I can't even get it to open on my phone. Still, the biggest hair I've seen at South Oldham is a freshman soccer player who has the most giant afro I've seen in a while. He's lily white with great big hair. If I had hair, I'd totally grow that. So, I guess I still don't get the racial issue. Maybe I can open the article at home and make sense of that part of it.

This thread has me reminiscing about my years in school and some of the rules.

 

Times have changed a lot since I was in a public county high school from 1968-72, but our principal had a strict hair and dress code. This was the days of the hippy hair style for boys and short skirts for girls but he would allow neither. We had routine hair checks, hair could not touch the ears or collar and had to be two finger widths above the eyebrows. Girls dresses had to be no more than one inch above their knees. They used a ruler to measure girl's skirts and would send them home or ask them to tear the hem out to make the dress longer. Boys had the option of going to the local barber in town for a trim and then back to school.

He was an old WWII vet and was strict as could be, not only on the students but the faculty as well. He was principal for a long time, from the late 1940's until he retired in 1977. He was from the "old school of thought' and was not about change or styles.

The wording in the policy alone clearly targets a specific race, which makes it racist.

 

I work with a lot of African American women. They will tell you that their hair is a great sense of pride to them. I am often amazed at the time and attention they put into it.

 

I think it is a healthy positive way for these girls, and guys for that matter, to express themselves. The intent of the policy is also wrong.

This thread has me reminiscing about my years in school and some of the rules.

 

Times have changed a lot since I was in a public county high school from 1968-72, but our principal had a strict hair and dress code. This was the days of the hippy hair style for boys and short skirts for girls but he would allow neither. We had routine hair checks, hair could not touch the ears or collar and had to be two finger widths above the eyebrows. Girls dresses had to be no more than one inch above their knees. They used a ruler to measure girl's skirts and would send them home or ask them to tear the hem out to make the dress longer. Boys had the option of going to the local barber in town for a trim and then back to school.

He was an old WWII vet and was strict as could be, not only on the students but the faculty as well. He was principal for a long time, from the late 1940's until he retired in 1977. He was from the "old school of thought' and was not about change or styles.

 

When I was in junior high, girls had to wear skirts or dresses only with similar length restrictions. One day a particularly rebellious girl showed up in jeans. It was the most scandalous thing I had ever seen, and was quite the focus of all the girls.

 

Oddly enough, nothing was said to her and the next year the policy was changed so we could all wear jeans.

The wording in the policy alone clearly targets a specific race, which makes it racist.

 

I work with a lot of African American women. They will tell you that their hair is a great sense of pride to them. I am often amazed at the time and attention they put into it.

 

I think it is a healthy positive way for these girls, and guys for that matter, to express themselves. The intent of the policy is also wrong.

 

Agreed. They will also tell you how different black women's hair is versus a white woman's. If people would take the time to ask questions and understand the reasons for the cornrows, the scarves, etc. that black women wear, they wouldn't be so quick to dismiss those hairstyles as disruptive. Of course, if people would take the time to talk and understand each other, we wouldn't have many of the problems we have now.

I have not read the article but as a teacher and a site based member I can fill in a few things. Most schools have this in their dress code. The school might not have the same examples but in general most schools dress code hair policy is worded pretty close to the same.

 

By law once your school reaches a certain level of diversity your school council must a minority representation. This person could be a person from the minority or someone to represent the minority.

 

I'm going to guess and say the policy is an old policy that has never really been rewritten. Councils usually go back and review and rewrite policies every few years. It makes you wonder about the minority representation on the council and why they never brought up the issue.

 

Many schools that have these policies do not enforce them. You'd be surprised by what's in many school policies that schools no longer follow or enforce even though they are suppose to.

Story has gone national. Breakfast Club out of NYC talked about it this morning.

I can't even get it to open on my phone. Still, the biggest hair I've seen at South Oldham is a freshman soccer player who has the most giant afro I've seen in a while. He's lily white with great big hair. If I had hair, I'd totally grow that. So, I guess I still don't get the racial issue. Maybe I can open the article at home and make sense of that part of it.

Agreed! What's further, there is no mention at all of hair in our dress code here at South Oldham HS.

Agreed! What's further, there is no mention at all of hair in our dress code here at South Oldham HS.

There is no mention of hair in the dress code that is given out in our district but each school can create a more strict policy. Ask to see your schools SBDM book of policies. You would be surprised what's in there. Many of the people I work with have no clue what the policy says.

There is no mention of hair in the dress code that is given out in our district but each school can create a more strict policy. Ask to see your schools SBDM book of policies. You would be surprised what's in there. Many of the people I work with have no clue what the policy says.

 

If you'll read again, you'll see that I mentioned my school's specific dress code policy, not the district.

 

I've been on SBDMCs at least half of my career. I've been one to work to get rid of unneeded policies and ones that we weren't upholding anyway. I make sure that I'm knowledgeable as to what is happening in the SBDMC even when I'm not serving. Luckily, my school sends out the minutes of each meeting, but I've also been known to attend meetings as an observer, anyway.

Can a principal override the SBDM recommendation?

 

The principal is part of SBDM

Butler's SBDM has voted to suspend the portion of the dress code addressing hair, effective immediately.

Butler's SBDM has voted to suspend the portion of the dress code addressing hair' date=' effective immediately.[/quote']

 

That was obvious as soon as they announced a special meeting.

That was obvious as soon as they announced a special meeting.

 

Yep.

I didn't read the article, but in general I am all for strict dress and behavior rules, etc. in our schools. Bring back school uniforms I say.