Feature:
Thai pupils see glimpse of freedom from new hair rules
by Apilaporn VECHAKIJ

BANGKOK, August 7, 2013 (AFP) - Pudding-bowl bobs and army-type cuts were for decades the only hairstyles allowed to be sported by Thai schoolchildren -- but now looser rules spell new freedom for classroom coiffures.

"I am embarrassed having this kind of hairstyle," 14-year-old Visarut Rungrod told AFP, running his hand over his close-cropped head, adding he plans to lengthen his locks as soon as possible.

"I will feel more confident when I go out," he explained.

Rules issued in 1972 compelled Thai pupils to have identical hairstyles -- a trim not below the earlobes for girls and a maximum five-centimetre length for boys -- until the end of high school.

But students are now hoping to flaunt their individuality after an edict by Thailand's education ministry in May scrapped the measure.

The issue, in a nation which emphasises collective culture over individualism, was sparked by an anonymous complaint by a 15-year-old student to the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand in 2011, saying the strict rules violated human rights and freedom.

"It made adolescent students lack confidence and lose concentration in studying," the student said in the letter, which won mass support across social media among teenagers.

The letter stirred debate in a country where the education system often faces accusations of promoting rigid conformity over creativity and independent thought.

Under the new rules, girls are able to grow their hair long -- although they will have to wear it tied back in matching ponytails -- while boys can grow their hair to the nape of their neck.

As fashions changed, a small number of schools had already allowed girls to grow their hair long, as long as it was kept tidy, but the May rule change has brought new-found freedom to teenagers across the kingdom.

Not everyone is happy. Some teachers and parents fear doing away with the traditional tresses is the start of a wider unravelling of Thailand's appreciation for conformism.

"They must all have short hair otherwise there will be a lot of varied hairstyles (in schools)," said 56-year-old father, Pornyudh Budhapongsiriporn, whose sons are 12 and 15.

"If most students have a short haircut, the rest should have short hair -- otherwise they won't fit in with society."

For parents like him, all is not lost in the battle to preserve conformity.

The government still gives teachers ultimate authority to decide their school's hair policy.

"Among our teachers and school committees, the resolution was that all students should have the old hairstyle," said Ratchanee Prapasapong, director of Makutkasatriyaram School in Bangkok.

"Though hairstyle has nothing to do with teaching, we see it as a kind of discipline for living together in society. It also shows that younger ones respect (and) still want to keep the traditional culture of older generations," she added.

Experts suggest that the new rule may indeed herald a wider move away from that traditional culture and say it has troubled the conservative older generations.

"They are very confused that all of a sudden students have long hair," Somphong Chitradub, an education expert at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, told AFP.

"But it (the freedom to grow their hair) develops children to show their real feelings -- it will make them feel good," Somphong added.

One key objection is that pupils will be distracted from their textbooks by the pursuit of funky new hairstyles, while some parents fear an increased physical awareness may push their children prematurely towards having boyfriends or girlfriends.

It is an idea rubbished by Somphong, who says those fears smack of paranoia as it is "inner discipline", and not hairstyles, that dictates pupils' application at school.

"Parents and teachers do not understand the real needs of the students, although they have good intentions by thinking for the kids," Somphong said.

"They should teach the kids about life skills and building self-discipline."

For most pupils, the issue is simply about choice and does not carry much wider social meaning.

"It depends on us how much we want to pay attention to studying or to beauty," said Pattanotai Tungsuwan, a 14-year-old female student with a silky black ponytail.

"For me I would rather pay attention to my studies."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-08-07

I can imagine their confusion when they get a real education as well..

Maybe they should introduce barbers into the schools. That way, if they want it long it can be long but has to be exactly the same length and style. A menu with choice a ) short, b ) long. Allows for flexibility and conformity at the same time.

