I had the privilege today of watching a most interesting event at the school here. Four times every year, all of the students are gathered by grade (there are only 3 grades in Japanese high schools) in giant gyms to ... be inspected. It reminded me of way back in the day as kids in elementary school when we sat quietly at our desks while the school nurse picked through our hair looking for lice. The teachers weren't looking for lice this time. They were inspecting hair color, earrings, hair length, skirt length, and a variety of other things.
In Japan, it turns out one way to judge the quality of your school is to look at the kids. If they have multicolored asian dyejobs and pierced ears, you have a bunch of delinquents. I guess the higher quality the school, the more they look the same. It reminds me of my dad's story about catholic school, when a golfball would have to roll down the inside of your pant legs, otherwise they were too tight (this being when tight-ass pants were in, I imagine). So I watched as a bevy of teachers sifted through an entire grade of students, 280 in all, looking closely at hair color, earrings, fingernail length, even traces of makeup. Girls aren't allowed to wear makeup here, though it seems to me every single one does. I guess right before this thing (at least it wasn't a surprise inspection) there were fleets of girls in the bathroom wiping off their faces and hiking down their skirts.
I don't know as there is much disciplinary action available for kids who are "delinquent" and end up getting a checkmark for hair color or holes in their ears (guess that means I'll fail the test ...), but there's some sort of routine in the whole thing. I can't see how it is very effective due to this lack of disciplinary action (there doesn't seem to be anything like detention, and suspension happens very rarely), though the students do still follow the rules to a certain extent. I'm glad at some level for it, since I guess the asian mullet which appears so popular on young people in Japan would be rampant through the school. Sometimes I do find myself alarmed at the level of conformity that is expected, but of course my perspective derives from a very different culture. After all, per capita, how much violent crime do they have compared to the United States?
Nuff said. Maybe if my High School had a policy like this, I wouldn't have been driven to do something as stupid as grow my hair long and dye it black. Shudder.
Comments
No, dude--that's crazy. Okay, I can't say that I'm surprised, but that is NOT the way to teach anyone to be good citizens of the world. How does encouraging everyone to look the same inspire self-identity and self-confidence? How does the fear of a check-mark for "looking improper" make any young person into a better person?
Even if there is some sociological correlation between certain "looks" and an increased possibility of criminal behavior, does discouraging the "look" actually equate to discouraging the behavior? And if so, is it worth it at the expense of personal expression and self-worth?
Of course, not backing up these inspections with any real action also seems to enforce hypocrisy and duality--ie "I can do whatever I want as long as I shape up and look good for the inspection team."
Maybe I'm just presenting an emotional reaction to something that as you've said is culturally different from me, but I just can't agree with it either. Some would say that it's not my place to say that it's wrong, but conversely, I can't say that it's right either.
Posted by: realon | September 3, 2004 9:45 AM
Please, take my husband's rant with a bucket of salt, for he knows not what he speaks of. ;)
But seriously, I went to Catholic school and we never had problems due to the dress code. At one point they said we could only wear dress shirts- that is, shirts with collars, like you'd wear in a corporation. There went most of my wardrobe- turtlenecks! I actually didn't mind the dress codes, though- it meant less to worry about. And I can see the positive side of it- if there's no competition for the latest wild fad, no distraction from the most wild hair or clothes or piercings, etc, then one can focus on what's important- learning.
Of course, I also spent most of my time with a small group of friends on the fringe- not the best academically, but up there; not the most popular, but not outcasts either; not extremely involved, but busy enough.
And now I want to home school, or at least start a private/charter school with a strong focus on creative writing. ;)
And I think I need to see a picture of this long, black hair of yours. :)
Posted by: Kerrie | September 3, 2004 7:17 PM
OK maybe I am focusing on the wrong aspect of your post but I NEED to see a photo of you with long hair dyed black...pleeaasee.
;) Michelle
Posted by: Michelle | September 4, 2004 10:16 AM
Heh. I remember the black hair, the blue hair, the green hair... I'm sure there were a few others. Of course I don't remember which I saw in person and which you just showed me pictures of.
Don't you love it when your past comes back to haunt you? :-)
Posted by: realon | September 6, 2004 11:53 AM