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What a wonderful place! To cut to the chase, I'm a teen trying to grow my hair out. I go to Cathlic school and suffer under some rather strict hair policies. Right now during vacation I'll have a chance to try to grow it out, but in two months I'll have to get a cut.
Unless you can help.
There's no real way to change the rule; it's under the jurisdiction of the school board. Nor is changing schools an option. Is there a way to somehow conceal thick hair? My hair barely qualifies as long by the standards of this site (hasn't even reached neck length yet), but it almost covers my ears. Friends have mentioned a thing called a bald cap, and I have pondered wigs. Is it feasible to tuck and fold hair under a cap or wig and have fake, school-length hair on the outside? Can anybody recommend a type of wig? Are there other options?
I don't know about covering it up. However, I'd like to ask what thy could actually do to you if you simply disobeyed the rule? Would that mean expulsion? If not, I'd suggest a little thing called "civil disobediance". :)
From the been there done that department more than likely they'd
expell the student until the hair is cut or suspend him for
until the hair was cut.
This isn't new, I went down this road in the 60s.
I was inspired to grow my hair long by the Beatles, it was
a very rough road and the school made lots of complaints.
It helps if you have your parents on your side to fight on
your behalf. It also is very helpful if you get straight
As on your report card.
Good luck, you're going to need it.
As far as civil disobideance, proably won't work
unless you get a helft amount of students to do it too.
I never tried a wig, or something similar.
I don't know how they would react. I have the grades, record, and reputation of
being an academic-focused student, but I've never butted heads with this rule
by outright disobedience. As much as I value my hair, getting good scholarships
is worth more. Wig-based deception seems like a better plan still...
It's the Spanish Inquisition all over again trying to weed out those nasty Hairetics. LOL (I couldn't resist, sorry)
Unfortunately the replys you've got so far are right there isn't much you can do. As for the wig idea well all you need is one of your classmates to knock it off and the jig is up. I doubt it will help but you could talk to your teachers or administrators and see if they would allow a cap of sorts or a whig. You never know there may be a compromise.
Good luck
Kevin
I'm not taking gym next year, which helps with the wig idea. I've never tried
on a wig or bald cap; I have no clue how they feel and fit. Hopefully it would
be snug enough to not slip off during the day. As far as convincing the
administration, I don't think it would work. The rule is made above their
heads, but though they probably _can_ just ignore it, I doubt that they would.
They enforce a 'neat' policy because they want to. If I told them I wouldn't
cut my hair and instead wear a 'neat' wig, they might not be too happy.
Insanity... I don´t understand this and I never will.
I agree, --- and i even went to one of those private schools for 2 years myself, back when I was a 5th & 6th grader. The Headmaster even made all us younger boys buzz all our hair off during basket ball season (winter), supposedly to show our "support" for the 7th and 8th graders on the team (and we're talking January & February in Northern Illinois here), --- total STUPIDITY!!!
- Ken
Insanity... I don´t understand this and I never will.
It's tough when you don't feel there's a whole lot of options to work with; but here are a few thoughts that might open a door of hope or 2...
#1 - One thing that can definitely give you more leverage (no matter what school you are at), is to study hard, and do your very best to get excellent grades. If you are well-liked by your teachers, --- especially if it's because they see you as a very serious and conscientous student --- this may give you more power and influence than you at first may think. Getting excellent grades will also most likely win your parents over into wanting to see you happy at all costs, --- so if you decide to get a short-haired wig, or even if you decide to try to fight the hair rules in that school, your parents are going to be more likely to stand with you during your fight.
#2 - Switch to another school, --- or, if you truly feel there are reasons you "can't" do this... at least THREATEN that you desperately want to switch!
#3 - In the greater scheme of things, school days really only last a very short time period (compared the the rest of an average person's lifetime). A few years from now you'll graduate from there anyway, and soon will have total freedom to grow your hair to your hearts content! As a mid-way "compromise", of sorts, between total outright open rebellion and refusal to comply with their rules on one hand; and total docile, mousy cooperation on the other... Here is another idea of how to approach it: try "pushing the limits" as much as you can! For example: whatever their hair-length rule is, just regularly WAIT until they tell you that you absolutely "must' cut it now, --- and then when you do cut it, ask the barber to cut off as little as possible. This may test the patience of the "powers that be" a bit; but, if you are considered to be one of their better students, most adults are wise enough to back off a bit. This suggestion is not as tumultuous an experience to have to go through as complete out-in-the-open civil disobedience; but, it does make its point come across to those who see the stupidity of the rule, --- and quite possibly, there may even be some teachers who will be quietly on your side and/or even willing to fight on your behalf in some cases.
4) Another way to rebel against a stupid hair rule is do something in the opposite direction. We heard about an example here where a young guy said his parents would not allow him to grow his hair out, so he got a Mohawk! The parents hated that so much, that by the time it grew out a little, they actually were relieved to see his original request of having long hair return!
