Long hair for school going guys petition

[empihsrow]

I love short hair. I don't like long hair but I do believe that schools have stupid rules.

Remember my time back in River Valley when all my friends would argue with our teachers over our hair lengths. Okay, to be frank, there was once I wanted long hair too. Haha, we always argued that our hair length would never affect our academic grades. The teachers would often say having long hair would spoil the school's prestigious image. Some would even argue that it's all part of discipline and keeping short hair is part of discipline. The best counter-argument we ever heard was: "School rules are rules."

Nonetheless, all of our laments, arguments, disagreements and even fights always went down the drain. No one listened to us and the school insisted they were always right. What sheer tyranny!

Singapore's education system has always been that screwed up despite its efficiency and good results. It makes me wonder... How credible can our education be despite the As we all can get?

But believe me or not, this petition will never get through. Don't waste your time and efforts. Our government are never known to read petitions. And neither will they compromise for what they have believed in for so long.

And besides, a point to add, the universal declaration of human rights is only a set of guidelines. The UN is unable to totally enforce it on every member. Thus I will think that Article 23 of the declaration will not work well with the Singapore government.

 

[jupzones]

guys im about to share with you the ONLY WAY. the only method to keep long hair in a school that doesnt allow. are you ready?

wear a wig.

a short hair wig.

i've been doing so for the past 7 months.

you need to get a wig first. normally they dont come in short lengths so you have to cut it short after buying.

buy the wig from fareast. cant rmb what shop. wear the wig. go to hairdresser. tell them you need to cut the wig short.

from then on:

wear a hairband. tie the back of your hair into a small ponytail.

wear the wig. this is both physcially and emotionally tiring to do everyday. for 5-7 hours everyday. but i've done it. for the love of hair. the only problem you'll have is pe. for my i just skip pe. eventually my teachers and vp found out about it cause i got caught not wearing it one day as i came late and was rushing and did not put it on yet.

but they were nice and let me keep wearing it.

its the only way guys.

i've been fighting the system for years. this is our way.

 

[mingrong]

My GP teacher once said: "if you don't like the rules, go somewhere else." Which is why we have people that leave Singapore or choose to grow their children elsewhere no? It seems that this petition is not well thought out and seems to just be for the sake of having his voice heard. Although it may be a good notion and opinion, I think the whole point of keeping your hair short has to do with the idea of wearing a set of uniform. Let's be glad that we're not forced to side-parting our hair at least - there's freedom in what style we want to have, just within the given boundaries. The uniform is there so that children won't have to be discriminated regardless of their background or financial status - when we come to this school, we're all in equal footing to rise in this meritocratic society. If you want to address this issue of keeping hair, you'll sooner or later have to tackle the uniform issue; which I do not think any compromise will be made on soon. We can dance on how other countries are allowing boys to grow the hair the way they want, but we're not that country. We don't have sheep and cattle grazing on the grass beside our expressway, and they don't have hot weather that will leave your long hair soaking after PE. I believe it's also partly the Asian sense of having some form of propriety on the outside, to be "guai" (well-behaved). Just bear with the system till you're out of it - your body should still be young enough to get that hairstyle you want to have (assuming you don't want to grow waist length hair)... In the end, many older men still prefer to have a neat crop of hair. Since this is a music forum, it's like how you always wanted that new piece of equipment but realise it's overrated after you get it. You may only want long hair until you have it. Nevertheless if there are enough people to insist this rule is choking your freedom, by all means petition!

 

[hifi_killer]

for those who truly believe freedom, i think you should focus your attention in the poorer countries. The freedom of access to water, food and medical supplies. Ironically these freedoms are hindered by the free market forces that freedom creates in the 1st place.

having said that

It seems ridiculous that people here wants to fight for freedom for long hair while people else where are dying because of the lack of freedom to satisfy basic survival needs

and no you dont want to encourage people to leave singapore. Think of all the tax payer, GST money invested in the 'quiters' education and healthcare all going down the drain. Make them return our money before they leave our borders!

