well I guess I would withdrawal from the group. Why change in mid - year. Nothing is wrong with color hair. As most of you know I started a group here in my area for teens mostly. Anyway one of the boys has blue highlights and he is the sweetest thing on earth. Did I not let him join because of that no. Who are we to judge people because they got color hair. Next they will judge by skin color even though some do. We aren't suppose too. I am with Tiffany if you child can't study because someone has blue hair, then there is something else going on.
I think dress codes have a place, but I tend to think hair restrictions are kind of silly. (How tall were your bangs in jr. high/high school-those who are 30-somethings?) Regardless, the real problem is that the rules changed after the program begin. That doesn't give anyone involved the right to make their own choices about whether or not the co-op would work for them.
WOW. That looks fantastic. I keep trying to convince my daughter she'd look great with blue or purple hair but she ain't biting yet. Yes, I am a coward trying to live vicariously through my children.
Nope, I don't think you are being too sensitive at all! Honestly, I don't care for the colored hair, but that is my opinion and I would never push that on someone (other than my children who must abide by my rules) who didn't feel the same way I did. Now that being said I don't think it's right to change rules mid-year after parents have already enrolled thier children. I would think that they may loose more money by changing the rule that by just letting that one family drop out...but what do I know.
Mine aren't old enough to live through vicariously yet, so I have to take the plunges myself. lol. I was about to go with puple highlights on black hair right before I found out I was pregnant. Hormones do funny things to chemical reactions (read: dye jobs) so I don't want to do something extreme and have it turn out all kinds of odd. So I'll wait until after the baby is born and treat myself to a you-survived-labor reward. :lol:
I think I might want to contact the families that are leaving, and see if there would be some way to start up a new group similar to the changing one, for continuing fine arts education for the kids. When ds was a teen, he wanted to bleach out the top of his naturally-darkbrown hair -- just the top, leaving it dark around the sides and back. So I told him to hold off until his birthday, and he could do it -- so he did. You should have heard the church a-buzzin' that Sunday morning! Gah! It's only hair, for pity's sake! It grows out, it gets cut. No biggie! Personally, though, I told him it made him look like a Q-tip...;-)
My dh just cut my ds's hair and he has a flat top with something like a mohawk down the back. Hair is just something to have fun with. They shouldn't change the rules like that. By the way Actressdancer I like your hair.
Neat, clean, and modest For many years I've been part of an association of home school teachers that works with home school families with various denominational backgrounds. Our first dress code was if it was neat, clean, and modest, you could wear it. That didn't last long. Rules were added, the bigger we go, the more rules were "needed." Styles came and went, associations with the "styles" followed suit. What we realized through the years was external conformity was easy, reaching the heart of the child and building a relationship was really what we wanted. So now, we've backed off on the rules the the guiding principle being, if its a distraction to instructional process, a teacher will talk to you. A quick case in point. In September a 14 year old male came to class with a mohalk that stood up about 8 inches. He had been in a play that involved native americans and he decided after the play to let it grow. This caused quite a stir among the parents (the kids didn't seem to care). I spoke to him privately, had a few laughs about how he got it to stand up (he used Elmers glue), what happens if he goes swimming, etc. Then I got more serious with and said it was causing a distraction and we needed to find a solution. Solutions we came up with were 1) don't glue when you're here and wear a hat or 2) cut it down to about an inch or so. He later came up with a third option. He shaved his head. The stir that caused was short lived, and again most of us had a good laugh. I guess the bottom line to your decision is, is the value your getting from the co-op worth the hassle of the new rules? Curt
Good points, Curt and I also welcome you. I think the hair thing is silly. I went to school with kids who had a variety of colored hair and styles. I don't think it's a big deal but I suppose that depends on your personality. My dd was raised by me...who would not care if a kid in a co-op had an eight inch mohawk but she would think it was crazy looking. She would stay away from anyone who looked goth or punk or combo of it...lol. I was too vain to ever have black nail polish (mainstream now but rebellious then) or a super white face and black lips. However, I went through a funky phase of wearing big black boot...not the bulky boyish kind but sleaker...lol...and funky clothes. I was just a bit off trend in my approach and not goth. So, the whole experimentation with clothing or hair doesn't bother me. Oh I never touched my hair either. I was on the fringe of being on the fringe...LOL. I just liked to add a bit of me..a bit of craziness to what I worn. So, to each his own. Now, there are some things I would object to and not allow in a co-op but that is based more on wearing clothing with offensive images or cuss words..that kind of thing. Let's try to reach the hearts not the fashion instinct as Curt pointed out.
I agree and said before who cares what you wear, I have seen people dress funny, and are the sweetest people on earth. I have seen people dress rich and the meanest people on earth. So, its not what you wear that makes you. Also, its usually never a child that is upset about it, its another parent. So, the saying is if you don't want your to react don't let them see you react. Its just hair. One day maybe be green, next day may be gone.
