Student fights code of conduct to keep pink hair

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by CrimsonTide4

Pretty much, but I would also say the mom needs to be a parent.

Yep.

The pink hair might be our first clue that you're onto something

[valkyrie]

I think that's awesome. School isn't the workplace and there's no good reason why a student shouldn't be allowed to come to class with pink hair.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

I think that's awesome. School isn't the workplace and there's no good reason why a student shouldn't be allowed to come to class with pink hair.

Except that the dress code prohibits it. This is the equivalent of saying that student should be able to come in wearing a bra and panties. Following the dress code of any institution whether work or school is a condition of attending (or getting paid)

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Except that the dress code prohibits it. This is the equivalent of saying that student should be able to come in wearing a bra and panties. Following the dress code of any institution whether work or school is a condition of attending (or getting paid)

What's wrong with a student questioning authority and taking a stand against a rule she thinks doesn't make sense?

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

What's wrong with a student questioning authority and taking a stand against a rule she thinks doesn't make sense?

Nothing, as long as she's willing to accept the consequences.

It's been established that schools have a right to enforce dress codes. Requiring "natural" hair colors isn't different from requiring shorts to be longer than a certain lenght, banning facial hair on guys, or even having a full on dress code of khakis and polos or something.

It's also an issue of picking your battles.

But hey, if she gets suspended due to the hair color AND it's deemed that the school is using appropriate authority in doing so, then that suspension remains on her record. If her, and her parents, are ok with this, so be it.

If I were her mother I'd tell her to dye it pink in the summer but go brown, black, whatever during the school year.

[shinerbock]

However, having pink hair is probably distracting to other students in class. This is the basis for many such dress code rulings.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by ariesrising

I think it's ridiculous that schools get to mandate how you look. And there's plenty of places you can work with pink hair.

So a highschooler should be able to show up looking like this:



And the school shouldn't be able to say anything?

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally Posted by ariesrising

I think it's ridiculous that schools get to mandate how you look. And there's plenty of places you can work with pink hair.

I think it's ridiculous, too. There's a difference in having pink hair and, as someone else mentioned, going to school in a bra and panties. My boyfriend had long green hair when he was in high school and no one gave a damn.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by ariesrising

I think it's ridiculous that schools get to mandate how you look. And there's plenty of places you can work with pink hair.

Having pink hair is not my style at all, but I agree with you and valkyrie. Don't our schools have bigger fish to fry, like improving test scores or preventing violence?

Yeah pink hair is distracting...for like three seconds.

[shinerbock]

Some students probably do not have the ability to concentrate as well as you or I might. I think it is wise for schools to mandate that students dress in a certain manner. I don't like school uniforms, but I do think dress codes are helpful. Students have all afternoon/night/weekend to express themselves. I'm sure there are plenty of places that allow workers to have pink hair, but there are also many who don't. I see nothing wrong with preparing them for a work environment which may not tolerate every act of "self-expression." Of course, when they move on to college, they can have whatever color hair they like (depending on the school), and also pick the job they want to apply for.

On a side note, I think this is something greek organizations are good for...often they kinda slap a kid upside the head, giving him/her the message that, "listen, earrings and colored hair don't make you cool, nor do they make you different."
-I'm sure some of you will have something to say about this...

[Taualumna]

According to the video, the school's Code of Conduct only states that hair has to be neat. It did NOT say that hair had to be of a natural colour.

My high school had the same problem 10 years ago, after green and blue hair started appearing. The following year, a "natural hair colour" clause was put in to the student handbook.

[RU OX Alum]

The dresscode is unconstituntional. She has every right to defend herself, her choice of haircolor, and her overall personal by any means necesary

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

What's wrong with a student questioning authority and taking a stand against a rule she thinks doesn't make sense?

She questioned. They answered. They said no.

Apparently, we can't count on parents to prepare children for "the real world", so we need schools to do that for us. In the "real world" you can't have pink hair and expect to be gainfully employed.

Also, there were a lot of rules when I was in highschool that I didn't think "made sense". Which is why highschoolers don't run the highschool, the admin does.

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Apparently, we can't count on parents to prepare children for "the real world", so we need schools to do that for us. In the "real world" you can't have pink hair and expect to be gainfully employed.

Is that really true? You can't be gainfully employed anywhere in the world with pink hair? Assuming that's true (which I doubt) why should the same "rules" apply to students?

[Drolefille]

Even if you think it's a stupid rule, it isn't an "unjust" rule.

The school can mandate that you wear closed toed shoes, boys hair no longer than ear length, no holes in your jeans, etc. Quite simply, they are within their rights to do so. In breaking the rule, the student should accept the consequences, or the parent should move to a different school

Oh, and WHY is a bra and panties so different? There's nothing "private" showing... You can wear it on a beach! Why not in class?

Dress how you want on YOUR time. But at school, or at work, conform to the company's dress code. If your company allows pink hair and piercings, cool, if it doesn't, don't expect to be working there if you don't follow the rules. Same for school, don't expect to avoid suspension for breaking the rules.

Sounds like the girl is old enough to read a handbook...