Florida's Lake County School District To Ban 'Extreme' Hair & Makeup? (VIDEO, POLL)

Katy Perry rocked royal blue, Gaga went green, and Lauren Conrad chose full-on rainbow. But for high school students in Lake County, Florida, dying hair an "unnatural" color is no longer an option.

The school board has voted to ban "extreme hairstyles, unnatural hair colors, or makeup that is disruptive or does not allow direct eye contact" for all students in the distric.

What's the big deal? Disruption is the main issue, said school spokesperson Chris Patton to Fox 35. Fancy eyeshadow or pink and purple hair interfere with the educational environment, he argues, by drawing attention away from learning and provoking teasing.

Stranger still is the argument that extreme beauty choices can be physically dangerous: "Mascara, eye-shadow, and even the bangs if they are blocking the eyes -- where you can't see a students eyeballs, that's even a safety thing," says Patton (although we cannot fathom how much mascara you'd need to wear for it to block your eyeballs).

The counter-argument, of course, is freedom of expression. Students sounded off for local news channels like Fox 35 and News 13 about their desires to make their own style statements.

"To me, it's like they're just sitting there, trying to make us who they want us to be. We're kids," student Michael Willeby told News 13.

Even some parents agree, noting the "slippery slope" of such rules. "Where do you draw the line with hairstyles? If a boy wants to have long hair, are they going to say well 'Boys have to have short hair. Girls have to have long hair'? Where is that line going to be drawn?" wondered Lori Sokoloski, a Lake County parent.

If the ban is approved by a final vote to take place on August 22, Lake County students can be disciplined for their unconventional style choices with suspensions from extracurricular activities.

Quick Poll

Do you think "extreme" hair and makeup should be banned in schools?

YES! Absolutely.

NO! Ridiculous.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

WATCH:

No extreme hair and makeup in Lake County Schools: MyFoxORLANDO.com

Comments

[altheschrod]

06:41 PM on 08/19/2011

If any of the items mentioned became a disruptive influence during a school day, I would approach the offender about not attending the same way again. School is to learn, and as long as individual styles don't offend, the skies the limit!

[Meg Um]

03:22 PM on 08/17/2011

i think all the students that go there should be themselves, dye your hair, wear make up, wear what ever you want, everyone should be allowed to express themselves, whats the point of you saying you like this or that? knowing that a certian part of society is frowning apon it? they cant just expect everyone to conform to what they think is "normal" because what they consider normal is considered wierd to others. Music, colors, fashion are also form of expression, so students who agree that students shouldnt express themselves, are they also backing up the idea that art, fashion, music, and culture should be banned too? the very things that create a society? i dont think so. because everyone has a favorite style, genre, or way of doing things. i love to dye my hair, and wear make up, and no you don't have to be a celebirty to be allowed to do it. (so shut up fox news) people have been dying their hair and wearing outragous and decorative makeup wayyyy before lady gaga and katy perry, they may be trend setters, but its nothing that isnt similar to something that has already been done before. i hope the school board and principle see's theese comments, because we are the future adults of the next generation, opening and aspiring new opportunities for the growing world, this is a free country, down with conformity, and be free to speak your minds in anyway you please.

[hannabell6]

06:34 PM on 08/02/2011

Freedom of expression is the most important thing to me and probably millions of teenagers around the world. We choose many things to express. Like adittude, grades, having a voice, and image. If teens want to look a certain way. Just let them. If you don't like it, ignore it; don't look at it. It's not a hard thing to do. Also, for a school project back in 8th grade I wrote about how I don't agree with school uniforms. Studies show that people in school are more comfertable learning when they're wearing what they think looks good. Taking away a thing like this is just like a school uniform. Everyone who is reading this...feel free to dress and look the way you want. Express yourself.

[lambdin1]

02:15 PM on 07/31/2011

Subjective! What I like you may not like. So it goes. Relax and try to teach!

[huffle berger]

03:29 AM on 07/31/2011

So obviously they are stating that we can't show individualism. Awesome. So when we all grow up to live the same boring life's and not be ourselves, we know why. Thanks Florida School System

[champions1]

06:51 PM on 09/13/2011

Huffle...thank Rick Scott and the Tea publicans....you must walk straight and fall in line and be a sheeple...lke them....YUK...

[Veronica Santos]

11:54 PM on 07/29/2011

I think this is bull. STOP SAYING THAT THE COLORS AND MAKEUP IS DISTRACTING. IT'S NOT!! seriously kids aren't going to be starring at somebodys HAIR the whole class. Its not distracting Really, Go into every class i had when my hair was white, hot pink, purple, red, dark blue and light blue. Everybody in my math class passed with a B or up. Literally stop trying to make more rules because i know im not going to follow it, My friends arent going to follow it, and sure everyone else isnt going to follow it. Your just wasting your time. Suspend me for something that isn't even bad? your wasting your suspension papers for something actually distracting like a kid talking back to a teacher or weapons. And ive never been or seen anybody get bullied about their haircolor in the last 3 schools iv'e been to. All these adults that agree with this that say " distracting" ITS NOT Oh my god -_- In my class i get distacted when i see somebody at the door of the class room or when the teacher is doing something or drawing, not somebodys hair. Ask all of my teachers my hair was never distracting, everybody in my english class passed too. Sometimes she even used my hair as examples of vocab words. Just concentrate on keeping schools safe from kids with guns and drugs and stuff like that, not something as harmless as colorful hair.

[TheGreyFacade]

11:06 PM on 07/29/2011

This stupidity is why I love homeschooling...

