Memories of 1969

During my high school days, ending in 1969 when I graduated, we had grooming standards for the boys and girls. Robyn Kuester, I am sure, can fill you in on the dress standards (especially skirt length) for the girls. For the boys we had to wear dress shoes, slacks and a nice shirt (typically short sleeve, button down collar type) Monday through Thursday. This style of dress would be very close to the "nerd" look of today. Friday was Levis and t-shirt day. Our hair had to be cut short: no hair over the collar and ear, sideburns no longer than the middle ear, no moustaches or beards. Through 1969 we had these standards even though the "hippie" movement was in full force. In 1970, the year after I graduated, grooming standards were lifted. I find this amusing, even today, because the coaches (who generally enforced the grooming standards) who were constantly watching the length of my sideburns as if it were the most important item in the world went absolutely crazy: they grew their hair long, grew moustaches and beards and even got "perms".

Submitted by Jay Brower brofam1@home.net