I got my hair cut.

How fascinating, right?

Apparently, it really is. I teach at a secondary school, and I have never before realized the importance placed on appearance before. I knew the students tended to identify themselves by the uniforms of their different cliques - the boarders, the metal-heads, the preppies, etc.

As a teacher, however, I was only peripherally aware of this, and never really concerned myself with my own appearance aside from attempting to project a professional attitude through my attire and demeanour.

Then, I got my hair cut.

It wasn't as though I had a flowing mass of hair that streamed down my back and I changed to a crew-cut. I had an average, middle-length, boring bob and I went to a short, boring shag. I think it looks better, and it takes me less time to get ready in the morning, so I was happy.

My students discussed it ad nauseam. People I had never spoken to before, (even staff members with whom I rarely conversed) commented. It was analyzed, discussed, and debated. It was impossible to change the subject with some people.

So here's my question: At what point does a hairstyle become more interesting than the person wearing it? Is this just a factor of the age of student I teach? Secondary school students do tend to be very concerned with appearance.

I'd be interested to know what everyone else thinks. I'm baffled.

te (really wasn't a troll before) ach