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A Hawke's Bay primary school has warned a mother to remove her son's facial piercings because of "safety issues".
Donna Rollinson said she was "shocked" to receive a call from Onekawa School's principal last week condemning her son Shaquille's piercings: "He (the principal) lectured me, and basically told me he shouldn't have been allowed to get it, and I should be a more responsible parent."
Shaquille, 10, said he got the piercings through his right eyebrow and beneath his lower lip two years ago, with his mother's permission, because they were "cool".
Neither Shaquille nor his mother knew the school frowned on piercings. It did not have a uniform or dress code, and there were no clauses about piercings in the school policy.
However, the board of trustees is considering a draft policy banning facial and body piercings, along with visible tattoos, unnatural hair colours and clothing bearing offensive language. Exceptions may be made for cultural or religious reasons.
Ms Rollinson conceded it was unusual for a child to have facial piercings, but Shaquille "saved and saved" to get his and looked after them very carefully.
"When we were younger, you didn't see that kind of thing but times are changing. Kids today grow up really fast."
She said the school was "over-reacting". Shaquille did his best to cover up the piercings with plasters, and there were "plenty" of pupils with belly-button piercings who were not singled out.
"This is primary school. Shaquille's there to learn, not cause trouble. As long as he covers it up, it shouldn't have anything to do with his education."
Principal Wayne Keats said 10-year-olds were prone to playing rough and the school was concerned Shaquille's piercings could cause him an injury.
He said Shaquille's coverings often came off, requiring the school to dispense extra plasters. He also had concerns about the "appropriateness" of the piercings at school.
"Younger children in school might come along with piercings, too.
"I'm not a fan of piercings, and I think that view is shared by the majority of staff members and parents."
Legally, he could not expel children for breaking the dress code "and I hope it doesn't get that far". But he encouraged parents to remove children's facial and body piercings.
"Self expression is okay, endangering oneself is not."
* Parents have until April 5 to have their say on the school's draft dress code.
* The Ministry of Education said dress codes and facial piercings were matters for schools to decide.
- HAWKES BAY TODAY
