Less strict school dress codes

My name is Aria, and I'm a fifteen year old girl in my sophomore year in high school.

For the past few summers, as a reward for doing well in school, I have been dying segments of my hair purple.

Last year, on my first day of school, I was very rudely told by a few of the assistant principals to dye my hair back to a normal colour, or i would be placed in a program resembling in-school-suspension. At the time, my hair was in very bad shape, and it would fall out if i dyed it right then. i told the man this, and he responded with an ever-so- sympathetic "i don't care. get it dyed. or else."

Considering I couldn’t get it re-dyed at the time without being bald at fifteen, I commenced in wearing a hat every day for about five months. The first five months of my freshman year, I had to wear a hat. I dyed my hair over the Christmas break, mostly because it was driving me crazy having to be so paranoid about it. My hair was about chest-length when I dyed it. It became very unhealthy, and a few days after dying it, I had to cut it to my ears.

I dyed my hair purple again during the summer of 2008. Just a little bit, nothing too extreme. (like the last time.) i may note, my hair really isn't that bright either. it is barely noticeable in normal lighting situations.

I was very, very excited for sophomore orientation. I spent a while doing my hair and makeup, wanting so badly to take my picture for my I.D. badge.

Sophomore Orientation: It’s basically where you get your ID’s and textbooks and schedules. When we walked into the room to take our ID pictures and receive the new badges, we stood in line. (the whole process of orientation had already taken us about an hour,)
It was FINALLY my turn to go up and take my picture. I was directed to another station, being told to go around the one everyone else was going to. They asked for my ID number, and said okay. They told me to wait over by the printer.

I nicely reminded them that I’d really like a new picture.

The woman yelled at me about how that isn’t possible, all because of my hair colour. She said I could take a new picture for my I.D. badge if, and only if I had naturally coloured hair. I told her I can’t really do that, and she said,
“well, if you don’t have it straightened out before school starts, ill be sure to put you in rebel respect (in school suspension) on your first day.”

It was one of the meanest tones I had ever heard anyone speak in my whole entire life.

So, I grabbed my ID, (with my old, freshman picture on it) and left, distraught.

I am a good student. I do not get in any trouble, ever. I have never even gotten so much as a lunch detention in my whole educational career. I do not talk back to teachers, I make good grades, and I’m really nice to everyone. Why should someone like me be punished for my HAIR COLOUR the same way kids who bring DRUGS to school are?

The whole unfairness of the dress code ranges from piercings to the cuts of shirts and even to clip-in extensions; every one of these things at the Assistant Principals' discretion.

I'd also like to point out that we're pretty much the ONLY school in the district who enforces these rules.

I hope you will join me in my quest to end this unfairness, and maybe ease the high school experience for many other children like me.