Why do schools have hair rules

Índice Show

School haircuts have hit the mainstream news once again, following the controversial sacking of deputy principal Rohan Brown at Trinity Grammar, Melbourne.
How do you enforce rules about a hairstyle?
Teachers don’t make the rules…
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For: Rhea Saxena, 15, King George V School
Against: Annie Yan, 17, TWGHs Li Ka Shing College
Why is hair style important in school?
Why is dyed your hair not allowed in school?
Can schools make you cut your hair UK?
Why do we need to have a proper haircut?

School haircuts have hit the mainstream news once again, following the controversial sacking of deputy principal Rohan Brown at Trinity Grammar, Melbourne.

The school’s council asked Brown to leave after he was filmed cutting a student’s hair before a school photo. However, the private Melbourne school has faced substantial backlash, particularly from its students. One pupil, Anthony Apos, told Nine News:

“He was only upholding the school values and he’s cut other people’s hair in the past.”

Australian private schools have traditionally had strict uniform policies that include rules about hair for boys and girls. Teachers are often tasked with enforcing these rules in the face of disagreeable students and parents. At many schools, it’s not unusual for students to be sent home for haircuts and the hair rules in question can be quite subjective.

This School Council clearly found ‘cutting a student’s hair’ to be an over-step but the student protests indicate that many in the school’s community disagree. Is cutting a student’s hair more ethical than sending a student home? It’s also important to note reports that the boy whose hair was cut in the video has not yet returned to the school because of “bullying”.

How do you enforce rules about a hairstyle?

The conversation about school hair is one that queries equality in schools; different cultural norms dictate what ‘neat’ hair looks like. Not all hair types/textures are going to suit the same styles, and gender norms are in-flux. So, while Australia argues about whether teachers should be sacked for cutting a student’s hair, perhaps the question we should be asking is whether they have to enforce ‘hair rules’ at all…

Is it okay that girls are allowed to have long or short hair but boys’ hair must sit above the ear in most of these private school hair regulations? It must be difficult for teachers navigate these questions from students about rules they did not create.

Teachers don’t make the rules…

… but are expected to enforce them. School News wants to know how you feel about that? Is this an issue that your school has already dealt with? As teachers, how do you feel about enforcing traditional school rules?

Let us know in the comments.

It’s an interesting turn of events to see a group of students defending a teacher for upholding school rules. Perhaps there is room here for School Councils to review some of the old school regulations that have been in place for decades.

School News is not affiliated with any government agency, body or political party. We are an independently owned, family-operated magazine.

Children are taught from a young age to embrace their identities, but how much do they really need to show on the outside? While we have always been taught to be our authentic selves, this framework doesn’t necessarily need to be reflected in what we wear and how we present ourselves during our school years.

Hairstyles are not just a way to uniform pupils in school, but a way for us to come together as students. Hair policies teach students to be professional and prepare them for the world outside school, where they need to be clean, tidy and presentable in the workplace.

Should school uniforms be replaced with dress codes?

There are also more practical reasons for hairstyle codes. For example, each year, around six million to 12 million people worldwide get head lice, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s easy to pick up at school, where children play together closely.

Lice love long hair – they like to be warm, and the longer your hair is, the warmer these little bugs could be. Having short hair in such close quarters is a form of lice prevention.

In science lessons, a common phrase is “tie your hair back”, and there is an excellent reason for this. People with long hair risk having it catch fire during experiments and getting severe burns. Having hairstyle codes helps prevent this issue.

Restrictions on hairstyles are just another part of a school uniform. Photo: Shutterstock

Hair codes also help protect students in their physical education lessons. For example, many schools say pupils need to have short hair, and long hair must be in a ponytail. This prevents it from being pulled by other students or blowing in their faces and causing them to injure someone because they can’t see. For example, in a game like rugby, students need to tackle each other, and their hair might get caught and pulled.

Unique hairstyles can be a distraction. Natural and simple looks keep students uniform and give them their first taste of working in a professional environment. Would you want to walk into an office where all the employees had crazy hairstyles? Hairstyle codes prepare students for their futures and show them there are other ways to express themselves.

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Against: Annie Yan, 17, TWGHs Li Ka Shing College

Recently, a video of a Hong Kong student complaining about his school’s strict dress code policy, especially concerning hair, went viral. The public is split over whether schools should have the ability to control students’ hairstyles, with some claiming they have the right to safeguard their image. After thinking it over, I think schools should not set rules on students’ hairstyles.

A good, self-chosen hairstyle can do wonders for a student’s confidence. Most pupils, especially those in secondary school, are at the age when they care a lot about what other people think of them, so having an appearance that they’re proud of will improve their self-esteem. So, for example, a student can get a fringe to cover acne on their forehead instead of being forced to show it off and feel insecure about it.

Letting students choose their own hairstyles can increase their confidence. Photo: Shutterstock

Experimenting with their hair when younger allows students to determine which styles suit them. Students are easily influenced by their favourite celebrities. For example, many people got a fringe to look like Blackpink’s Jennie after the band released their “How You Like That” album, and many fans of Canto-pop group Mirror have cut their hair so they can look like their idols. Trying out different hairstyles helps students discover what looks good on them and what they want for themselves and, hopefully, figure out that they don’t always need to follow trends.

Gender equality gets a boost as Taiwan school drops gender-specific uniforms

Some educators claim that schools should be able to control students’ hair so they can identify their sex. This idea is silly and outdated. It’s discrimination based on sex. I think schools should be able to set some rules, such as those prohibiting students from dyeing their hair unnatural colours like green or purple, rather than imposing strict rules, such as that your fringe should not reach your eyes.

Being allowed to choose your hairstyle enables students to build confidence and learn more about themselves, so schools should take a step back and stop trying to exert authority over their students’ hair. Ultimately, it’s a minor issue, and there are more important things for schools to worry about.

Why is hair style important in school?

Why is dyed your hair not allowed in school?

Most schools do not allow colored hair unless it is a natural color, as they claim it is a “distraction” to other students and makes the school look bad. If piercings and tattoos are allowed, why isn't exotic hair color? Both can draw attention but neither affect academic success.

Can schools make you cut your hair UK?

Schools must also make sure that they do not discriminate against you. For example, if you cannot cut your hair because of your religion or you need to wear a head-dress, the school should take this into account.

Why do we need to have a proper haircut?

When you get a haircut done by experts at least once every 6 weeks, this will help you reduce the damages that cause split ends. Obviously, this will help maintain a healthy & vivacious hair-shine that otherwise would be dimmed by impaired ends.