Thai activists call for stop to punishment haircuts in schools

[webfact]

File photo for reference only.

 

Rebecca Ratcliffe and Chayanit Itthipongmaetee

 

One teacher accused of cutting hair of at least 100 students after relaxing of regulations last month

Activists in Thailand have called for clearer guidance and enforcement to stop the use of humiliating punishment haircuts in schools, after a teacher was accused of cutting the hair of at least 100 students as they sat in rows on the floor.

 

For decades, students in Thailand have had to comply with strict rules regarding the length and style of their hair. Last month, however, in response to growing protests from young people, the ministry of education revoked its hair regulations, saying schools could instead develop their own policies.

 

Young campaigners say this is too vague and unlikely to bring change. “The result is that it gives the full freedom to the schools and schools can do anything without consequence,” said Laponpat Wangpaisit, known as Min, who founded the group Bad Student, which campaigns for reforms to the school system.

 

Last week, his group was contacted by students at a school in Phetchabun province, in north-central Thailand, who shared footage that appeared to show a teacher cutting students’ hair as they sat in lines beside the school flagpole, apparently because they had violated haircut rules. Images said to have been taken after the incident, showing large tufts of hair spread across the concrete, were shared widely on social media.

 

Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/15/thai-activists-call-for-stop-of-punishment-haircuts-in-schools

 

-- © Copyright The Guardian 2023-02-16

 

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[Boomer6969]

"Vive la France", no school uniforms nor haircut standards ever. I am 70.

[zzaa09]

4 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

"Vive la France", no school uniforms nor haircut standards ever. I am 70.

There is hope. As it appears, with each passing year, that parents and communities are pushing back as such applies to these seemingly draconian measures of dress - more and more schooling infrastructures are freeing up these authoritarian-centric regulations [especially regarding hair styles]. 

[Pedrogaz]

A forced haircut is assault.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Activists in Thailand have called for clearer guidance and enforcement to stop the use of humiliating punishment haircuts in schools, after a teacher was accused of cutting the hair of at least 100 students as they sat in rows on the floor.

The regulation was relaxed so the teacher should be chastised.

[proton]

How about campaigning for real education which teaches kids how to think and not what to think?

[BangkokReady]

Simply saying "get rid of these rules because people enforce them in a way I don't like" will simply mean that an important element of discipline and structure will be removed from Thai schools.

 

Sure, one could argue that "a haircut is just for show", but it isn't, it has an effect on how the student feels and behaves.  The fact that they are arguing for a removal of haircut restrictions, rather than to prevent the embarrassing haircuts as a punishment, is testament to this.

 

This is why the military has short haircuts as standard.  It's about discipline and attitude, as much as it is about unity and conformity.

 

It's fine to say that you don't want teachers to cut students hair in a way that forces them to comply with the rules (although they should perhaps be asking why this is necessary and the students or parents aren't able to simply get a haircut).  It's probably a bit of a leap to remove haircut restrictions altogether though. 

 

But the real question is, what will be put in its place to maintain a certain level of discipline and proper behaviour?

Edited February 16, 2023 by BangkokReady

[BangkokReady]

4 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

"Vive la France", no school uniforms nor haircut standards ever. I am 70.

Terrible idea.  School uniforms are beneficial for a number of reasons and there is no benefit to not having them.

[zzaa09]

11 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The regulation was relaxed so the teacher should be chastised.

Or....at the least, lose face. 

[zzaa09]

3 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Simply saying "get rid of these rules because people enforce them in a way I don't like" will simply mean that an important element of discipline and structure will be removed from Thai schools.

 

Sure, one could argue that "a haircut is just for show", but it isn't, it has an effect on how the student feels and behaves.  The fact that they are arguing for a removal of haircut restrictions, rather than to prevent the embarrassing haircuts as a punishment, speaks volumes.

 

This is why the military has short haircuts as standard.  It's about discipline and attitude, as much as it is about unity and conformity.

 

It's fine to say that you don't want teachers to cut students hair in a way that forces them to comply with the rules (although they should perhaps be asking why this is necessary and the students or parents aren't able to simply get a haircut).  It's probably a bit of a leap to remove haircut restrictions altogether though. 

 

But the real question is, what will be put in its place to maintain a certain level of discipline and proper behaviour?

And what of the non-conformist amongst society? 

Ying/Yang have their place.

[BangkokReady]

9 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

And what of the non-conformist amongst society? 

