The uniform policy is not only outdated but unnecessary and therefore I will not confine myself to these obsolete rules no matter the unwarranted punishments that the school continues to throw at me.

There is not a single purpose to rules surrounding hair colour and piercings, each reasoning that has been presented to me is flimsy and easily picked apart and disproven only to reflect badly onto the school in the end. These dictations to students’ personal appearances only harm both students and the school in the eyes of the community.

The first thing to note is our school is not a private school, no matter how badly it tries, it is a government funded school who’s average uniform piece costs more then £40
So, if one was to argue these uniform rules are to create a level playing field for all students despite financial backgrounds there is already one factor levelling against it.

Heathfield should not dare call itself a school who values students mental health and well-being when its biggest concern is how students choose to present themselves and express their individuality. A study conducted by https://www.sinclairclarion.com/ presents that 75% of woman choose to alter their hair in some way, with 88% of people doing it because it benefits their confidence. So why, I ask are you taking away young people’s confidence? By restricting hair colour you are restricting the confidence of young people whos brains are still developing, this will impact them for their rest of their lives.

If the colleges biggest issue is the way in which their students are choosing to express themselves then perhaps, they should be revaluating not only their values but their life choices. If students are being harassed multiple times a day, by multiple members of the staff over unnatural hair then who’s really taking away time from students’ education? Is it hair colour and a facial piercing OR self-riotous adults on a power trip, desperate to enforce their archaic rules?

On the grounds of student behaviour, it is common for students to disrupt the class by screaming, throwing tantrums, arguing with teachers and refusal to complete work, even whilst situated in VCE programs – these behaviours are what is widely known throughout the community to attribute to the schools reputation and what it is known for. Coupled with the common drug use that goes unreported throughout the school, is self-expression truly what our school should be ‘cracking down on’? Take for example, a 12-year-old, looking to find a school to attend for their high school years, is that really the repute the school wants to present themselves with.

How can the school say it values and cares for its students when there are students who, and I quote “would rather die than take out my piercings, they make me more comfortable therefore I’ll be at school more, therefore helping my learning”. If the college truly values its pupil’s education than why would they remove students for individualism? If the schools checkmate move is issuing an after-school detention for a patch of pink in a student’s hair, that only aids in furthering their pathetic attempts to smother student’s creativity and confidence.

It can be perceived that the average price of a bottle of unnatural hair dye ranges between £5 and £10, without taking into account frequent sales. So, if one’s argument was that there are underprivileged students in attendance that cannot afford having atypical hair colour then one may ask why does it cost that much, if not more to purchase a meal at the in-school canteen? Why is the school advocating ‘meal deals’ that cost on average £8 on the compass news feed, wouldn’t that create a wedge between those who can and cannot afford to express themselves? This hasn’t even begun to touch on the prices it costs to participate in certain classes – shouldn’t that be an even playing field as well? If students are allowed to have £200 blonde highlights than why can’t students wear a £5 bottle of dye in their hair?

The uniform rule is, by my knowledge, a recently reviewed and reiterated rule decided by the school council in partnership with the principle team. So once again I question, why are students catering to what adults see fit for them to look like. It is wildly known that uniform rules originated from sexist and classist values so why are they still in practice? It is 2021, if I want to have pink in my hair, I AM going to have pink in my hair. Another frequent rebuttal to this argument is that in the real-world employers aren’t going to hire you if you have an eyebrow piercing or a stripe of blue in your hair well guess what, the times have changed, that is no longer the norm. If a workplace is going to discriminate against those who express themselves than would you truly want to work for them? So, I restate, refusal to allow students expression of individuality is blatant discrimination and dismissal of their creativity and forms of self-expression.

In conclusion, the school is crying out for a desperate restoration of the rules it cradles so closely. The student body demands change, we will no longer sit and be abused by rules that belittle and strip us of self-confidence and expression, it is time to change society and the older generations views on what students should and shouldn’t look like, starting here, at heathfield community college, allow us to wear our hair however we please and piece our bodies however we so choose, after all; it is our bodies and education, not yours, right?