No, The World is Not Required to Adjust itself to You

(On a page for my old high school, Lutheran High School North [LHSN], someone was complaining that the dress codes did not allow for dreadlocks and that such a prohibition was unfairly discriminatory and just plain unfair.  This was my response.)

Yep, people, fairly or unfairly, make assumptions about you based on your appearance and the way you carry, or comport yourself. You can cry and scream all you want but this will never change. Also, employers and schools have a right to demand certain sacrifices from their employees and students regarding their appearance. I don't care what color you are or how smart you are, I am not hiring anyone at our law office who has dyed hair, dread locks, visible tattoos, ear spacers or just anything else I think is inappropriate. A school has a right to discriminate in the same manner. (Anytime you make a decision, you "discriminate", the question is whether such discrimination is legal and not based solely on race, religion, etc, etc.)

There is a very nice young man who works at my favorite downtown coffee shop. He is Caucasian and he has a magnificent set of dreadlocks. He fits right in at the coffee shop and is obviously a considerate and dedicated employee. He is polite, prompt, competent and very well spoken. However, if he wanted to work in our office, even though I know him, I would demand the dreadlocks be cut off. My clients expect a certain professional appearance and comportment and so do I. It his choice, if you want to work here, here are the rules. That same is true of the school you attend.

Finally, this isn't about "power" or "hierarchies" or any "ism" or any other absurd theories about social structure; it's about how the human animal and how the world is designed. At some point, most adults realized this. If you want to stress your glorious individuality, I suggest we teach kids to do it through their accomplishments; any idiot can dress in a manner that is "different" or "expressive". It takes something more, and a lot more work, to actually go out and DO something that makes a difference.

LHSN has made a conscious and rational decision that certain clothing and certain haircuts are not acceptable at the school. This is a microcosm of the choices that the students will have to face over the course of their adult lives. The world does not need to adjust to you or make any special provisions for you; it was here first. This is a lesson one must learn if one wishes to ever mature.

I'll just close with an anecdote about legendary basketball coach John Wooden:

Coach wooden had a strict policy regarding long hair and facial hair. The policy was he didn't allow it, no exceptions.One day, All-America center Bill Walton showed up with a full beard. "It's my right," he insisted. Wooden asked if he believed that strongly. Walton said he did. "That's good, Bill," Coach said. "I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them, I really do. We're going to miss you." Walton shaved it right then and there. Now Walton calls once a week to tell Coach he loves him.

Cheers!