Hair Cut & Indiscipline
Today I found a few of my colleagues manhandling two of class X boys as the assembly was about to start. The two were slapped as they had their hair cut in some latest style. Simultaneously, some interrogation was going on. The students' explanation did not convince the interrogators. I did not wait to know what was happening. This was not the first time students were picked on for their hair styles in the school. The school has a hair code! Unwritten, Unquestionable but adhered to uniformly!
The assembly programme went on as usual.
The inquiry and corporal punishment continued for some time even after the assembly. The scene changed to the entrance of the school. Every thing happened right in front of the mute camera. The disciplinarians seemed to be convinced that manhandling the students was perfectly alright to safeguard school discipline. One of the high profile disciplinarian who joined the discipline team even raised his leg threatening to kick one of the students. The boy was ordered to sit on the floor when he was about to sit on the slightly raised stone platform near one of the green boards following the order of a disciplinarian to sit.
I wondered if I was doing the right thing by remaining quiet. I felt ashamed of myself. I am a counsellor but unacknowledged. I might have advised a junior teacher but all the disciplinarians involved were senior to me. If I say something I would be labelled a supporter of indiscipline, that too 'officially'.
I just don't understand the connection between the hair style and indiscipline. Why does a student of senior class prefer a latest hair style though he knows that any new hair style attracts the wrath of the disciplinarians in the school? If giving attention to hair upkeep is wrong on part of the student, what about the 'elders' dying their hair? I realise that there are school specific and individual specific unwritten code of conduct for students in this Vidyalaya.
How long should children suffer humiliations in public?
Around midnight, I browsed the website found the following interesting news on similar episodes. My school was not alone. The world has too many hardcore disciplinarians:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Schools-rules-not-above-child-rights-says-panel-hearing-forced-haircut-case/articleshow/49839151.cms
Some findings on the 2nd day
Student X was found to have shaved the sides of his head with a trimmer. Trimmers are not allowed as they are electronic gadgets. Actually there are few sockets in the dormitory. In spite of this some boys tampered with the switchboards and managed to connect the electric cable to some 2 or 3 pin sockets and used them to connect their gadgets. Now Student X told the inquiring teacher that he had gone to Student Y to have his hair trimmed. Now student why was called and beaten. Upon further enquiry it came to light that student Y refused to trim Student X's hair. As a result, Student X did the trimming job himself. The trimmer was recovered.
Around 11.30 all the Class X boys's heads were examined by two disciplinarians. After noon some of the boys had close hair cuts.
The assembly programme went on as usual.
The inquiry and corporal punishment continued for some time even after the assembly. The scene changed to the entrance of the school. Every thing happened right in front of the mute camera. The disciplinarians seemed to be convinced that manhandling the students was perfectly alright to safeguard school discipline. One of the high profile disciplinarian who joined the discipline team even raised his leg threatening to kick one of the students. The boy was ordered to sit on the floor when he was about to sit on the slightly raised stone platform near one of the green boards following the order of a disciplinarian to sit.
I wondered if I was doing the right thing by remaining quiet. I felt ashamed of myself. I am a counsellor but unacknowledged. I might have advised a junior teacher but all the disciplinarians involved were senior to me. If I say something I would be labelled a supporter of indiscipline, that too 'officially'.
I just don't understand the connection between the hair style and indiscipline. Why does a student of senior class prefer a latest hair style though he knows that any new hair style attracts the wrath of the disciplinarians in the school? If giving attention to hair upkeep is wrong on part of the student, what about the 'elders' dying their hair? I realise that there are school specific and individual specific unwritten code of conduct for students in this Vidyalaya.
How long should children suffer humiliations in public?
Around midnight, I browsed the website found the following interesting news on similar episodes. My school was not alone. The world has too many hardcore disciplinarians:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Schools-rules-not-above-child-rights-says-panel-hearing-forced-haircut-case/articleshow/49839151.cms
Some findings on the 2nd day
Student X was found to have shaved the sides of his head with a trimmer. Trimmers are not allowed as they are electronic gadgets. Actually there are few sockets in the dormitory. In spite of this some boys tampered with the switchboards and managed to connect the electric cable to some 2 or 3 pin sockets and used them to connect their gadgets. Now Student X told the inquiring teacher that he had gone to Student Y to have his hair trimmed. Now student why was called and beaten. Upon further enquiry it came to light that student Y refused to trim Student X's hair. As a result, Student X did the trimming job himself. The trimmer was recovered.
Around 11.30 all the Class X boys's heads were examined by two disciplinarians. After noon some of the boys had close hair cuts.
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