any certification of membership.
Part of me would like to help make up those deficits, but I have reluctance to do so under that title for I think it is too narrow.
I have long been tempted to promote Bill, Golan and several others as prophets and apostles, and myself to volunteer as --I am reluctant to use the phrase-- theologian, for I prefer philsopher.
However, to quality as a religion legally we most likely have to have a doctrine of the first cause. In that sense I am willing to be one of the early theologians of the religion.
But for my involvement it needs a broader name. I suggest THE RELIGION OF FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY. I suggest that the primal cause be affirmed as a mystery in which we stand in great awe. I suggest that the fundamental ethical principle of the religion be justice for all.
In classical protestantism, sacraments haave been often described as "an outward sign of an inward act." I suggest that our sacraments not be required, but be celebrated, and that they are two: long hair and earrings, one or both.
Either are outward affirmations of commitment to justice, which means equal treatment of persons regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Yhere are many issues to be worked out, but if those who I have suggested as original apostles are willing to claim their role, then we can have an annual conference wherein we will articulate our, I hope, minimal ideological (philosophical, theological?) standards and our ethical principles, and elect our future leaders. Probably, the greatest proof of our authenticity as a religion is when we split in to two different sects. E.g. The Never cut evers, and the trim to maintain maximum length but neatness. Yet, in my view, ieally, these should just be different orders within the religion.
This could be fun. As you see illustrated, we need a new nomenclature system since the traditional one is a straight jacket, but there are some relatively clear sociological definitions of a religion which I am sure we could achieve which could find court affirmation thus supporting the freedom of its members.
It is late. There are many issues that could be discussed. I would not like this to be an exclusive religion which would prevent any of us from silmultaneously being evolutionary Calvinists like myself(I .e. people who think what Calvin would think if he had read Darwin, Freud, Marx, Einstein and Stephen Colbert.), or even Episcopalians. I am also sure there would emerge a party who wanted moxification of herbs to be one of the sacraments, but these are issues to be discussed.
Bottom line, at this point we are in no position to argue that long hair is a religion which would excuse a student from following school rules, unless that school is a public school and parents are definitely supportive of their long haired genius. In this case the ACLU is very likely to come to his defense. But in a private school there is no escape from the rules, except escape from the school.
Caledonian
Dude- the same thing happened to me a couple of years ago. If you make a hassle it could make things worse. I protested and ended up in the principal's office where he gave me a buzz cut. For a while all my friends laughed and my girlfriend dumped me- and yes I cried, but got over it. I was de-pants in the quad and had to go to my room wearing only white briefs. I'll never forget that day.
Hi Katarigcn,
sorry to see the situation you are in. Are your parents supportive at all? When are you going to graduate? You could try to contact ACLU (www.aclu.org) , and, depending upon some details I don't know yet, they may be able to help you. There might even be be rules in some states that help even in provate schools.
However, you may be better off going to a different school if that's possible.
All the best, and don't despair. You can always grow it out after graduation.
Hans-Uwe
Ouch thats pretty harsh, around where i live in the UK there are loads of schoolboys with long hair,(I was one until last year) never heard of any problems with the schools. Although i did see on the bbc website some articles about schools banning kids with dreadlocks or poorly groomed hair.
I would see a lawyer if i was you, if you're outside the UK, you should do some research into it. Quote human rights a lot, that always works. :D Goodluck!