lol...this conversation was interesting. I'm slowing turning more and more square myself. To weigh in with my 2 cents: I think if he wants to wear the makeup let him wear the makeup. I know personally that it ISN'T a distraction because I went to school with many who did. And a 12" Mohawk was distracting in the hallways but we never really gave it much thought in class. I think if a kid wants to express himself that it's fine. a lot of people associate that with anti-Christian behavior which isn't true. I went goth a little bit (12-10 years ago!!!!) but I never once faltered in my Christianity. Anyhow, I also died my hair with koolaid when I was in hs, lol. So maybe I can't talk.
btw....the end of last year we were sitting in the library. I was watching the kid's group and glanced outside to see a boy (teenage) with short/ curled bob styled hair and make up. He was dressed in slim girl jeans and a snug pink polo. I was shocked at first, but I thought If that boy has the guts to wear it to school then more power to him. He's just being himself.
We had a kid like that in the local high school a little while after I graduated. Very flamboyant and always dressed perfectly...in feminine attire. I always though it was funny. Here was this kid dressed in clothing that would cause people to label him weak and confused and yet I was floored by the strength and self-assurance it would take for a boy to go to a rural school every day in make up and a skirt. To top it off he was native, going to a school where there was a lot of tension between white kids and native kids. I don't know what happened to him but he seemed destined to be one of those people who either burns out fast or changes the world.
Something to remember is just because you didn't find it distracting doesn't mean it isn't distracting to others. I remember one girl in school that stood out and was distracting to me. She had half pink and black hair. Her eyebrows, nose, tongue, and lip were pierced. She wore black eyeshadow, deep red lipstick, very light foundation, and leapard print clothes everyday. Sometimes her hair was spiked other times she would shave half her head. She wore heavy chains. Finally one day the office called her in and basically told her that her appearance was not acceptable. To me, she was a distraction, especially during class. I do not think a lot of people find it anti-Christian. I know many nonbelievers who find this inappropriate too. Personally, if I had a son, I wouldn't allow him to wear makeup. This isn't meant as a put down to those who would allow your sons to express themselves this way. Just my opinion.
I forgot my daughter had blue highlights on her hair last year one on each side. It wasnt that she was a rebel it was because of Aqua marina the mermaid movie. The kids at coop thought it was kewl the mothers looked at her with disaproval like she was going to rub off her rebel on their kids hahaha I thought it was funny daughter had fun with them, they are not gone she has blond highlights. As Aqua Marina quotes "Why go through life unnoticed"
When I was in high school (early 90's) there was one guy who always wore make up and skirts. The teachers flipped, and so did some of the parents, but we definately did not care. Not to say eyebrows didn't go up the first day he showed up like that, but otherwise, nobody really cared. At least I should say that nobody in my sphere cared - he might have gotten razzed by another group. What I remember about him (other than one particular white lace skirt!) was the he was a really nice guy who'd do anything to help you out.
My DD can wear her pink tutu to math and her brothers come dressed for the Greek wars.... for grammar.... I LOVE to homeschool!
Jen, i wish you lived close to me! Phillip would LOVE to have someone to dress up with like that! We're doing a day camp in a few weeks, and one of the sessions he's signed up for is called "Catapult Science". He's REALLY excited about it!
HE can explain the difference between the two, which is surely more than his mom can do! Today, he came looking for a winter scarf. He wanted it wrapped around his head, almost turban-style, with only his eyes and nose showing, like he had seen some Ninja-type warriors in a movie. The neighbor lady (who has a 5yo son who idolizes Phillip) was saying he looked like a terrorist (and she was right!).
hahahah I have a friend whos son is 8 and he has the BEST imagination.... One day while visiting their home... he came out of his room (Where he and the boys had been yelling and playing very loudly) and asked my DH to help him strap his SPACE PACK ON... DH asked him to repeat it, because he couldn't hear what he said, what with the if football helmet he had on... THAT"S MY SPACE HELMET! I CAN"ZT TAKE IT OFF OR I WILL SUCCCUM TO THE VACCUMM OF SPACE! (Yes, he hollered the whole thing!) So hubby helped him strap his Space Pack on... (His daddys belt around his pillows on his front and back....) Apparently Space is now safe from space monsters because he was able to complete his extra terrestrial space walk.... hahaha Isn't that AWESOME!???
OMGosh, I'm dying laughing!!!! I just had an image of a neighbor whispering to her husband....what are those homeschoolers teaching their kids?! rofl....I bet we've often inspired thoughts like that!
Gee I sure missed a lot while I was off in hurricane land. Well this is just my two cents...... I agree that adults make a way bigger deal out of things like this than kids do. I attended high school in the early 90's when goth and grunge were the "in" thing with some people. The hair, piercings, black lip stick and nail polish, big combat boots and trench coats. Keep in mind that this was in a small little podunk countryfied town where Friday night football games were the place to be (according to the town folk) and wrangler jeans and pick up trucks were the only possible way to be normal. The goth people may have got teased by the cowboys because they looked like "freaks" but that was outside of class. Inside class there was no distraction. Everyone learned just as they would have if they had all been wearing the "normal" jeans, white tshirt, work boots and belt buckles the size of Texas. I personally would die before I let my son (if I had a son) wear makeup, nail polish or a dress. But it isn't my place to tell another parent what to allow for their child. Nor is it the schools. But hey I've been known to go against the grain before.
Clearly, we all have different opinions of what "distracting" is to us. But, I wonder how much "expression" is too much? How much should the schools allow? Should we allow children to do what they want in the name of "expression" or "rights"? Should there be a limit? Where is the line drawn if it isn't the schools right to tell students what they can or can't wear? We live in a world that screams, "You can't tell me what to do?" Now, I agree that the school should be limited as to just how much authority it has but at the same time, if parents are going to ship their kiddos off to school for 6 or more hours, they better be prepared to know that the school is going to place certain restrictions upon the students. Families have rules in their house to keep order. The school has rules for its campus to keep order. Do I agree with everything the school does? Not by a long shot. This is why I homeschool. So where do we draw the line? I am curious.
Yup -- like the original poster said --- another reason to be glad I homeschool. ...So that my kids can express themselves how they want and not be in constant ridicule by kids/parents who teach their kids that people who are different or going through a phase are "freaks". The biggest distraction for me would be surrounded with people all wearing the same thing & with the same haircut. It's kind of like driving a straight road through the desert --- being exposed to the same thing for long periods of time can really mess with the mind.