Ying/Yang have their place.

Draw weird pictures on their book covers, then dye their hair pink when they go to college.

[PJPom]

Apart from infants class school uniform was always required. I was a “grammar school “ boy in the fifties and even on lunch break off school premises was subject to dress standards enforced by Prefects.

Today this would not be tolerated but at the time we took pride in our appearance and when we later became Prefects we continued the traditions.

I think the wearing of uniforms and personal grooming is not so much discipline but giving the pupils an idea of acceptable standards , hopefully carried through into their work career.

I left school in 62 and joined another image conscious group, R N no regrets.

[Pouatchee]

Seems to me this is a problem for the parents of said school to deal with.

[Boomer6969]

23 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Terrible idea.  School uniforms are beneficial for a number of reasons and there is no benefit to not having them.

Sure, they are beneficial in prisons, even the Nazis had them in their concentration camps. But totally unnecessary in a school, what are the benefits other than some perverse control of the students.

Edited February 16, 2023 by Boomer6969

[BangkokReady]

20 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

Sure, they are beneficial in prisons, even the Nazis had them in their concentration camps.

LOL.  So anyone who wants people to wear uniforms must be a Nazi and they must want to treat the uniform wearers like prisoners in a deathcamp?

 

What about the military, emergency services, etc.?  Lots of "good guys" wear uniforms as well.  Because of all the benefits.

 

20 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

But totally unnecessary in a school, what are the benefits other than some perverse control of the students.

I couldn't be bothered to write it all out, so I did a bit of googling and I feel this captures it pretty well.  (There are lots of other links, but I don't want to spend too much time on this.)

1. Create cohesion

 When students all wear the same clothing every day at school, it levels out the playing field. Any expectations on what to wear are removed and children develop a greater sense of equality.

Children of all socioeconomic backgrounds begin from the same starting point. Without uniforms, children from poorer backgrounds could feel isolated if their parents are unable to afford the latest styles of clothing.

Creating a standard promotes the idea that we are all the same. Children come together from different backgrounds and can immediately identify a fellow member of their team from the clothes that they wear, breeding a sense of cohesion and commonality that is lost when school uniforms are removed.

2. Reduce the potential for bullying

Without school uniforms, the potential for children to tease and make fun of one another is increased. People use clothing to express themselves; children are no different in this regard. Sadly, when a child expresses themselves in a different way to everyone else, it can create a point of difference between one child and another. Again, these differences can be amplified by socioeconomic disparities between one child’s family and another.

Rather than build a sense of community and equality with a school uniform, allowing children to wear what they like can create divisions between them.

3. Improve study ethic

If a child feels like they don’t fit in, or they don’t have the latest and best clothing, it can be damaging to their confidence. A lack of confidence can be one of the most significant barriers to academic growth. Introducing a school uniform removes this possibility, meaning your child has less to worry about and more reason to be confident in class.

4. Increase safety

There are significant safety concerns to not adopting a uniform in school. With their school colours on, children can immediately be recognised at a distance as a member of that school. In a situation where someone who isn’t a member of the school is on-site, they can be easily identified as not part of the school by their lack of uniform.

This can be extended to days outside of school grounds. On day trips away, children can easily be spotted among crowds thanks to their uniform. This can be especially helpful when making school trips at the same time as other schools, where large crowds of children mix with one another.

5. Fairer dress codes

When a school adopts a uniform, it creates a simple and standardised dress code. When children are allowed to wear what they like, innumerable variations mean schools must adopt a long list of dos and don’ts to formulate their dress code. These dress codes are often harsher on girls too, making for an unfair and unequal community.

By bringing in a uniform, schools can avoid complicated issues around modesty, offensive symbols, and text, and remove any need for teachers to monitor what children are wearing against this dress code.

6. Remove peer pressure

Children are often under some form of peer pressure but adopting a school uniform can remove one form of it. Without a uniform, children can develop expectations about what should be worn to fit into a certain group. Children divide themselves into cliques and the sense of togetherness that a uniform brings is lost.

7. Prepare for the outside world

School uniforms prepare children for formal scenarios that we all encounter in our lives. Depending on the situation, we’re expected to dress and look a certain way. Job interviews are a good example. Dressing professionally in working environments is expected in adulthood, and this is something your child will understand thanks to a school uniform.

