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Teenager, 14, Told To Shave Off His Facial Hair By School

Teenager, 14, Told To Shave Off His Facial Hair By School

The boy's mum has started a petition to put an end to the rule

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

A teenager has been told to follow the school rules and shave off his facial hair.

Oliver Parsell, 14, was thrown into isolation by teachers at Somercotes Academy, Lincolnshire, for not complying to its uniform and appearance guidelines.

But the teen isn't taking it lying down and his mum Katherine has started a petition claiming the rules are a breach of her son's human rights.

Katherine told the Grimsby Telegraph: "I am just a mum fighting for change. My son is 14 years of age and is not yet ready to begin the lifelong routine and responsibility of shaving.

"We don't believe that a school should enforce such policies on children between the ages of 11 to 16 or even 18 years of age."

Oliver has been told to shave his tash.
BBC

The disgruntled mum says the school claims it was just enforcing the rules outlined by Tollbar Multi-Academy Trust, which runs Somercotes.

She said: "I absolutely disagree. I don't believe that teachers should be going around schools targeting and approaching students to tell them they need to go home and start shaving.

"It is a very personal choice and a very individual characteristic, purely governed by how late or early any child reaches puberty. They have no control at what age their facial hair grows, both boys and girls."

Speaking to BBC Look North, Katherine said: "Oliver was asked to go home and shave what they class as a beard, he has a beard. Initially they wanted to isolate him at any break or lunchtime and he wasn't allowed to represent the school.

"We've pushed forward and he's allowed to attend freely at school, just like any other pupil, until we can resolve the issue.

His mum says the rules go against her son's human rights.
BBC

"He's still a child. He's a young 14-year-old and why should he have to begin the adult part of life which is shaving. It's a personal, family issue."

Oliver added: "I was surprised, it was pretty weird that they were telling me to shave. Some of my friends shave and they have sore faces and it looks horrible."

In Katherine's petition to the school, she urged others to take a stand.

It reads: "I believe that under the Human Rights Act of 1998 Tollbar Multi Academy Trust is seen as a Public Authority.

"I urge you to support us in getting this policy changed and choice put into place for not only my son but all children, and to highlight whether this kind of policy remains suitable today."

According to reports from the Grimsby Telegraph, the school it has a 'very clear dress and appearance policy' and exceptions were only made on religious grounds.

Featured Image Credit: change.org