 

[luxen-ilyich]

... Let's be glad that we're not forced to side-parting our hair at least - there's freedom in what style we want to have, just within the given boundaries... We can dance on how other countries are allowing boys to grow the hair the way they want, but we're not that country... Just bear with the system till you're out of it...

I'm sure Change is effected by people who believed that absurdity could be accepted, "within its given boundaries."

Let the discriminated say, "At least we are not so much further discriminated", and the impoverished, "At least we are not beggars."
Let the stupid say, "At least we are not retards", and let the invaded say, "At least we are not dead."

For that is how society progresses. Apathy, and unquestioning acceptance.

 

[luxen-ilyich]

It seems ridiculous that people here wants to fight for freedom for long hair while people else where are dying because of the lack of freedom to satisfy basic survival needs

I believe your true conveyance was of, "It seems ridiculous that people here want to suppress freedom while elsewhere, others die for the lack of freedom of survival", was it not?

 

[hifi_killer]

no thats not what i meant
consider this analogy.

Your neighbour house is on fire, and there people trapped in it. But unfortunately, you are more concerned with your overcooked and burned chicken wings.

Or in case of sichuan earthquakes where there were many human casualties and many people are coping with their loss, and suddenly there was a report on the plight of the endangered pandas

 

[hamison]

oh well, i'll sign it i guess but dont you think the younger generation are getting to pampered???

 

[hifi_killer]

Let the discriminated say, "At least we are not so much further discriminated", and the impoverished, "At least we are not beggars."
Let the stupid say, "At least we are not retards", and let the invaded say, "At least we are not dead."

and so. you are saying we should not take simple things for granted. we should treasure the things we have. I agree with you.

 

[luxen-ilyich]

yes your meaning was quite clear. i meant to highlight a different issue with my... apparently dubitable words.

nonetheless, do you also mean to suggest that we are but capable of addressing only one issue at a time? do you believe us so crippled a people?

irrevocably, you argue that our fight is of little, or less worth than the "good fights". You must then realize that such will neither render the occurances here less existant, nor will it hinder our movement against those who would turn our desires, our thoughts, our opinions, everything that makes us what we are, into nothing. Those who would take our uniqueness and our ability to make choices, and grind it to dust.

No. Our fight may not seem materialistically inclined nor carry with it that urgency which you attribute to "worth", but our purpose is true and it is clear.

We fight against those who will destroy us as unique human beings, for it is cowardly, and it is unacceptable.

 

[luxen-ilyich]

and so. you are saying we should not take simple things for granted. we should treasure the things we have. I agree with you.

once more my ambiguity seems a point of contention. i apologize.

 

[hifi_killer]

I strongly believe that we should look after the more pressing needs before thinking about such 'luxuries"

if we can pursue such 'luxuries', shouldnt we channel this energy to the more pressing needs?

and imo hair-style is superficial in the context of individuality to even talk about uniqueness.

yes you will fight for your beliefs, and if everyone do so. It will be end up in a situation where the strong dominates the weak. Ultimately, NOTHING has changed at all.

 

[Syahwylder]

WAH LAN DEY!

Y so serious!? All this fuss for a petition for long hair LOL..

OBAMA has short hair!

 

[l0stwhispers]

hifi_killer: Yes, it is true that there are more pressing needs out there in the world, but if we can't even change ourselves, do you honestly think we can make a difference out there? I'm not saying that this petition for allowing long hair's the most important thing in the world and it's the key to every change we'll make in the future, but like what some people say "you've got to take it one step at a time". And yea, like what luxen_ilyich mentioned, we're not so single-minded that we can only focus on one issue at a time. This just happens to be an issue that's of relative importance to some of the guys here. I wasn't aware of the ridiculousness of the rule until I reflected on it when Morgan raised it. Goes to show how much we take things for granted eh?