8. Easy mornings for students and parents

As any parent knows, weekday mornings can be chaotic. It can be tricky enough to get yourself ready for work without having to worry about how your child is getting on too. That problem is amplified if your child doesn’t have a school uniform to put on each morning, as they take their time to decide what to wear. In the end, it could take away from what is important – your child’s studies.

Uniforms remove one more thing from the ‘to-do’ list of mums and dads every day.

9. Encourage professionalism

Some people believe that school uniforms contribute positively to a child’s behaviour in school. Their uniform develops an affinity with learning. Once they put it on, their purpose is to work hard at their studies. A sense of professionalism develops within each child, leading to more focus in the classroom.

10. Reduce Distractions

Uniforms make for one less distraction during school. By wearing what they like, children can become more focused on their school status rather than their studies. Fashion trends and owning the latest styles become the priority, and it could lead to a downturn in that child’s progress at school.

11. Focus on character

Without a uniform, what they wear can end up defining your child rather than the content of their character. Children should be prioritising the development of their personality, having the confidence to be who they are and not be defined by material things like the clothes they wear.

With a school uniform, your child can express themselves in more meaningful ways, which helps to develop their creativity.

12. Easier economics for parents

Children can be demanding when they notice their friends have something they don’t. Without a uniform, the potential for this to happen with clothing increases. Children may put their parents under pressure to buy them a new wardrobe every season or capitalise on every new trend that sweeps through the school.

With school uniforms, economics is made easier for parents. You know exactly what to buy and when to buy it, and often uniform can be used for more than one school year. School uniforms are robust and designed for longevity. They’ll last much longer than your child’s other clothing, helping you save money by not having to replace them as often.

 

Source: https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/philippines/manila/international/article/2020/7/24/the-benefits-of-schools-uniforms-and-why-schools-have-them

Edited February 16, 2023 by BangkokReady

[zzaa09]

19 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

LOL.  So anyone who wants people to wear uniforms must be a Nazi and they must want to treat the uniform wearers like prisoners in a deathcamp?

 

What about the military, emergency services, etc.?  Lots of "good guys" wear uniforms as well.  Because of all the benefits.

 

I couldn't be bothered to write it all out, so I did a bit of googling and I feel this captures it pretty well.  (There are lots of other links, but I don't want to spend too much time on this.)

1. Create cohesion

 When students all wear the same clothing every day at school, it levels out the playing field. Any expectations on what to wear are removed and children develop a greater sense of equality.

Children of all socioeconomic backgrounds begin from the same starting point. Without uniforms, children from poorer backgrounds could feel isolated if their parents are unable to afford the latest styles of clothing.

Creating a standard promotes the idea that we are all the same. Children come together from different backgrounds and can immediately identify a fellow member of their team from the clothes that they wear, breeding a sense of cohesion and commonality that is lost when school uniforms are removed.

2. Reduce the potential for bullying

Without school uniforms, the potential for children to tease and make fun of one another is increased. People use clothing to express themselves; children are no different in this regard. Sadly, when a child expresses themselves in a different way to everyone else, it can create a point of difference between one child and another. Again, these differences can be amplified by socioeconomic disparities between one child’s family and another.

Rather than build a sense of community and equality with a school uniform, allowing children to wear what they like can create divisions between them.

3. Improve study ethic

If a child feels like they don’t fit in, or they don’t have the latest and best clothing, it can be damaging to their confidence. A lack of confidence can be one of the most significant barriers to academic growth. Introducing a school uniform removes this possibility, meaning your child has less to worry about and more reason to be confident in class.

4. Increase safety

There are significant safety concerns to not adopting a uniform in school. With their school colours on, children can immediately be recognised at a distance as a member of that school. In a situation where someone who isn’t a member of the school is on-site, they can be easily identified as not part of the school by their lack of uniform.

This can be extended to days outside of school grounds. On day trips away, children can easily be spotted among crowds thanks to their uniform. This can be especially helpful when making school trips at the same time as other schools, where large crowds of children mix with one another.

5. Fairer dress codes

When a school adopts a uniform, it creates a simple and standardised dress code. When children are allowed to wear what they like, innumerable variations mean schools must adopt a long list of dos and don’ts to formulate their dress code. These dress codes are often harsher on girls too, making for an unfair and unequal community.

By bringing in a uniform, schools can avoid complicated issues around modesty, offensive symbols, and text, and remove any need for teachers to monitor what children are wearing against this dress code.

