Source: http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20100430-213386.html


Students have hard time over hair rules

HAIR checks are the bane of many students because schools are very strict about students' hair lengths.

Fringes cannot touch the eyebrows and sideburns cannot be too long.

The hair on the back of the head cannot touch the collar.


I agree that hair that is too long - for example, a fringe that goes way past the eyes - is unsightly.

It might even make some boys look like girls.

But I feel that schools should not be so strict about the length of hair.

The best haircut for a student?

A slope, it appears.

No matter how short the school holidays are, some students will try to grow their hair as long as possible because some of them think it is "cool".

When the school term starts, these students will find ways and means to get past the hair checks.

The methods include styling their hair, and wearing a hair band to push the hair up.

But some schools go to the extent of getting barbers down to the school to give students with long hair a proper haircut.

Often, these haircuts are rushed and sloppily done as there may be a long line of students waiting.

When this happens, students will go to a good barber after school and try to get their hair looking smart again.

In my school, after a thorough hair check, many students got their hair cut and ended up looking weird.

A group of students who usually sport long hair decided to go for crew cuts instead.

After this, more students did the same.

Something to prove?

When the discipline master found out, he asked these students if they were trying to prove something by shaving their heads.

So the students ask: What does the school want?

When we have long hair, we are punished. When we have short hair, we are asked if we are trying to prove something.

What type of hair length does the school want? Neither too short nor too long?

The "slope" which most students detest?

Students are having a hard time deciding what length their hair must be so as to comply with school rules and regulations.


How i feel:
After reading this article, i feel strongly for the students. I came from a Secondary School where school rules are rather strict especially for the appearance of the students. Therefore i can totally understand and relate to how to students feel. First and foremost, I agree with the writer. Why must there be a need for slope for the boys? I do not think that having a slope or not at the back of the hair will make any difference to the grades of the students. Yes, long fringe in rather insightly for boys and i also agree completely that boys should not have long fringe that covers their eyes, but slope is a little too much. Yes, i do understand that first impression-appearance is very important for a school and wearing a school uniform, students should have the student image. However, hair without slope can be neat too. When the school forces the students to cut their hair by the barber in school, and the haircut turn out weird looking, it'd affect the student's mood/feelings and lower their self-confidence. Some students may even skip school the next few days just to fix their hair or look for expensive hairdressers that can fix their hair.
In conclusion, i think the school should adjust the school rules: Slope optional, as long as the hair doesnt touch the collar and short fringe. This'd be a win win for both parties and students will be able to feel good about themselves and therefore study better.

KAHMIN :)