new thread
On today's morning show on KLBJ 590 AM here in Austin, Chuck Meyers is discussing Zacharia Towngate, who, as a second grader, wore a rat-tail and was told by the school that he had to cut it off. He decided to fight it, and has won in court several times. The city of Bastrop continues to appeal, stating they have the right to determine a dress code.
I will try to find out more about this case. In the mean time, if you have more information or wish to comment about this case, I encourage you to do so.
Perhaps I'll get myself into trouble here. Is Zacharia Towngate or his parents making a conscious decision to wear a rat tail and confronting authority and codes of conduct/behavior about it? If he were my kid, I think that I'd rather wait until he was at least a teenager before allowing him to oppose and confront societal values about his personal appearance. I also think him too young to be shown the possiblity of and avenue to opposing authority. I hope that Zacharia Towngate grows up realizing that most rules of conduct and laws established by our society do in fact serve the best interest of everybody. He's probably at an age where respect of authority, should be instilled in him, rather than opposition to it. Don't get me wrong. I'm pleased that progress is being made toward total acceptance of long-haired men and I think we have a long way to go before gender bias is eliminated. Just not sure that second graders should be staging the battle, or that they should be displaying hair styles deemed unacceptable by their communities.
What are you talking about? No community or authority should deem acceptable or unacceptable how anyone at any age should or shouldn't look.
Idiots. Another case of their petty authority going to their heads. Did anybody ask them *WHY* they want the right to have him cut his hair? What benefit is it?
These idiots lost in the '70s and they'll lose again. They never learn.
- Paul
The way I feel, as long as a persons looks aren't affecting other students from thier ability to concentrate...so be it. In other words, I see no reason why longhair on a guy would be deemed "unacceptable". Now, I could see a school making a guy loose the 5 foot high pink,yellow and grey mohawk or pants that hang halfway off someones rear end. I can also see a school telling a kid to turn his shirt inside out for the day because it has a picture of some naked person or illeagel drug. I guess it is time the school board's across the nation wake up and get outta the 50's . I graduated in 94. My particular school district did prohibit "any dress or hairstyle that causes a distraction in any class". Longhair isn't a distraction in my book as long as it's kept somewhat neat. I also attended our local "Vo-Tech Center" and they did make us longhaired ones tie it up fpr safety reasons which is entirely understandable. I quite often wonder why there isn't more longhaired guys in this world....I guess this issue is one of the reasons.
"Keep the hair-a-growing dudes!"