Haircut Rule Relaxation Worries Some: Thai School Regulation

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SCHOOL REGULATION
Haircut rule relaxation worries some
Supinda Na Mahachai
The Nation



Critics say kids will be distracted; others agree it's time to loosen up

BANGKOK: -- Parents and students yesterday voiced mixed opinions over the new ministerial regulations that allow all students to have a layered haircut. Some expressed concern that students might become preoccupied with their hairstyles and clothing.

"Students are supposed to focus on the most important thing - which is their education - rather than fashion and hairstyles. They should follow the old regulations that did not allow students to have long hair because if they wore long hair, they would look too attractive, and this poses a danger to them," said Netsurang Kongsittichot, mother of a Matthayom 1 (Grade 7) student at Satriwithaya School.

Meanwhile, Montitar Petudom, a Matthayom 5 (Grade 11) student at Satriwithaya School, said she and her father agreed with the new regulations because he thought that students should have more freedom these days, but that students must observe appropriate limits.

"I personally agree with the new regulations because I can have long hair, even though I have to tie my hair with a white ribbon," said Montitar.

Chamnong Chamchantha-rawong, director of Satriwithaya School, said the school would not oppose the new regulations although it had conserved short hair culture for a long time. The school committee and alumni association had discussed the issue with the school. It would allow students to wear their hair long, but would not allow them to get a layered haircut or colour their hair. Now, 50 per cent of the students have short hair.

Nit Ouytekkeng, chairman of Ban Khao Niwet Municipality School's committee in Ranong province, said the ministry didn't understand what really happens at schools. They only think about what happens in the outside world; they don't have a proper idea about whether Thai society is ready for such a change or not. What happens these days, Nit said, was that students were given many rights, but ignore the rules. This could cause a problem in the future, the school chairman said.

Chinnapat Bhumirat, secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, said the new regulations provided general outlines on student haircuts. Schools, students and other stakeholders could make a decision together on which hairstyles were suitable to students.

"I don't think a layered hairstyle will be a problem. I am afraid that haircuts without layers are seen as abnormal when compared to hairstyles that people actually have," Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana said.


-- The Nation 2013-05-17

[A Member]

" ... they will look too attractive and this could prove a danger to them " plus a suggestion that Thai society may not be ready for this ! Did I miss something or is this about allowing students to grow longer hair ? The immaturity and lack of commonsense in this country defies description. Finally, will the new regulations be extended to politicians too, after all they are the biggest children of them all ?

[MaxLee]

Times have changed, blame it on the foreign Western cultures...

[kurnell]

More likely a lack of iq than a lack of hair effecting their scholastic results

[Mosha]

"Nit Ouytekkeng, chairman of Ban Khao Niwet Municipality School's committee in Ranong province, said the ministry didn't understand what really happens at schools."

Clearly nothing to do with what schools are meant to do. Educate.

[Robby nz]

Whatever, one way or another it wont help the kids learn.

Announcements like this are only distractions by the Ministry of Education to make it look like they are actually doing something.

They should be focusing on improving education rather than how kids wear their hair.

[theajarn]

I had my students interview people about the relaxation of the haircut rule (a rule that dates waaaaay back in 2003) -- and the people they interviewed came up with similar brain-dead explanations-- people will be so vain they'd neglect their studies.

Well guess what? They ALREADY neglect their studies! Because they KNOW they can get away with it -- because of the government's everyone MUST pass rule which forces teachers to fake the grades so that students 'pass'.

Having longer (normal) hair won't do shit, except maybe put a damper on the barber shop business across the country.

But we can predict that the brainwashed Thais will no doubt blame the new hairstyles ...

[Gsxrnz]

Searched the web and am unable to find any studies that compare hair length of students in relation to academic achievement.

[Thai at Heart]

I am concerned that teachers can't come up with any relevant argument. They wouldn't get into the debating team.

[DocN]

Repent...the end is near!

[Stradavarius37]

Old people worrying about the hair of young people - shocking...

[Thaddeus]

Old people worrying about the hair of young people - shocking...

And what about that Rock and Roll eh...... they'll be getting pregnant at 15 next.

Edited May 17, 2013 by Thaddeus

[Thaddeus]

There are many things wrong with the Thai education system.

Mostly in the education system, not the kids.

[CWMcMurray]

SCHOOL REGULATION

Haircut rule relaxation worries some

Supinda Na Mahachai

The Nation

Critics say kids will be distracted; others agree it's time to loosen up

BANGKOK: -- Parents and students yesterday voiced mixed opinions over the new ministerial regulations that allow all students to have a layered haircut. Some expressed concern that students might become preoccupied with their hairstyles and clothing.

"Students are supposed to focus on the most important thing - which is their education - rather than fashion and hairstyles.....

-- The Nation 2013-05-17

If these requirements are waived... Then perhaps teachers can focus what is important.... Teaching ....

Instead of wasting. So much time an be concerned about students hair styles...

Private schools already allow long hair... So if some of the opponents arguments were accurate , it would mean that those going to gov schools are doing better and more focused on learning than those at private schools because their hair is shorter?