[faithmalay]

12:07 AM on 07/28/2011

While banning distractions like cellphones and other things is understandable, if banning people from expressing themselves somehow makes learning better have clearly never been outside a school setting. How will these kids know how to handle people who are different from what they are used to if they are never exposed to anyone who isn't "vanilla" if they never have to stick up for a kid being picked on how can they know to stand up to a boss who takes advantage of them. The control they subject these kids to is really disheartening.

[Amanda Eatsbabies]

01:59 AM on 07/26/2011

i go to a lake county school. i will be a senior and seriously, this is the most stupid rule leesburg has ever thought of!! 3 months before school ended i had really bright blue and purple hair. i got soo many compliments. even from the teachers. i wear ALOT of eyeliner. my hair and makeup does NOT affect anyone else. i still get very good grades. No one will follow the rules if they make this an official rule. ive talked to all of my friends about it and they all agree with me. we are NOT going to change OUR appearance just to make the people at school happy. not everyone is going to have a job that doesn't allow piercings, colored hair and a lot of makeup. i am going to a cosmetology school when i graduate and i am getting my piercing license...what we do to ourselves makes us feel better about who we are. its another way to express who we are!!!

[BabyBringsPeace]

10:44 PM on 07/24/2011

I think this is ridiculous. If kids arent able to wear make up& stuff, they would get pissed at the school. sometimes kids fit in better knowing that they have something different& unique then others. if kids dont fit in, they become anti-social, causing stress and becoming uncomfortable at school. kids need to be social, or they would become like a robot at a cubicle job. i dont think anyone wants that, and if you do, then thats crazy.

[BabyBringsPeace]

09:03 PM on 07/24/2011

Honestly, coming from an 8th grader, this is absolutely rediculous&&dumb. a few months ago i cut my hair into a scene type, and no one cared. i wear eyeliner&& mascara to school regularly and its not distracting. im guessing thyre gonna ban contacts that arent clear too? how stupid. not being able to do what they want with their hair and face is gonna make them hate school, causing them to pay less attention anyways. most kids worry about looks, and sometimes makeup and hair and clothes play a big roll. some kids feel insecure, so they do really nice hair, clothes and makeup. honestly, theyre just making it worse for kids.i mean, if they do rainbow, then im sure people would get distracted, but if they just do bangs or highlights in different colors, theres nothing wrong. people are retarded these days. -_-

[Buffy Turner]

11:34 AM on 07/23/2011

OK i'm also a middle school er and i think that maybe a few piercings wont hurt as long as they don't bother or hurt you in anyway so you cant learn i don't see the problem really about cutting your hair different hair grows back and dyeing it different colors won't hurt some kids go through there phase of wanting to be different or rebelling and putting more rules will want to rebel more i'm not saying let kids come in with piercings all over there face but or tattoos all over there body but school is a place to learn not be turned down just for a phase haircut that they will prolly change in the next week i don't know maybe its just me but i don't think piercings and hair cuts should change there learning abillity

[Sunwyn Ravenwood]

02:21 AM on 07/23/2011

The preposterously permissive attitude in high schools is one reason why young people have such a hard time getting and keeping jobs. I worked in the National Parks for 18 years. Every summer hordes of young men and women show up. And every summer a large percentage get fired within days or weeks because they have never grasped simple concepts, like get to work on time, get there dressed in business attire (usually a uniform), no piercings other than ear lobes, no unnatural hair colors, no visible tattoos, no scruffy beards, no shaggy hair.

Add to this their difficulty in understanding concepts like saying "yes, sir" and "yes ma'am", taking orders without whining or talking back, and following rules, and you can see why most parks have to hire replacements by August. Mind you, most of them are good kids and they soon grasp the idea, but life would be a whole lot easier for everyone if high schools actually taught the skills people will actually need to find, get, and keep jobs.

[onionboy]

04:38 PM on 07/22/2011

I think this is a bit silly to do at a school. Young folks should be able to express themselves, and sometimes that means their bodies, hair, etc.

This will not absolve them of the fact that the tattoo on the back of their hand or the ear spool isn't going to affect their ability to get a job later. It will. Doesn't mean that there are NO jobs, but it will cut options. First thing I did after graduating college was cut my hair, shave off my beard and lose the piercings. I didn't feel any less the person for doing so. It was just another stage of life.

[Sarah Brazill]

04:09 PM on 07/22/2011

alrigh for one i say this is straight on RIDICULOUS! and this is coming from a middle schooler. make whatever ban u like but u must realize that we r going to break it at ALL cost. we arent just gonna sit around and let YOU control our lives. we ARE and we WILL continue to fight back with whatever ban u choose to set on us. and have u ever thought about this? if u ban extreme hair and makeup then students will be looking for more ways to break the rules, and if students r busy thinking about how to break the rules instead of studying, lake county's "A" grade point average is just gonna go down a hole and die. well there's my opinion so please, dont let this ridiculous ban pass.

[Janaya Kernizan]

06:38 PM on 07/22/2011

My point exactly. (also coming from a middle schooler) giving kids more rules is going to make it easier to rebel against bull crap like that. I hope we all give the county HELL this year.

[Amanda Eatsbabies]

01:45 AM on 07/26/2011

i agree. thats what i told my mom and everyone that i have been talking to about this. 3 months before school ended i dyed my hair blue and purple. i got soo many compliments about my hair. even from teachers. but it was NOT a "distraction" or "safety issue". i will be a senior this year going to a lake county school and i am planning on dying my hair red and yellow before school starts. i don't care what they say, i am NOT dying my hair back. i have waited 3 years to dye my hair different colors and i finally got to do it. and i did not go through all the bleaching my hair just to fry it. all of my friends agree. they are NOT going to go by the new rules. i am getting 11 piercings and 2 tattoos in the next 3 months. the school cant do anything about it because its MY body and MY life. its a VERY stupid rule. they are just trying to find more ways to control us.