I am a student at Juan Diego Catholic High School (AKA Juan Diego/JDCHS) with hair past my shoulders. I have been growing my hair out for multiple years, intending to donate it to Wigs for Kids or another organization with the same purpose. I am proud of my hair and wish to grow it for at least another 6 months. However, the student handbook says that boys must have hair that is "cut to the bottom of the ear lobe on the sides, to the top of the eye in the front, and above the collar in the back. Hair must be neatly combed and clean. If hair can be pulled back, it must be pulled back." When I go to school, I am reminded that I must pull my hair back or cut it. Per the Philosophy and Purpose of the Student Dress Code, the rules are put in place to "protect the dignity of a student’s self-worth, (and) provide the atmosphere of freedom necessary for both young women and men to express their God-given uniqueness in an uncompromising manner and should be in keeping with the Catholic values regarding modesty that best represent the Juan Diego community." Juan Diego is the last high school in the Utah Catholic Diocese to have this antiquated rule. When I asked why the limitation is still enforced, I was told that it was to keep the students' hair clean and not distracting. However, there are already rules in place to keep hair out of eyes and clean (see JDCHS handbook). In addition to all of this, there is no requirement for girls to wear their hair in any special or specific way. Juan Diego is an amazing school with many awards such as the Blue Ribbon award, and it is the most challenging school in Utah according to Washington Post. My school is amazing and I wish to improve it. I believe that students can still live up to the values defined in the student handbook regardless of hair length. I see no reason to not abolish this rule, so please sign this petition to help me change Juan Diego Catholic High School for the better.

This petition is lobbying for a change in the rules of the JDCHS student handbook so that young men are allowed to have hair below the collar and are allowed to wear said hair down.

"Hair must be cut to the bottom of the ear lobe on the sides, to the top of the eye in the front, and above the collar in the back. Hair must be neatly combed and clean. If hair can be pulled back, it must be pulled back."

Link to the JDCHS student handbook:
https://sites.google.com/skaggscatholiccenter.org/jdchshandbook/student-behavior-and-expectations/dress-code?authuser=0