6. Remove peer pressure

Children are often under some form of peer pressure but adopting a school uniform can remove one form of it. Without a uniform, children can develop expectations about what should be worn to fit into a certain group. Children divide themselves into cliques and the sense of togetherness that a uniform brings is lost.

7. Prepare for the outside world

School uniforms prepare children for formal scenarios that we all encounter in our lives. Depending on the situation, we’re expected to dress and look a certain way. Job interviews are a good example. Dressing professionally in working environments is expected in adulthood, and this is something your child will understand thanks to a school uniform.

8. Easy mornings for students and parents

As any parent knows, weekday mornings can be chaotic. It can be tricky enough to get yourself ready for work without having to worry about how your child is getting on too. That problem is amplified if your child doesn’t have a school uniform to put on each morning, as they take their time to decide what to wear. In the end, it could take away from what is important – your child’s studies.

Uniforms remove one more thing from the ‘to-do’ list of mums and dads every day.

9. Encourage professionalism

Some people believe that school uniforms contribute positively to a child’s behaviour in school. Their uniform develops an affinity with learning. Once they put it on, their purpose is to work hard at their studies. A sense of professionalism develops within each child, leading to more focus in the classroom.

10. Reduce Distractions

Uniforms make for one less distraction during school. By wearing what they like, children can become more focused on their school status rather than their studies. Fashion trends and owning the latest styles become the priority, and it could lead to a downturn in that child’s progress at school.

11. Focus on character

Without a uniform, what they wear can end up defining your child rather than the content of their character. Children should be prioritising the development of their personality, having the confidence to be who they are and not be defined by material things like the clothes they wear.

With a school uniform, your child can express themselves in more meaningful ways, which helps to develop their creativity.

12. Easier economics for parents

Children can be demanding when they notice their friends have something they don’t. Without a uniform, the potential for this to happen with clothing increases. Children may put their parents under pressure to buy them a new wardrobe every season or capitalise on every new trend that sweeps through the school.

With school uniforms, economics is made easier for parents. You know exactly what to buy and when to buy it, and often uniform can be used for more than one school year. School uniforms are robust and designed for longevity. They’ll last much longer than your child’s other clothing, helping you save money by not having to replace them as often.

 

Source: https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/philippines/manila/international/article/2020/7/24/the-benefits-of-schools-uniforms-and-why-schools-have-them

And by all means......please do nothing to encourage free, independent and critical thought - also includes never ever challenge or question the make believe authority and convention. 

[BangkokReady]

3 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

And by all means......please do nothing to encourage free, independent and critical thought - also includes never ever challenge or question the make believe authority and convention. 

Quite the opposite.  People can think what they like.  Wearing a uniform doesn't stop that at all.  If anything, the uniform takes away other distractions and leaves students more able to think freely than if they had to worry about all the things that a uniform removes.

[fusion58]

5 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Simply saying "get rid of these rules because people enforce them in a way I don't like" will simply mean that an important element of discipline and structure will be removed from Thai schools.

 

Sure, one could argue that "a haircut is just for show", but it isn't, it has an effect on how the student feels and behaves.  The fact that they are arguing for a removal of haircut restrictions, rather than to prevent the embarrassing haircuts as a punishment, is testament to this.

 

This is why the military has short haircuts as standard.  It's about discipline and attitude, as much as it is about unity and conformity.

 

It's fine to say that you don't want teachers to cut students hair in a way that forces them to comply with the rules (although they should perhaps be asking why this is necessary and the students or parents aren't able to simply get a haircut).  It's probably a bit of a leap to remove haircut restrictions altogether though. 

 

But the real question is, what will be put in its place to maintain a certain level of discipline and proper behaviour?

While it's certainly not unreasonable for schools to establish dress codes of some form or other, mandatory school uniforms are extreme.

 

A more moderate approach would look something like "you're free to wear whatever you like, with the following exceptions: (insert list of prohibited articles.")

 

Children aren't soldiers or cops.

 

You can have too much structure just as you can have too little structure.

Edited February 16, 2023 by fusion58

[fusion58]

4 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Quite the opposite.  People can think what they like.  Wearing a uniform doesn't stop that at all.  If anything, the uniform takes away other distractions and leaves students more able to think freely than if they had to worry about all the things that a uniform removes.

If this line of reasoning were true, then you would expect the performance of Thailand's educational system to reflect such "advantages."

