As far back as the 1960’s, this issue has raged throughout society. Those in charge felt they should be able to discriminate hair length based on gender. Hair length for boys and men determined whether they were admitted into many public places, such as churches and schools.

Today, it shocked me to hear this argument still exists! What does the length of one’s hair have to do with learning. What gives anyone the right to dictate someone’s hair length or discriminate between males and females. Hair length does not interfere with learning!

Sadly, many outdated policies and outdated school rules have become the bain of our society. Especially in Texas, where there is a definite good old boy system that needs to go away.

In the 70’s, the lyrics to the song HAIR by the Cowsill’s rang out loud and clear in protest to school districts and those “in charge” who restricted hair growth for males in schools and even in society.

The Cowsills spoke out in protest even though they were what was called clean cut… here’s a little bit of their lyrics…

Excerpt from the song HAIR by the Cowsills

Gimme a head with hair
Long, beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming
Streaming, flaxen, waxen

Give me down to there (hair)
Shoulder length or longer (hair)
Here, baby, there, mama
Everywhere, daddy, daddy

Hair (hair, hair, hair, hair, hair)
Grow it, show it
Long as I can grow it
My hair

For myself, I had long, beautiful hair most of my growing up years because my mom loved my long hair. However, I wanted shoulder-length hair so I could easily take care of it myself. I finally won this battle in 8th grade.

However, during the 60’s and 70’s the battle for males to be accepted with long  hair escalated to the point that young men who chose to wear their hair long were chastised by the very society they lived in and supported. These young men protested a society that rejected them when all they really wanted was to be accepted for who they were, not by their physical appearance, not by the length of their hair.

Hair is only one element of the discrimination that permeates our country. There are so many people who choose to forget that we as individuals have been granted human rights through our constitution. The right to life, liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness. These constitutional rights include the freedom to grow our hair long, cut it short, or even shave our heads. Hair length does not hurt anyone. Hair length does not impede learning. Hair length is a personal choice. Until we, as a nation, stand up against this mindset, discrimination will continue in our cities, states, and country.                       

If you scroll back through history, many of the noblemen and women grew their hair long, and no one told them they were unacceptable because of their long hair. Today, because I chose to watch the local news, I feel outraged that the battle of long hair for boys still makes headlines. As a lifelong educator, I feel outraged that a school district is more concerned with a young man’s hair length than with his education. As a native Texan, I feel outraged that our courts sided with the school district.

What are your thoughts? How do you feel? For myself, I believe we are individuals. We are granted human rights. We are granted life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness through our very constitution. And yet, hate and discrimination still exist in the very places that are designed to educate and promote equality.      

Rant over.