For most high-school students, the Ministry of Education's lifting of restrictions on hairstyles might appear to bode well for a more relaxed educational experience in the upcoming semester.
However, students from the Association Promoting High School Students' Rights -- a student group that has supported the lifting of the restrictions for five years -- are taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the implementation of the policy.
"Although many students I know think the policy is a big step forward, I think there is still a long way to go before our campus can really allow students to have their own way with their hair," said Cheng Yang (
"Few students think they will really enjoy freedom in choosing hairstyles because the ministry did not provide clear regulations dealing with schools that continue to impose bans on students and punish those with `unacceptable hair,'" he said.
Cheng said the association was gratified to see the ministry had finally responded to student appeals. He said the lifting of restrictions was a way to make school authorities change their methods, which have traditionally been authoritative and attempted to smother the imagination and autonomy of students.
"Lifting the hair code will enable students to learn how to manage their own bodies and be responsible for themselves, not just blindly obey a rigid regulation. It's a liberation in education," said Winnie Wu (巫宛蓉), another association member.
"People often emphasize the importance of tolerating different opinions when it comes to serious matters. This concept could also be applied to education," she said.
Although most students are happy about the new policy and looking forward to expressing their creativity through their hair, some think that the new environment might mislead students over the meaning of freedom.
"I'm worried that young students who are still learning right from wrong will follow their peer group blindly, imitating things they don't like," college graduate student Lin Yi-chung (
Some parents are taking a relaxed position on the issue. National Parents' Alliance chairman Liu Cheng-wu (
"I think people don't have to interfere on this issue. Anything that involves regulations should involve reason and not emotions," Liu said.
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