Is this really the case?

Does this argument even make sense?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[Elfin]

I thought they had short hair cuts to prevent the spread or infestation of head lice. I didn't realise it was to stop them from being "hansum"!

[bobl]

Did I wake up in another dimension? Please tell me it's April 1 in this reality...

[Pib]

This is big change for the education system; next, what should the next tablet buy be--Android or Apple? Tough decisions indeed.

Edited May 17, 2013 by Pib

[Songhua]

The most pressing issue of the modern age.

When will The Beatles be touring?

[Gsxrnz]

Did I wake up in another dimension? Please tell me it's April 1 in this reality...

I thought Thailand was in another dimension.

[A Member]

I had my students interview people about the relaxation of the haircut rule (a rule that dates waaaaay back in 2003) -- and the people they interviewed came up with similar brain-dead explanations-- people will be so vain they'd neglect their studies.

Well guess what? They ALREADY neglect their studies! Because they KNOW they can get away with it -- because of the government's everyone MUST pass rule which forces teachers to fake the grades so that students 'pass'.

Having longer (normal) hair won't do shit, except maybe put a damper on the barber shop business across the country.

But we can predict that the brainwashed Thais will no doubt blame the new hairstyles ...

I worked at an Isan technical school where the emphasis was on students arriving on time and being neat and tidy but it didn't matter a stuff if they tried to learn. I was advised by a colleague not to worry about doing my job as " you get the same salary at the end of the month whether you work hard or not ". By no means an isolated attitude and indicative of what goes on in the " educational system ".

[me313]

Yingluck wants Thailand to become like the West, so "individuality" means more consumerism, eventually spurring more spending on haircuts, hairstyles, unique clothing. Maybe one day the dress code will end those ugly boring uniforms and ugly boring hair cuts. Not that it would improve the quality of any people, but aesthetically thailand has a lot of improvement ahead of it, Thai people in general that I see everywhere dress and look exactly boring, they are conformist it's really horrible. The fashion for women is sleazy for most of them, and for men it's just boring. No personality, no unique characteristics amongst Thai people let new hair fashion in let different clothing fashion come in, burn all those ugly ugly uniforms my God Thailand is boring make it change and improve in fashion.

[Gsxrnz]

Yingluck wants Thailand to become like the West, so "individuality" means more consumerism, eventually spurring more spending on haircuts, hairstyles, unique clothing. Maybe one day the dress code will end those ugly boring uniforms and ugly boring hair cuts. Not that it would improve the quality of any people, but aesthetically thailand has a lot of improvement ahead of it, Thai people in general that I see everywhere dress and look exactly boring, they are conformist it's really horrible. The fashion for women is sleazy for most of them, and for men it's just boring. No personality, no unique characteristics amongst Thai people let new hair fashion in let different clothing fashion come in, burn all those ugly ugly uniforms my God Thailand is boring make it change and improve in fashion.

My goodness.....wrong side of the bed day is it?

[willyumiii]

It is o.k. to have longer hair now.

But the government still dictates the hair style??

It must be "layered"!

Is that like the "shag" hair style of the 70s in the U.S?.

A gay looking layered hair cut or a butch looking crew cut...that's what I call freedom!

[willyumiii]

Old people worrying about the hair of young people - shocking...

And what about that Rock and Roll eh...... they'll be getting pregnant at 15 next.

Then I say go for it!

15 is better than getting pregnant at 12 like so many do now!

[GentlemanJim]

Of all of the things that concern me about my daughters education, hairstyle and hair length has not even made it to the list of concerns, nor will it ever.

[jmccarty]

Student hair length, yes a national issue!!

[thaicbr]

Old people worrying about the hair of young people - shocking...

 

And what about that Rock and Roll eh...... they'll be getting pregnant at 15 next.

Then I say go for it!

 

15 is better than getting pregnant at 12 like so many do now!

Well they can get married at 15!

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

[MrBrad]

"Students are supposed to focus on the most important thing - which is their education - rather than fashion and hairstyles...."

I think the first word in that sentence should be changed to "Administrators and teachers."

[Thai at Heart]

Of all of the things that concern me about my daughters education, hairstyle and hair length has not even made it to the list of concerns, nor will it ever.

Indeed in the grand scheme of things, this really has to be most petty pathetic controlling issue I have ever seen. At my school we had a hair length rule for boys, above the collar. So everyone just basically ended up with ridiculous floppy hair. But the idea that conformity contributes so much to an education really makes you wonder how these teachers see the world. All they have to state is that hair should be neat. Enough said.

Conform and you will have a greater chance to be successful? What an utterly depressing thought.

[NoshowJones]

There are many things wrong with the Thai education system.

Mostly in the education system, not the kids.

I was given a teaching job one year ago by the Head of the English Department. Just before I was due to be introduced to the school director the following day, I was asked if I finished my High School education in Scotland. I said yes, and then I was asked for proof of this, like a certificate. I said no, because the school I attended was demolished years ago, then told her where to stick her job and walked out. With a mentality like that, no wonder Thais are so poorly educated. Hairstyles, and suchlike are more important than education to them.