Baldness – The Disability?
April 20, 2008 by laura
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Image details: Judge with Gavel served by picapp.com
Big news in the world of baldiness this week. A teacher by the name of James Campbell lost his claim against the Falkirk School Council. He claims that his baldness caused him to not complete his duties of a high school teacher. It appears that his students were bullying him because he was bald. They called him names such as “baldy”, and felt that his baldness showed a sign of weakness.
His baldness is not a sign of weakness – his lack of self respect is weak. He could have laughed it off, and had a bit of fun with it. And since when is “baldy” a bad name. At baldiness, “baldy” is a term of endearment – and one that I use with a lot of respect.
The judge who heard this case, dismissed it. Stating that if baldness is to be considered a disability, then shortness, and oversized nose and ears, would also be. And wouldn’t that be a farce.
Chime in on this debate. How do you feel?
Do you agree with me and the judge (and the school board), or do you think that Mr Campbell has reason to feel sorry for himself, because he lives without hair (and chose not to invest in a hairpiece).
Personally, I think it has all the makings of a broadway musical.
If you would like to read more, you can read a bit of a summary (there are some great comments too) at Short News.
Completely agree with the judge and the school board and rational people everywhere. I do fee sorry for the teacher, though. I can’t imagine he would get very far in any classroom if he continues to blame a physical trait for his low self-esteem. Kids are tough, that’s a fact. But I have had plenty of bald (and balding professors) and frankly, a few of them stay in my memory as the most demanding, most respected, and most self-assured of the bunch.
Gabrielle,
I agree. In fact the professor who had the most effect on me, was bald. He was so comfortable with it, that it would have been so strange to see him with hair – he just would have been completely different. Less confident (in his own words). Bald was just a small part of who he was – but he most certainly owned it.
It really is too bad, that people can’t be comfortable in their own skin.