Come clean-shaven or else..., St Joseph’s High School, New Panvel school warns boys

Come clean-shaven or else..., Panvel school warns boys

Having hair on their face will most certainly cause girls mental agony. But who knew it could cause boys the same distress. Parents of boys studying in St Joseph’s High School, New Panvel, say, lately, the school management has been insisting that boys come to school clean-shaven, and this is causing them all much mental agony. Parents alleged that those who didn’t adhere to the rule faced disciplinary action. “The decision to keep a moustache or beard is a personal matter. This diktat is resulting in unnecessary stress for the boys. At this age, they are very conscious about their looks. This is a clear example of the school’s highhandedness,” said a parent. Corroborating a parent’s allegation about boys having to face disciplinary action if found sporting a beard or moustache, a secondary student said, “There have been instances when boys with moustache were made to return home and come back only after shaving. To avoid humiliation, many of my classmates began visiting barber shops and using a blade from Std VIII itself.” According to the president of Forum for Fairness in Education, Jayant Jain, there is no government regulation in this regard, and schools found imposing such a rule can be tried as per law. “There is no regulation that prevents a student from having facial hair. Schools might implement such action as part of code of conduct but they can’t put undue stress. Parents can seek legal action against those imposing such a rule,” said Jain. The school management rubbished all allegations and said its only aim was to ensure students looked neat and tidy. A school official said the ‘diktat’ of being clean-shaven is not rigid or a must, and the management is okay with students keeping neatly-trimmed moustaches. “We do stress on a decent haircut but there is no problem with moustache and beard if it’s neatly trimmed,” said Saeeda Malim, principal. She added, “Teachers may have insisted on a clean look, but that would have been only to maintain discipline. We have students who wear turban and sport facial hair as part of their religious beliefs and the management has never objected to it, so the question of imposing it on others doesn’t arise.”