Teen can't run for Track Team because of Pink Mohawk

When our xc team makes it to the state meet, they dye their hair GREEN!

I have coached high school track and field at two different schools. Give me the kid with the mohawk any time. If he is a good kid, gets good grades and is willing to work hard I really don't care about his choice of hair style.

the 1980s wrote:

The 1980s called. They want their rebel hairstyle back.

Tell that to THIS GUY

joho wrote:

I find imposing hair restrictions on HS students silly. I've been in the military over 20 years and always encouraged both of my sons to grow their hair out. They kept it long for several years then eventually decided on their own to go short.

Why do you want to go around looking like everyone else? I really detest civillians that try to impose some kind of military standard. If that is what you want, man up and join the military.

And would you say that there is value in military uniformity? Does it help contribute to a team mentality within the military? Is this a completely arbitrary mandate, or is it a rule designed to enforce some specific value?

I don't have a problem with a coach enforcing this rule personally, but doubt he'll be able to handle the local PTA onslaught when it comes. Or rather, his boss WILL cave to the pressure of parents, and force an overturn of the coach's team rule.

Some of the more successful high school coaches do have rules like this (the 90's Woodlands program comes to mind), or a variation of it. Either they are imposed from the top (coaches), or by the students themselves (team captains). Whether everyone wears the same headband, socks, dies their hair green, grows mustaches, or is told to keep their hair plain, the principle is the same. If you feel the need to express yourself is more important than following your coach's instructions, you are putting yourself above the teammates that embrace the nuances of the program.

There are lots of ways to support those with breast cancer. The kid could have worn pink every day to school, or pink armbands, raised money for the cause or gotten a pink tattoo. But no, he has to make a statement in the face of his coach by quitting, and allow other students and their parents to flame a media circus around him. Without realizing it, he has taken attention away from breast cancer and his mother, and instead brought it to a tight focus on this supposed injustice that has befallen him.

All Right Now... wrote:

the 1980s wrote:

The 1980s called. They want their rebel hairstyle back.

Tell that to THIS GUY

http://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/chris-birdman-anderson-new-neck-tattoo1.jpg

I want my haircut back too.

Compromise reached.

http://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/545212/Agreement-reached-on-WIC-student-athlete-s-pink-hair.html?nav=5002

Interesting note in this story is mom has been cancer free for five years. The first story led readers to believe she was currently battling cancer.

Glad she is cancer free. However, if this young man wanted to support breast cancer, asking his teammates to volunteer at a fundraising event might be a more constructive approach.

dont be a bossy bully wrote:

So those in charge are bullying him to conform to the standards of appearance they deem is acceptable?

I thought they decided bullying was bad.

+

The standards are good when dealing with large numbers of people like a military force. I still think some of the military standards are silly and only there because those in charge had to do the same when they were young.

Your best trained specialized forces, Navy SEALS etc..., don't worry about hair standards and they seem to do just fine. If a coach cannot instill a sense of team and camaraderie with a relatively small number of athletes I would say he is serious lacking an important skill.