<yes, I'm being facetious>

Will this mean that teachers may not also act as barbers as they do now.

~~~"They must all have short hair otherwise there will be a lot of varied hairstyles (in schools)," said 56-year-old father, Pornyudh Budhapongsiriporn, whose sons are 12 and 15.~~~

Thanks for that Meester Porn. I wasn't sure what would happen till you spelled it out for me.

So, the theory is, if the students have short hair, they will read and concentrate on their text books?

Possible we can take this a step further and insist on crew cuts all 'round, and they will give up their smart phones.

A lot of us went through this malarky in the 1960s, when hair was allowed to be longer than short back and sides. Can't see that it affected our concentration.

If the country is so worried about conformity, could someone please explain why 95% of the population do not conform with existing laws, and refuse to wear a helmet after dark?

**"They must all have short hair otherwise there will be a lot of varied hairstyles (in schools)," said 56-year-old father, Pornyudh Budhapongsiriporn, whose sons are 12 and 15.**: typical, hair-brained reasoning...sound familiar? ;-} rap.

Maybe they should introduce barbers into the schools. That way, if they want it long it can be long but has to be exactly the same length and style. A menu with choice a ) short, b ) long. Allows for flexibility and conformity at the same time.

<yes, I'm being facetious>

Oh, our school used to have a barber come by and all the boys with non-compliant hair cuts got to get a 50 baht haircut.

It was actually nicer for everyone than when the teacher took a scissors to their hair.

Hippies....

bodgies and widgies!!

the Beatles rool.

bodgies and widgies!!

the Beatles rool.

Those short haired mop tops......let Kiss set the hairstyles.

http://www.kissonline.com/

But if they cut their hair differently they may begin to feel like individuals, perhaps even develop a need to be different. There may even be attempts to refute things they have been told and do things in different ways.

No good can come from this.

"If most students have a short haircut, the rest should have short hair -- otherwise they won't fit in with society."

What a logic! -

"If most students don't learn English, the rest should have similar knowledge.- Otherwise they won't fit in with society."

And when will the ludicrous shorts for boys, correction, young men, be abolished? And the silly little-girly socks and open-topped shoes for girls, correction, young women?

The government still gives teachers ultimate authority to decide their school's hair policy.

What's the point in amending the rules and then just allow them to be ignored at the teachers' whim??

"Though hairstyle has nothing to do with teaching, we see it as a kind of discipline for living together in society. It also shows that younger ones respect (and) still want to keep the traditional culture of older generations," she added.

Sure, it shows how much they want to keep the traditional culture, like they had any say in it.

Let them worry about hair style so they don't worry about corruption, discrimination, racism, fascism, lack of justice...

"Experts suggest that the new rule may indeed herald a wider move away from that traditional culture and say it has troubled the conservative older generations."

I whished I had their problems!!!!

The problem with the conservative older generations is that they are conservative and old!

"It made adolescent students lack confidence and lose concentration in studying," the student said in the letter, which won mass support across social media among teenagers."

And when I thought that knives, machetes, and guns were all they needed to build their confidence...

But if they cut their hair differently they may begin to feel like individuals, perhaps even develop a need to be different. There may even be attempts to refute things they have been told and do things in different ways.

No good can come from this.

If the question re education is regulation or non regulation hair, they are asking the wrong question.

I fear this will lead to Satanic Music and wild dancing. That's what happened to my classmates after they graduated from 8th Grade in Catholic school...

good times coming...

Don't worry about the children's education - only their hair and uniforms. Thainess.

How about freedom to question the garbage that is crammed down their throats? To question their teachers without being impertinent? Oh, but teacher would lose face when students realise teacher knows nothing....

What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Let the teachers also conform to the official hairstyling.

Don't worry about the children's education - only their hair and uniforms. Thainess.

+1

As is sadly too usual, Thai people are squabbling over little things and totally ignoring the important ones like good teachers and trying to make students study and think and not letting every idiot pass exams despite being crap....etc etc

There is nothing wrong with enforcing a code of dress and hair style.

One of the best things about sending my daughter to school in Thailand is the fact that they have to wear a uniform and neither I nor my daughter have a problem with her having to wear her long hair in Twin Pony Tails. Should also mention she went to school in Australia where students wore a uniform and this gives the students a good grounding in learning about RESPECT....for themselves, their school and the public.

Like haircuts really matter to the education standards in Thailand. If your child fails just pay out some baht and his grades change.

Sure, haircuts make a difference?????

Is this a joke?!

E D U C A T I O N IS what we are talking about!

I can imagine their confusion when they get a real education as well..

The article was written by someone out of touch with reality. Private schools have allowed freedom in hairstyles for many years. Hairstyles have nothing to do with sex and the kids already know about sex and the internet, as Thai children post their sexual escapades on the net. Not to worry, as British, Australian and American kids are posting the same.