new thread
I am seeing a lot more longish hair on the dudes in elementary and high school and I guess that might be a slightly good thing to the young guys who want the hair, but I see it as a negative.
Problem is a lot of the young guys just look like scruffy punks, all wild looking like they survived a tornado. And it is viewed by adults as a trend among youngsters so when they see me they have said, well thats what the kids are into these days. Way I see it is that it is marginalizing me into an somebody less mature when in fact I will be teaching high school myself in a year. I just have a problem with it. Comments?
The way I see it long hair is coming back into style, most particularly among the younger crowd. I personally think this is a positive trend. It sure beats the buzzcut fad of recent years.
The thing to keep in mind is that these kids are now in the dreaded awkward stage. To be honest, I'm not sure what these kids have as a goal when it comes to length.
I'm a high school teacher myself. However, I teach in an urban, inner city school that is almost all African American. I don't see the styles that are popular among white school age guys other than those who live near me.
I don't think anyone in the school administration will have a negative perception of you just because of your hair. Just be professional and you'll be just fine.
-its got alot with what music kids listen to, most kids that listen to rock will have long hair, while the kids who listen to rap have short hair, buzz cut. it seems that punk, emo, rock is coming back.....
you have to accept something : you cannot do anything about prejudices
So be the best person you can be, and forget about judgements because, well, you just couldn't do better (in your sense of what's right or wrong)
my .02$
-vincent
So in other words, you don't think these young guys should be able to grow their hair because in some way it will reflect badly upon you. Sorry, I don't agree.
Maybe you should stop these guys and tell them they should all get buzzcuts because their long hair threatens you in some way. Bet you won't get a very positive response. Its their hair, not yours.
How would you have liked it if some older guy gave you a hard time about your hair when you were younger? I think it would be more helpful if you offered these guys a compliment or an encouraging word just to balance the negative reactions they're probably already getting from the buzzcut crowd.
Geez, I guess my initial post was unfriendly to some. I know its hard to be in high school and try to grow out hair, because the kids aren't allowed to wear hats in school so that makes neatness much more difficult.
I just wonder though, looking at the terribly unruly mops of hair of many of these young guys, if people see me and see the same thing even though I do what I can to keep it under control while growing.
A simple accessory would solve most of the problems of the so called awkward phase, too bad it is so unacceptable to people.
As a new teacher, I hope that you attempt to keep personal bias out of your teaching. Try to look past appearances (the good, the bad and the ugly) and seek to share your knowledge with the heart and soul beneath.....
I have a friend who says "What other people think of me is none of my business". Good advice I think.
Good Luck in your new career.
People are more comfortable when they can pigeon-hole you and put you in a little compartment with other people - it helps them organise how they view things.
However, this can create stereotypes, and usually does. If I see a skinny guy with a fuzzy moustache, wearing a sports tracksuit and a cap, holding a snooker cue I think "spide".
And to be fair, I'm usually right. But I have met people like that who are really cool, so I have been wrong. But it's about how we view and understand the world - we need some kind of preconceptions to put some sense of logic into things.
Personally, I love to be underestimated - I dress baggy, so people think I'm skinny underneath. I don't voice opinions unless encouraged. I don't want to sound too smart or look too strong or anything like that, because I don't like people having these preconceptions or expectations of me.
It also means I can only impress, which is cool :)
But I understand your annoyance at being grouped together with other people... unfortunately not everyone can understand that most people stand alone, and are not like everyone who looks like them.
wolfeyes
STOP judging these young people!!! You have to admit that its better to see the young people growing out their hair than buzz it off.
Perhaps it is the part of the Country you are in?
In my town I get into all 8 schools, grades 1-12. I am now seeing more and more longer hair right up to several Longhaires in Elementary, Middle and High Schools. (The Longest at present is down to his waist.) The other ones with "longer hair" don't look messy to me.............they are simply in some part of the "Awkward Stage" of which some seem to remain in while others hair gains length. Then too are the ones who get to a certain point and have it all cut off. I have heard no negatives from any teachers (and there are 2 Longhaires of these) as well as Office Staff or Parents. No one appears annoyed.
This of course only limited to my area on the West Coast.
