Hair Controversy!

I recently heard the song Hair by the Cowsills, which brought back many happy memories of my carefree younger years in the late 1960s. A couple of days later, as that song was still playing in my mind and to my surprise, I came across an article on the front page of the KO News from the fall of 1970-”Hair Controversy To Face Faculty”! Yet another coincidence in archives!

In the fall of 1970, hair styles on a number of male students were longer than what was the accepted standard. A group of concerned students met with the Headmaster to discuss the issue and then, discussion continued at the Student Council meeting. The Council decided to initiate discussion between students and faculty concerning this issue of “long hair”. At an all school assembly that followed, the Headmaster stressed the “importance of Kingswood’s image in relation to the community.” The Headmaster “set no physical standards on the length of hair, but defined it in terms of what was reasonable and proper.”

When students and faculty were asked what they thought about the issue of long hair, opinions varied. Some thought that realistically, the “code” would not be terminated while others could go either way-long or short. One faculty member commented that too much time was being wasted on the issue when there were more important issues to be addressed. 

Students in support of long hair drew up a proposal, which was submitted to the faculty through the Prefects or Student Council and then discussed at an assembly. An appearance before the Executive Committee of the Parent Council also took place. At that meeting, representatives for students in favor of long hair proposed that the length of one’s hair should be left to the decision of parents and not the school administration. At the conclusion of that meeting, it was decided that these representatives would attend a future meeting of the entire Parent Council. The students were disappointed that a decision was not made at that initial meeting, but agreed that it was a move forward to improved communication. 

Finally, the “hair code” was revised after 3 months of debate. 

“A compromise was made between the proposals offered by student representatives and the desires of the administration. The Headmaster and

the faculty should retain the authority as to the limits of the hair styles, yet enforcing only the outside limits. The students and their parents should then

settle between themselves the style of the student’s hair, remembering to stay within the set limits and maintain a neat appearance.”

The length of a student’s hair could reach the bottom of the jacket collar and cover half the ear. Sideburns could be worn to the jawbone. Neatly trimmed mustaches could be worn, but only by seniors. 

I think it is appropriate to finish this article with some of the lyrics to Hair, by the Cowsills. And I can only hope that many of you will be humming this song for a few days!

“Gimme a head with hair

  Long, beautiful hair

  Shining, gleaming

  Streaming, flaxen, waxen

  Give me down to there (hair)

  Shoulder length or longer (hair)

  Grow it, show it

  Long as I can grow it

  My hair”

Wishing all Wyverns a peaceful and happy holiday season!

(Information from KO News October 2, November 13, December 11, 1970)