As far as the dress code goes, I kind of figure that if nothing is "escaping" from where it should be, then I don't care. I have different rules for my children, but I, in no way, expect other peoples children to follow my rules because I hold my breath (I can't stand people who act like that) As far as the hair goes, I have blonde hair. My sister has blond streaks, red in the middle of her head, and purple in the back. She homeschools 4 kids. My pastor asked me who my sister was a couple of months ago, and I just told him, the one with the tri colored hair.
There is a Native American community here, so boys with hair "down to here, down to there", braided or worn loose is quite a familiar sight, at public school or whereever. At the local public school, however, there is a rule against boys wearing earrings, and girls wearing more than one pair at a time and if they do wear any they have to be studs not "dangles" or hoops. And often, parents and their boys choose for the boys an "old-fashioned summer haircut" which means buzz-cut to like a quarter-inch. (Not too many people around here remember how to do flat-tops anymore, or there would be more of them.) So, length anywhere from bald to waist-length, although colors are pretty much forbidden at public school, and are pretty uncommon even among those out of school -- but if they are seen, it's no big deal. When I was in college (like 1970) the college had a dress code which forbade long hair for guys, specifying "traditional American male haircut". So some guys came with Mohawks -- have to admit, it followed the rules! The college didn't agree. Of course, girls did not wear shorts on campus, even going and coming from PE, and skirts with hose and dress shoes were required for class and dinner on Sunday. My, how times change!
I don't think your being too sensitive at all. My eldest is currently in college and there is no restrictions but my youngest who is still in high school has a whole list; Skirts to just above the knee, and must wear tights or trousers or leggings under them(bearing in mind they wear a school uniform) One set of earrings one ring and one watch. There coats must be of school colours black,green or grey and with no logos, School bags the logo must only be the size of a credit card and no foul language. They are not to spike the back of their hair only the top and then it must not exceed a set height . No bright or unnatural hair colours the boys cannot have there hair below a set length and they cannot have a buzz cut or tramlines,or writing shaved into their hair. Shoes must be a whole shole no sandals or "dolly shoes" like ballet flats.and must have no markings on them ,solely black,and they must have no heel. I think i have covered everything... but i can probably think of something else later lol. Personally as long as the child does the school work and there behaviour is acceptable i dont see an issue with what they wear or what colour there hair is, but then i have been know to have green hair or pink highlights in .
When I started college (1996-2000) the guys were not allowed to have their hair in a ponytale, but could have it a "Biblical Length." That basically meant that, depending on the part of the Bible you focused on, it could be any length at all. I always thought that was a brilliant way to allow any length while keeping Headquarters, Alumni, and parents off their back. You can't really argue with that rule. lol. At the time, we couldn't wear shorts to chapel, though skirts were not required for the ladies. Girls would wear shorts to class, then throw a shirt on over them while they were walking in to chapel, then take the skirt back off on the way out. That rule has since changed. So has the "no unnatural hair color" rule. A friend once had her hair dyed red. It turned out too "crayon" for the school's taste. She tried everything to get the color out but couldn't. She was not allowed to attend class until it was "fixed." After three days of fighting with her hair, she shaved her head. The school wasn't happy, but it wasn't against the rules :wink: Of course, we also used to have chapel every day. Now, I think it's two or three times a week. A lot changed in 10 years.
At Oral Roberts in the late 70's, guy's hair had to be above the ear, no beards. Guys wore ties to class/chapel/dining hall/library, and girls had dress/skirts. (Informal permitted in the dining hall Friday evenings, all day Saturday, and Sunday evenings, and in the library after 6:00 and weekends.) Keith Green spoke on campus, but was not permitted to speak in Chapel, because he had a beard. When Rachael and I attended a Christian College Fair a few weeks ago, the had a rep from ORU. She was telling me that all that has recently changed. It sounds as if there is no dress code at all any more. In some ways that's good...it was a bit strict...but some restrictions are not a bad thing, either.
A friend once had her hair dyed red. It turned out too "crayon" for the school's taste. She tried everything to get the color out but couldn't. She was not allowed to attend class until it was "fixed." After three days of fighting with her hair, she shaved her head. The school wasn't happy, but it wasn't against the rules I absolutely LOVE this!!!
I do not think the rules should have changed mid year, but, I am the sort that would like the rules. That being said, I have temporary hair paint in the cupboard my children use when they want to go blue, red, green, etc. It does wash right out. Oddly, now that I think about it, these new rules do not really rule out a mohawk.
I tried that in high school too. My hair turned out Fuscia. LOL. My school had no rules against the color though. But I was too embarrassed to go to school like that and did not go for 3 weeks.
