Mullet debate continues as school doubles down on hairstyle stance

The issue of schoolyard mullets is back in the news after Eastern Suburbs school Waverley College doubled-down in its ongoing war against a number of hairstyles popular among young men.

The school has issued a notice that any student attending next term with an offensive hairstyle - a mullet, mohawk, dreadlocks, braids or a man-bun - will have their hair cut on site at their own expense of $20 before they can return to class. Any student who shows up with an offending haircut but refuses to have it altered will be sent home.

The latest announcement comes as past of the school's on-going battle with the hairstyle, which caused a stir when it began in 2021. The school, whose annual fees are in excess of $20,000, has said that the rules are clear and supported by parents.

It should also be noted that Waverley are by no means the only school with a similar policy - although the recent announcement about mandatory cuts has thrown them to the centre of debate once again.

“If your son arrives at the college at the commencement of term 2 with a haircut that is not in line with college policy, he will either be sent home on his first day or we will have a hairdresser on site where he can receive a haircut at the cost of $20, charged to his school fees account,” said Deputy Principal Gabby Smith, per the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Part of maturing in life is understanding that rules, guidelines, and expectations are necessary for growth – even when these might not align with our personal preferences."

"While personal expression, fun and creativity are important parts of who we are as individuals, it needs to fit within the bounds of what is acceptable and required of us.”

Similar rhetoric was mentioned when the decision attracted headlines back in 2021, though it seems the policy may have been disregarded given the recent re-enforcement.

The stance has drawn equal parts condemnation and support on social media and in the news, especially with the increasing prevalence of the mullet hairstyle in everyone from professional golfers and rugby league players to prominent musicians.

Objectors say that the hairstyle is being unfairly targeted due to a certain stigma still heavily associated with the 'bogan' image, criticising the move in the context of a wider, more progressive social stance. Some workplaces and other collectives have even embraced the style for a cause, like the 'Mullets for Mental Health' initiative started by the Black Dog Institute.

But the move has also received vocal support from those who believe a private institution is within its rights to set and enforce their own policies regarding appearance.

What do you think? Is this a restriction of freedom, or the school's right to determine?