You might’ve seen that video doing the rounds; schoolgirls standing at the gate, having their braids cut off before they’re allowed into class. It’s gone viral, and the internet’s split right down the middle. Some people saying, “Rules are rules.” Others asking, “How is this discipline?”

Because here’s the thing; when we talk about school rules, especially uniforms and hair, we often say they’re about order and discipline. But are they actually about learning... or about control?

We’ve just cut a powerful piece of audio that zooms out from the outrage and asks a much bigger question: why do we keep treating individuality like misbehaviour? And what exactly are schools teaching young people about power, authority, and dignity?