Once again, children across the state are melancholy while their parents jump for joy. Yes, my friends school has begun once again. After the initial excitement wore off, I began to rummage through the tons of forms and pamphlets my daughter had me sign and review this year. One item in particular caught my attention, and I actually began to read it in lieu of searching for the signature line.
The Student Handbook, "The Educator's Bible," seemed so much thicker than I recall. As I glanced through the literature, my daughter complained of its contents and brought to my attention that piercings, not even the clear ones, were allowed to be worn on any part of the body but the ears. Early this summer I had graduated to cool parent status when I allowed my daughter to get her nose pierced for her 13th birthday. She continued to complain of the ridiculous rules and adult attempts at taking away childrens freedom of expression.
As I listened, I began to reminisce my high school days and the cause of our generation, which was the boys' rights to wear earrings. How ironic that one of our main crusaders is now a school principal enforcing the utilitarian laws he so bravely opposed as a teenager. Well, maybe he is not a complete traitor, at least according to my daughter's handbook. As I continue to scan the material, I notice boys are now allowed to wear earrings. Yes! We are victorious! Of course, an earring doesn't make as bold a statement on a middle-aged man, as it did a teenager during the 80's.
One of the main attractions of countercultural trends is the shock value. This has been a prerequisite for generations and once something becomes accepted as part of the "norm," it loses its appeal. So, with the passing of each generation comes a new set of rules and accepted attire. Therefore, beware the day you pick up a student handbook and realize split tongues and .00 gauge nose rings are accepted articles of student attire.
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