 

There's a reason why the hi-sos send their kids abroad to be educated.

 

 

[BangkokReady]

8 hours ago, fusion58 said:

If this line of reasoning were true, then you would expect the performance of Thailand's educational system to reflect such "advantages."

Not necesaerily. Students are still being taught what they are being taught. And you can certainly see all the other advantages.

 

8 hours ago, fusion58 said:

There's a reason why the hi-sos send their kids abroad to be educated.

Because they don't wear uniforms? I think it's more about how and what they teach the students. And the probably still wear uniforms anyway.

[BangkokReady]

8 hours ago, fusion58 said:

While it's certainly not unreasonable for schools to establish dress codes of some form or other, mandatory school uniforms are extreme.

 

A more moderate approach would look something like "you're free to wear whatever you like, with the following exceptions: (insert list of prohibited articles.")

I disagree. There are many benefits to wearing school uniforms that you simply don't get without them.

 

8 hours ago, fusion58 said:

Children aren't soldiers or cops.

True, but there are many other benefits to uniforms beyond military applications. 

 

8 hours ago, fusion58 said:

You can have too much structure just as you can have too little structure.

I disagree. I don't think the uniform creates too much structure. If you look at the list of benefits above, structure is a small part if it.

[jacko45k]

14 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

A forced haircut is assault.

Are you serious......?

Must be my age and generation but school uniforms and being told to get a haircut were commonplace when I was at school... never thought I was being assaulted......

Pendulum swings a bit too far sometimes.

 

[Lucky Bones]

Sounds like a fetish of some type.????????

[fusion58]

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Not necesaerily[sic]. Students are still being taught what they are being taught. And you can certainly see all the other advantages.

You suggested mandatory school uniforms conferred some sort of educational advantage on students. In measuring the performance of the Thai school system, there's no evidence to support this claim.

 

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Because they don't wear uniforms? I think it's more about how and what they teach the students. And the[sic] probably still wear uniforms anyway.

No. It's because they (hi-so parents) realize the quality of education their kids are going to receive in, say, the U.S. or the U.K., is usually going to be superior to that of Thailand.

[fusion58]

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

I disagree. There are many benefits to wearing school uniforms that you simply don't get without them.

Whatever these "benefits" may be, there's precious little empirical evidence that they correlate with actual academic performance.

 

You certainly don't see Thai K-12 students leaving kids in the U.K. or the U.S. in the dust academically on account of those spiffy uniforms.

 

https://leverageedu.com/blog/best-education-system-in-the-world/

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, fusion58 said:

You suggested mandatory school uniforms conferred some sort of educational advantage on students. In measuring the performance of the Thai school system, there's no evidence to support this claim.

I didn't claim that the performance of the Thai education system was evidence of the educational advantages of school uniforms.

 

2 hours ago, fusion58 said:

No. It's because they (hi-so parents) realize the quality of education their kids are going to receive in, say, the U.S. or the U.K., is usually going to be superior to that of Thailand.

Exactly.

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, fusion58 said:

You certainly don't see Thai K-12 students leaving kids in the U.K. or the U.S. in the dust academically on account of those spiffy uniforms.

I don't think anyone is claiming that uniforms are so beneficial they can make pupils enrolled in a poor quality educational system magically perform at a higher level than pupils enrolled in a far superior educational system.

 

It also doesn't prove that a lack of uniforms is what makes the US superior to Thailand in educational achievement.

 

And the UK has school uniforms.

 

This is just an absurd argument.

 

If we're going to bring the US into the argument, it might be interesting to look at things like bullying, mental health, and things like school shootings. There's a possibility that school uniforms would benefit the US school system greatly.

[jacko45k]

22 hours ago, fusion58 said:

You suggested mandatory school uniforms conferred some sort of educational advantage on students. In measuring the performance of the Thai school system, there's no evidence to support this claim.

Hey, Eton kids go on to be Prime Ministers so many times, all kids should be wearing tailcoats and top hats, even the girls

[zzaa09]

 

[bamnutsak]

The Education Minister brought this on herself. Classic Thai.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1284588-thailands-draconian-rules-about-hairstyles-for-school-pupils-and-uni-students-ends/

 

However, it does not necessarily mean that all educational institutions will suddenly allow any kind of styles. It just means that styles will not be officially mandated.

 

Each school and university will have the freedom to come up with their own rules and regulations regarding hair as they see fit.