The Battle of the Bangs - UI Podcast #259

I always found the beginning of a new school year to be the most exciting.

After a long summer break, everyone returned refreshed, the school's been thoroughly cleaned, and the students, they wander the corridors trying to make sense of their new schedules.

Of course, within a few days, the confusion fades, routines take hold, and

the real learning

begins.

At least that's how things were supposed to unfold for 14-year-old Carl Towner.

You see, in September of 1967, Carl entered the ninth grade at North Onstead Junior High School, which is located about 12 miles or 19.3 kilometers southwest of Cleveland, Ohio.

But before the the center of a controversy that would turn his life upside down.

That's because on September 19th, Charles Sewell, who's the building principal, he suspended Carl because his hair was not, quote, an acceptable length, unquote.

It's not as though Carl's hair was exceptionally long.

His bangs, they rested just above his eyebrows, leaving his vision completely unobstructed.

In the back, his hair covered the nape of his neck and ended just above his shirt collar.

It was neatly trimmed, carefully combed, and well-maintained.

And by today's standards, there was nothing remarkable about it.

In fact, my 1981 high school yearbook photo shows that my hair was even longer than Carl's.

But of course, this is 1967, and apparently this was enough to raise alarms, at least in the eyes of Principal Sewell.

In a letter that Sewell penned to Carl's father, that's Ernest Towner, he wrote...

Carl was appraised of the fact during the first few days of this school year that he'd have to get his hair cut if he plans to remain in school.

In response,

Towner told Cleveland's Plain Dealer newspaper, They won't tell me what a reasonable length is.

The letter is the only communication I've gotten.

I went to see the board and they have no comment.

Towner, who also wore his hair long and had a beard, explained that

It's a family tradition.

We're not hippies.

I always found the beginning of a new school year to be the most exciting.

After a long summer break, everyone returned refreshed, the school's been thoroughly cleaned, and the students, they wander the corridors trying to make sense of their new schedules.

Of course, within a few days, the confusion fades, routines take hold, and

the real learning

begins.

At least that's how things were supposed to unfold for 14-year-old Carl Towner.

You see, in September of 1967, Carl entered the ninth grade at North Onstead Junior High School, which is located about 12 miles or 19.3 kilometers southwest of Cleveland, Ohio.

But before the the center of a controversy that would turn his life upside down.

That's because on September 19th, Charles Sewell, who's the building principal, he suspended Carl because his hair was not, quote, an acceptable length, unquote.

It's not as though Carl's hair was exceptionally long.

His bangs, they rested just above his eyebrows, leaving his vision completely unobstructed.

In the back, his hair covered the nape of his neck and ended just above his shirt collar.

It was neatly trimmed, carefully combed, and well-maintained.

And by today's standards, there was nothing remarkable about it.

In fact, my 1981 high school yearbook photo shows that my hair was even longer than Carl's.

But of course, this is 1967, and apparently this was enough to raise alarms, at least in the eyes of Principal Sewell.

In a letter that Sewell penned to Carl's father, that's Ernest Towner, he wrote...

Carl was appraised of the fact during the first few days of this school year that he'd have to get his hair cut if he plans to remain in school.

In response,

Towner told Cleveland's Plain Dealer newspaper, They won't tell me what a reasonable length is.

The letter is the only communication I've gotten.

I went to see the board and they have no comment.

Towner, who also wore his hair long and had a beard, explained that

It's a family tradition.

We're not hippies.