A Melbourne Catholic college’s strict ban on mullets, dreadlocks and makeup has sparked fierce backlash from students.
The principal of Emmanuel College in Altona North, in Melbourne’s west, wrote to parents and students last month saying “excessive hairstyles”, including deadlocks and mullets, were not acceptable at the school. The note to parents was first reported by the Herald Sun.
The principal, Janine Biggin, had argued holding students to account regarding adhering to the personal grooming and uniform policy was a matter of “equity and fairness”.
Students subsequently penned an open letter to the school community and staff pushing back against the stricter expectations.
“Why is the uniform and the appearance of students’ much more important than their education and wellbeing?” the letter said.
The students argued they were not “intentionally seeking to disregard the college’s expectations”.
“Rather, they may not perceive those expectations as significant due to the lack of impact it has on their education and behaviour in school,” they said.
Biggin told Guardian Australia the uniform policy was developed in consultation with families through the school advisory council.
“As a matter of equity, comfort, and safety, along with pride in the college, we maintain clear expectations for student appearance and grooming,” she said.
“As always, ongoing listening to the voice and views of our young people is also an important consideration.”
Referencing the mullet ban, the students said it was a “popular Australian hairstyle” and it was unclear why it was prohibited.
“Many students have mullet hairstyles already despite the expectations and are often not extreme,” the student’s open letter said.
The letter says dreadlocks are commonly worn by people of colour and deeming them unacceptable “raises questions and concerns of racial bias within the college”.
In the original email to parents, Biggin said students were permitted to wear single, simple stud earrings but were not allowed to wear sleeper-style earrings or have nose or other piercings.
“Clear studs are not permitted. The wearing of other fashion accessories is not appropriate,” the email said.
But the student’s letter argued earrings were a personal choice and had no impact on a student’s learning.
The school also has a ban on tattoos, makeup, fake nails, nail polish, false eyelashes and extensions.
“When students make a choice not to observe these standards, they are choosing to disregard college expectations and staff will be obliged to issue consequences to assist the students to be responsible for their choices,” Biggin wrote.
