I read an article on MSNBC today about how a school in England has banned the use of makeup for their 13 – 16 year old students. Not only have they made it against school rules for girls to wear makeup, but they’ve also removed the mirrors in the bathrooms to prevent vanity. Maybe they think that if they remove the mirrors, the girls won’t realize how they look without makeup. According to the article, John McNally, head teacher, says, “The mirror ban is to break a cycle where social groups started to emerge in the bathroom.” Oh my gosh, no, not social groups! At a school?! The horror! Apparently, some girls were spending so much time in front of the bathroom mirrors that they were eating lunch in there, so the school decided the mirrors must be removed. Call me crazy, but wouldn’t it be more logical to simply keep the kids in the lunch room while they’re eating?
The article says that the school wants students to focus on more important things like learning. Tell me, ladies, if you were banned from wearing makeup to school or work, would you be able to concentrate on learning or working more? I personally would spend every minute of the day obsessing over how scary I look without makeup. I guess school officials are checking each girls’ face every day for traces of makeup, and offering offenders makeup removal products. That seems like a good use of time and resources. If I had to check all my students for evidence of makeup, and then monitor them until they washed if off, I know I’d have plenty more time for those important things like learning. NOT!
I personally feel like kids should be able to express themselves. They will have their whole lives in which to conform and try to fit in for the sake of their jobs and group affiliations. Who cares if a teen has pink hair, a mohawk, black eyeliner, or a pierced lip? Those things don’t distract from education as much as teachers having to take time out from their lesson plans to play dress code police.
So what do you think? Should schools ban makeup? “Extreme” hairstyles? Should they insist on school uniforms? How do you feel and why?
2 comments:
Hi Dawn, I love your style of writing, and sense of humour! I have a 13yr old daughter, and yes, I don't think a lack of mirors would prevent her from doing her make-up, haha! Banning mirrors is a bit extreme ~ and would no doubt just encourage the girls to smuggle little mini mirrors into their school bags ;o) I am a single mum to four, so I can relate to your posts ~ thankyou for sharing! :o)
Hi Dawn, just wanted to say that my sister's name is Dawn. :P
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