And to those who think the petition's going to go nowhere, I'd like you to think again. Look at the rule with plain white school shoes. It's been pretty much revoked by quite a number of schools and now pretty much any close-toed shoe can be wearable. And the rule with ankle socks! I remember when it was banned, and now, every girl's wearing them! Yes, it will be difficult to elicit such a big change in the MOE system, but I reckon it is possible.

 

[meekahsoh]

Hello, emphisrow, I guess you already know what school I was from. I think the schools going downhill already.

Back on topic. This argument isn't just about 'long hair', but it's about the fundamental system which disallows our own freedom of expression, with 'long hair' being just a part of 'expression'. It could be extended to many other things, and thus worsen the situation.

It's possible that change could be made from the ground up, but do you think ankles socks would have been popular if is wasn't 'trendy' to do so?

Again, if you dislike the rules, go be an entrepreneur and set up your own school with your own rules. You may not be able to overthrow the system, but you can provide an alternative.

 

[Bearily]

ok lets take a look at our rights in singapore, any? I don't think so. How many petition works in real life here, in this tiny island? Recently the ST(straits times) has being writing a report regarding residents living in Serangoon Gardens coming together, writing a petition to go against? Transforming a old school building into a foreign workers dorm.

The letter was then submitted to the government. So we wonder what is the outcome? NO! THE DORM WILL STILL BE BUILT? And even with the residents views about Security,Bad Traffic Conditions,Unsafe during the nights. Fear of Brawls, Drunkard Men, Vices, Fear of safety for their property and love ones. Was the petition still approved? I don't think so.

Secondly, there was another article about the Alumni of Dunman Secondary School. It was regarding of the change of their new badge and school's motto. Do you really think the petition worked 100%? Nope, I don't think so. The school still kept on to the new badge's design,but decided to keep the school's motto. But hey look! Is the motto on the new school's badge? Is it?

Okay. So i do want to point out, not all things work here in Singapore. We many be a "Democratic Nation". But think clearly, do you think we really are? What power to we have? Voting for the Party that we think can take charge of our nation. But what about other decisions for the country? Who is the one who call the shots? Did we get a chance to vote against the ERP system? Did all citizen agree to? Do you think its fair for drivers who pay so much just for road tax and yet pay again JUST TO USE THE ROAD THEY NEED TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATION? Is it fair? Are we really living in a FREE COUNTRY where Human Rights really do prevail?

You must get it that, we are not a "Democratic Country". We are a "Socialist Republic". That means, we get to vote for who will our government be, but we have no more say for our development for this nation anymore. It all belongs to the all mighty PAP that never fails to win a lawsuit.

So think about it. Is it really worth? When you are nothing to the government? Seriously, they'll pretend to look into it. But infact! They'll just say "Sigh! Another trash mail. Please Shred this paper up."

Its still your choice. And i'm all with this Petition. I do want to have long hair. But what is our say? And nowadays in the 21st Century, Business is all about looking good and smart. Would you rather do business with a guy who looks like Jimi Hendrix or someone who looks like Bill Gates?

Think about it.

Yours,
Bear

 

[lordie]

petition? long hair in school?? LOL LOL LOL.. hahahahahahahaa

 

[remy]

=Bearily


At the end of the day, it's still your vote that made PAP the government.
You choose the government, you live with their standards.

("You" referring to the people voting for PAP)

 

[luxen-ilyich]

WAH LAN DEY!

Y so serious!? All this fuss for a petition for long hair LOL..

OBAMA has short hair!

And if American "culture" and "society" proved such a cause as to compel all American males to have long hair, should they not have a cause to fight? Should they not have the right to keep short hair should they wish?

 

[Hydrofly]

You choose the government, you live with their standards.

I didn't vote and I think majority of Singaporeans don't know what's good for them, I'd have voted if I was the minimum voting age.

Oh well, I know I'm leaving Singapore in a few years , so if the people here don't want to stand up for themselves to the incorrigible old fogeys running their lives, I'll be sure to laugh when I ditch that red passport.