"Where there's a will, there's a way!", is an old saying; but the truth of the matter is that you may find a creative solution of your own that you may not yet have thought of... It sounds to me like you are indeed a, "Longhair on the INSIDE!" I felt the same way when I was still in school and living under my dad's roof (whose rules of the house totally forbid long hair). Just trust in yourself, and that your desire to grow your hair out is neither a "selfish" nor an "evil" thing. It is a totally natural desire, --- and just because some folks don't understand it, doesn't make it ever right to prohibit someone from following their heart and pursuing whatever it takes to make one feel as complete an individual as possible. You may temporarily feel as if you are in a position of powerlessness, and that your world around you is stacked against your favor; but, rest assured, you will soon discover a lot of surprising amount of strength appearing from within, --- a strength which, just like the rising sun, nobody can truly stop from happening on the outside as well!
One of my favorite all-time quotes comes from a poet named Lassie Benton. It goes like this:
"And the day came when the risk to remain closed in a bud, became more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
My best to you!
- Ken in San Francisco
As someone who went through this in the 60s i'd suggest strongly
in getting good grades. The administration will be reluctant
to expel/suspend you for long hair if you've got the best
grades in the school. UItimately it makes them look bad when
the school average drops.
There is also another alternative if you're parents are
willing.....home schooling.
I think I've got this part down part. I take about 4 honors classes, have had
straight A's since kindergarten, and have ambitious college plans. My teachers
respect me -- it's the dean of students who tells me to cut it. (And sadly, I
think I've earned her respect since she saw my ACT score -- but now she's
leaving and the sports director is the new dean!) I'm sure my parents will be
onboard with the wig idea after some persuasion.
Not an option, really...
I already do this, pretty much.
Sadly, "extreme hairstyles" are banned -- that includes weird colors and short
styles like Mohawks.
Thanks! I feel encouraged already.
The advantage of Mohawks or buzzing hair when any strict hair length rule is being fought is that once it's cut short, the powers-that-be can do NOTHING about it (but wait for your hair to grow back), --- whereas fighting a stupid school hair rule by only trying to grow hair longer than allowed, will only gradually increase the pressure they can put on you. Maybe you can try a combo of doing BOTH, --- let your hair grow as looooooong as possible, until you can no longer stand the pressure they put on you about it. Then show up at school with a buzz or Mohawk to make you point... Chances are that they'll leave you alone for the rest of the year, at least!
Just an idea, --- no problem if you choose to ignore the suggestion. Sounds like you do great on your own; but do keep us posted!
- Ken
Where are you from?
If you're an European Union Citezen you could talk to your headmaster and point out the EU legislation
You might also want to have a look at the following EU websites:
Nobody
http://www.stop-discrimination.euhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/workingpapers/libe/102/default_en.htm
Well, I don't think the United States are totally uncivilized...
There might be some similar anti discrimination legislation somewhere. If not on federal, perhaps on state level?
DC has a law against discrimination on the basis of hair style, but with an exemption for a class of employees for a legitimate business purpose. I'm not aware of any actual state that has such a law.
There is a federal law against sex discrimination, but the courts have set bad precedents that gut the law with respect to hair.
OTOH, school students are in a different position anyway. Not being employees, their position relative to the schools is that they are private citizens, and so should have first amendment rights.
There are a whole bunch of cases limiting first amendment rights in schools, but they need a legitimate reason (e.g. hate speech, bomb threats, etc.), and I don't think any of these precedents give them a right to enforce haircuts.
In state schools, except in Texas, I don't think they can do anything to regulate your hair length, and even those Texas decisions probably wouldn't be sustained by a higher court if they got that far.
Unfortunately, private schools are in a different category again. I think the position is that theoretically you are there voluntarily, and if you don't like the hair rules you should leave. Unless you are in Texas, that should be a solution, even if it's not one that you or your parents may like.
(I am not a lawyer)
Sorry to hear your dilimna but I feel your pain. I have the same issue with an employer. Not sure where you are located but I am in Austin, Texas and went to Pat Painter's Wig shop who specializes in mens wigs. I just ordered it and it has not yet come in. I may actually even get to sale it as on Thursday I have an interview that doesn't care about hair length...so hey if I get the job you could always buy mine! lol
G-O
Where are you from?
http://www.stop-discrimination.euhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/workingpapers/libe/102/default_en.htm
I'm not too far. I'll check out that particular wig shop. About how much do
durable models cost?
Anyway, I still don't know if I could get away with simply slicking back my
hair. The specifics of the rules pretty much say it can't be more than 2 inches
from the skull, past the collar, covering the ears, touching the eyebrows, etc.
Here's a rather old photo that shows about how long my hair is now. (I don't
have a digital camera for a recent photo at the moment.) The photo shows hair
that is in violation of the rules. Would a wig or some kind of hair gel be an
option?