More legal action a concern

Wanganui City College principal Peter Kaua: "For cultural reasons there are some male students who prefer to wear their hair long." Photo/File

Local school principals are concerned legal action against schools could become more common after a judge ruled that the suspension of a boy who refused to cut his hair was unlawful.

In a case that made headline news, the family of Lucan Battison, a 16-year-old student from St John's College in Hastings, took the school to court over the issue.

Lucan was suspended from St John's on May 22 after he refused to cut his locks. He had offered to tie his hair in a bun as the school rules required it to be "off the collar and out of the eyes" but the school took a hard line and suspended him.

Justice David Collins ruled that the decision to suspend Lucan was unlawful as it was too harsh a penalty, and the school's rule over hair length was vague and uncertain.

The principal of Wanganui City College, Peter Kaua, said his school had clear rules about hair, but they were mainly around colour.

Students can dye their hair but they are expected to have it a "natural" colour, so no pink, blue or green. And it can only be one colour.

The school made more allowance for long hair, Mr Kaua said.

"For cultural reasons there are some male students who prefer to wear their hair long."

He said it was made clear to new students when they enrolled what the school expected of them, including standards for appearance.

But he was uncomfortable with the court's decision.

"Rules are rules, and they're there for a reason. This could open the gates to all kinds of court action."

Richard McMillan, principal of Taihape Area School, said the court decision presented an interesting dilemma for schools.

"It's not really just about the hair; it's possible that if parents don't like any school rule they can challenge it," he said.

Mr McMillan said hair "was not an issue" at his school.

"We're more concerned with teaching and learning. There are a few boys who have long hair, but we're relaxed about it."

Mr McMillan said any boys with long hair normally got their hair cut of their own accord once the rugby season started.

Commenting on Lucan's case, psychologist Nigel Latta said parents were increasingly bringing lawyers in to work out issues at schools, a practice he said was wrong.

Others in the education sector have expressed concern that the case may spark further such legal challenges to school rules.