By: Johnn Jin

Hairstyle is a new source of friction at one Melbourne school. A student in 10th grade at Melbourne’s Mordialloc College has been ejected from the classroom because of his bright hair. The student dyed his hair in bright colors in recent months.

“I want kids in high school to feel like their voices are heard and matter,” the student said. “I have been told to study in the senior school office until I get my hair fixed. It’s really hard to study there. I think if there is a reason for it, it should be okay to have coloured hair.” The school has a policy stating “non-natural hair colors” are not permitted. He has been asked to wear a school beanie until the color in his hair is gone.

Schools in Victoria have also removed students from class because they are not wearing school apparel. At Officer Secondary College up to 100 students were sent to the library for wearing plain black pants rather than school-logoed black pants. Piper, a 12th grader, said school’s clothing policy here is “heavy handed.”

“There are a lot of families doing it tough and visiting food banks,” she said. “It is more than reasonable to buy cheaper alternatives from shops such as Kmart as long as they are within the school color.”

At Officer Secondary College, the spokesman said the school council must be able to demonstrate it has considered the cost of school uniforms and parents’ ability to afford it.

“All staff and students are entitled to work and learn in a respectful, caring and safe environment,” said Highview College Board chair Nickola Allan. “The review has been launched to confirm whether these expectations have been or are being met.” Now most people do not like the clothing restriction.