[12월 30일]Control Over Hairstyles

[kyle]

Control Over Hairstyles

Hairstyle is a sensitive issue for students. Students of a middle school have recently called for the liberalization of their hairstyle. During a lunch break on April 19, seven students of a middle school in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul shouted slogans in their schoolyard, carrying signs reading “Deregulate Control over Hairstyle & Hair Length!” “Liberalize It!” and “Stop Corporal Punishment!”

A student said, “We’re unhappy when we are scolded harshly by teachers for our long hair. We decided this morning to stage this protest. Our school is slightly more lenient than other schools. But we are still opposed to the school’s control over our hair.”

Educational authorities advocate such concepts as “educational purposes” and “student manners code,” while students call for “student right” and “school democracy.”

Interestingly, not all students seem to be supporting the deregulation. Teachers say inhumane and excessive control over students’ hair is problematic, but that it is an exaggeration to say that the control over students’ hair being implemented for educational purposes is an infringement of their human rights. They argue that the call for complete removal of such control is an irresponsible idea.

Meanwhile, the Parents Solidarity urged educational authorities to remove the control over students’ hair. It said, “Students learn to be absorbed into society in the process of respecting rules set by schools. But teachers’ unilateral imposition of such control will only cause conflict. When wearing long hair during their school days, many adults had their own hair clipped by teachers. When they were given such treatment at that time, the adults themselves must have felt enraged.”

The Education Ministry seems to have stepped aside from this debate, holding the position that “each school has the autonomy about students’ hair.” A ministry official said, “Each school should decide on students’ hairstyle and manners code after having discussions among parents, students and teachers. The government is not supposed to impose uniform standards on them.” According to the official, the ministry will merely verify truth and take stern action if teachers use violence, including clipping students’ hair, or violate students’ human rights arbitrarily.

[12월30]ControlOverHairstyles.mp3