Several students at East Rowan High School are protesting a new rule prohibiting anyone with dyed hair from participating in graduation ceremonies.
At the end of February, East Rowan school officials distributed dress guidelines to seniors that say, in part, “Your hair should be neat and of a color commonly found on humans in nature.”
Though students at other high schools dye their hair different colors, East Rowan is the only Rowan County high school restricting hair color at graduation, according to a survey of all five high schools.
That makes some East Rowan students angry.
“If students can wear their hair different colors to school every day, what is the difference in them wearing their hair a different color for a two- hour ceremony?” asked senior Adrienne Overcash.
She doesn’t dye her hair, but she thinks other students should have the right to wear whatever hair color they like to graduation.
Officials at other Rowan high schools, as well as school system spokeswoman Kathy Walters, said each principal has discretion to set rules about graduation.
East Rowan Principal Dr. Harry Starr said, “It was the school’s decision, and until Ihear from the school’s attorney, I cannot comment.”
Don Sayers, attorney for the Rowan-Salisbury Schools, said, “I think you can put reasonable restrictions on dress and appearance for a graduation ceremony as long as you don’t deny them their diploma.
“You only deny them the right to participate in the ceremony.”
Sayers said N.C. courts have supported other restrictions, including a case in which a student dressed in blue jeans was excluded from commencement ceremonies.
“There is no property interest or right to participate in that ceremony,” Sayers said.
Seniors at East Rowan High School feel that dying their hair is a way of expressing themselves, whether they choose blue, purple or green.
Bryan Thompson, an East Rowan senior, dyes his hair several different colors. Though it is usually purple, right now it is blue.
“There is no need for a ban on unnatural hair colors. It will not have any bearing on the dignity of the graduation ceremony,” Thompson said.
“ ... The one thing that I do not understand is I am in chorus, and I sing in many competitions. Why is it allowed for my hair to be different colors for these concerts, when I do not have a hat on, but is not allowed for my high school graduation at which I will be wearing a cap?”
Annie Joe Ragsdale, a history teacher at East, said she supports the school administration’s rule and hopes one day that the dying ban will extend to regular school days. Ragsdale says odd hair colors could disrupt the solemn nature of a graduation ceremony.
And she feels the odd colors already cause disruptions in classrooms.
But senior Adam Goldberg doesn’t think hair color causes any harm. “It is only teen-agers having a good time, which is more than reasonable on their final day in high school,” he said.
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