Schools 'free to decide' on facial piercings

Melissa Tualaulelei says facial piercings should be allowed. Photo / Natalie Slade

Some students will be able to express themselves freely after their school waived a rule against facial piercings.

New Plymouth Girls' High School this week announced it would drop a rule where students were only allowed to have one piercing in each ear.

Now students can have up to four body piercings - one in each ear, a nose piercing and a tongue piercing.

Acting principal Stella Bond this week said the uniform change came about because too much time was being spent on enforcing the rule.

"We think there's much more significant things to be dealing with," she told the Taranaki Daily News.

In Auckland, the rule at most high schools is no facial piercings and only one piercing in each ear allowed.

The Secondary Principals' Association yesterday said each school was self managing and entitled to make rules surrounding uniform.

President Patrick Walsh said he only knew of one school which also allowed facial piercings. However that school did not have a uniform.

"Traditionally the whole point of not having facial piercings was for two reasons. It was for health and safety grounds. If these students are involved in sport and get hurt then that's not good.

"And it's an image thing. For most schools, it doesn't suit the image."

Speaking as the principal of Rotorua's John Paul College, Mr Walsh said students at the Catholic school were not allowed facial piercings, makeup or any kind of jewellery.

He said many employers did not allow facial piercings and the school wanted to be an example of that.

"No matter what job you're with, you have to conform to the policies of that workplace. I think there's too much distraction talking about piercings when the focus should be on education."

Melissa Tualaulelei had her tongue pierced last year.

The 17-year-old, a student at Manurewa High School, says although the school does not allow facial piercings, many of her friends went to school with their tongue piercings.

"Lots of my mates have nose and tongue [piercings]. It's not a big deal. Lots of kids have them these days."

Miss Tualaulelei said schools should let students wear facial piercings as times were changing.

"I think schools should just let kids have them. They're not hurting anyone - it's a fashion thing."

Gloria To'atasi, 18, has 13 piercings - a nose piercing, two below her lip - known as a snake bite - four piercings on her right ear and six in the other.

"I don't want a tongue pierce though [because] it looks weird," she said. Last year she was in Year 13 at Auckland Girls' Grammar School and did not have to wear a uniform.

STUD BOOK

* Snake bite: Two piercings around the mouth area - the studs resemble a snake bite.

* Monroe: A lip piercing placed off-centre above the upper lip - the stud resembles a beauty spot, like Marilyn Monroe had.

* Medusa: A piercing just above the lip.

* Labret: A piercing just below the lip.

* Stretcher: A piercing in the ear which is stretched with a large disc-like earring.

* Industrial: Two piercings connected with a single straight bar-like piece of jewellery.