Letter of the Day | Banning ‘edges’ won’t fix the problem

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The ongoing debate over school rules has once again captured public attention, but this time, it centres on whether female students should be allowed to wear edges to school. There are those who argue that “rules are rules” and children should be children. On the other hand, there are those who argue that such rules are archaic and fuelled by colonialism.

In all the discourse, there is one perspective that we haven’t considered much: that is the fact that what we are considering the challenge is actually consistent with their stage of development. Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development posits that children at the high school level primarily tend to experience a stage of development that he terms ‘identity vs role confusion’.

In this stage of development, teenagers experiment with their looks, their style, and their self-image as part of discovering who they are. This could mean that a ban would not sufficiently address the developmental issues, and they may even find other things to be ‘fixated’ on as they seek to discover their own identities.

Of course, this is not to dismiss the importance of rules. Rules help to create an environment of order in our schools. However, maybe in our establishment of rules, we need to consider what is scientifically proven to be developmentally appropriate. This could even lend itself to greater conformity among our students.

What if the challenge with indiscipline in schools is partly due to the fact that we established rules out of frustration and not scientific knowledge and international best practices? What if our reactive approach to discipline is a part of the problem?

If appearance is truly a distraction, then regulation is more effective than prohibition. Parents can help by setting morning routines so hair care doesn’t cause lateness or stress. This allows for them to navigate their stage of development while at the same time fostering their sense of responsibility. This also provides the perfect opportunity to encourage student leaders; schools could consider using the prefect body and the students’ council to help students to navigate appropriate time for grooming while at the same time allowing for self-expression

Discipline and development should not be at odds. The real challenge is creating rules that guide without suffocating, and that shape character without dismissing the natural stages of growth.

JAEMAR JOHNSON

Behaviour Analyst