Hey Boys, Get a Haircut!

    Principal Luther A. Howard was on the hunt for a menace at his school. What was the dangerous problem?

    No one was picking fights. They weren’t hassling teachers either. Principal Howard was looking for one thing and one thing only: long hair. 

    The boys of Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, Connecticut, had been given a warning. They were told to get a haircut by January 29, 1968. If they came to school with long hair, Principal Howard would punish them. 

    And he wasn’t kidding. Howard sent home more than 50 students that day. 

    “Hair must be away from the eyes and away from the collar line,” Principal Howard explained. “Hair must be neat (not bushy) around the ears.”

    Principal Luther A. Howard was on the hunt for a menace at his school. What was the problem?

    No one was picking fights. No one was treating teachers badly. Howard was looking for just one thing: long hair.

    The boys of Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, Connecticut, had been warned. They were told to get a haircut by January 29, 1968. If they came to school with long hair, they would be punished.

    Howard wasn’t kidding. He sent more than 50 students home that day.

    “Hair must be away from the eyes and away from the collar line,” Principal Howard explained. “Hair must be neat (not bushy) around the ears.”

    Principal Luther A. Howard was on the hunt for a menace at his school. What was the dangerous problem?

    No one was picking fights or hassling teachers. Principal Howard was looking for one thing and one thing only: long hair.

    The boys of Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, Connecticut, had been given a warning. They were told to get a haircut by January 29, 1968. If they arrived at school with long hair, they would face serious consequences.

    Principal Howard wasn’t kidding. He sent home more than 50 students that day.

    “Hair must be away from the eyes and away from the collar line,” Principal Howard explained. “Hair must be neat (not bushy) around the ears.”

    At Brien McMahon High, the rules about long hair started a fierce debate. Some parents supported the boys. They showed up at the school with signs saying, “It’s not the hair on top but the mind beneath.” 

    Eventually, most boys gave in and got their hair trimmed. Others refused. A few even took the issue to court. In the end, they lost. 

    And Norwalk wasn’t the only town in America to fight over hair. More than 100 court cases about hair were filed during this time period. 

    Going to court over your hair may seem crazy. But these teens weren’t just fighting to wear a certain hairstyle. They were fighting for the freedom to be themselves.

    And if you’re a boy and your hair touches your ears—you can thank them.

    At Brien McMahon High, the ban on long hair started a debate. Some parents supported the boys. They came to the school with signs saying, “It’s not the hair on top but the mind beneath.”

    Over time, most boys gave in and got haircuts. Others refused. A few even took the issue to court. But they lost.

    And the fight wasn’t only in Norwalk. More than 100 court cases about hair were filed around this time.

    Going to court over your hair may seem crazy. But these teens wanted more than just long hair. They wanted the freedom to be themselves.

    And if you’re a boy and your hair touches your ears, you can thank them

    At Brien McMahon High, the rules about hair length started a fierce debate. Some parents supported the boys and showed up at the school carrying signs that read, “It’s not the hair on top but the mind beneath.”

    Eventually, most boys gave in and got haircuts. Others refused, and a few even took the issue to court. In the end, they lost.

    And Norwalk wasn’t the only town in America to fight over hair. More than 100 court cases about hair were filed during this time period.

    Going to court over your hair might seem crazy, but these teenagers weren’t just fighting to wear a particular hairstyle. They were fighting for the freedom to be themselves.

    And if you’re a boy and your hair touches your ears—you can thank them.