Anger after girl sent home over piercing
Thursday 14th January 2010, 7:58AM GMT.
A Shropshire father hit out at a rule which saw his 14-year-old daughter sent home from school for having lip piercings.
Karl Foster branded the policy “unfair” and claimed that it was pointless and had nothing to do with the youngster’s education.
College bosses today defended their policy on the matter saying that the ban on facial piercings was imposed for health and safety reasons.
Mr Foster, of Ketley Vallens, Telford, said his wife Maxine bought Karla the lip piercing as a Christmas present but on the teenager’s first day back last week at Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College in Wellington she was confronted by the headteacher.
Mr Foster claimed Karla was told to either take the lip stud out or she would have to be taught in isolation.
Karla removed the stud but put it back in out of sight of teachers.
However, last Friday, after two days off school because of the heavy snow, she was caught wearing it again.
Mr Foster said: “She was taught in isolation that day.
“She then went in on Monday this week wearing the stud and I was telephoned by the headteacher and asked to go in for a meeting.
“The head explained health and safety policy to me but then told me to take Karla home.
“The option to teach her in isolation wasn’t even made.”
Mr Foster said: “Kids think with their brains, not their lips.
“What does it matter if she has her lip pierced?”
Karla said: “It is just unfair.
“One girl at the school has her tongue pierced and her belly and she has six rings in one ear.”
She added: “No-one has told her to take them out.”
Headteacher Robert Hall said: “College policy clearly says that facial piercings are not acceptable and this is set out in the Parent Handbook that is issued every year. It is also on our website.
“This ban is for health and safety reasons. Karla was given the option of removing the stud or being withdrawn from lessons until she complied.
“This is in accordance with normal school practice.
“Karla’s parents were then contacted and asked to take her home until she was compliant with school dress policy.
“Karla is not excluded and can return as soon as the stud is removed.”
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who would let their 14 year old have a lip piercing anyway?
If it’s a school rule you have to stick to it.
You can’t just make up which rules you want to stick to.
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Congratulations to the school for taking a stand on these ridiculous body deforming trends. Why would a lovely young girl want to look like a pig – with a stud through her lip? Whilst young film starlets all wear earrings, I have seen none with studs through their lips or their tongues. The mother bears some responsibility for the situation, for having paid for the operation in the first place!
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Well rules are rules studs through lips etc I do not get but every one is different. You will not beat the school rule system so take it out and in 2 years when you are at college you can do what you wish as in studs and dress and the like.
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What is it coming to when 14 year olds are encouraged by their parents to openly break school rules. Where is the dicipline in their home? Well done to the Foster family for teaching their daughter that rules are there to be ignored.
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Why on earth would any parent disfigure their child ?
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I think the parents need educating about these things.If it was knocked or riped out by another student who would the parents put the blame on then not themslves?.When I was at school we could not wear ear-rings or even rings on our hands because of health and safty.
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To my knowledge, on commencing in year 7 (or at any other year) parents and pupils have to sign a home school agreement which stipulates that they will abide by the rules set out in the student/parent handbook which obviously sets out standards in uniform. Parents need to decide from the outset whether they are going to agree with these policies from the outset or not, not to disagree when a ‘fad’ comes along or their child decides they would like to break the rule. If you don’t like the rules of that school take them to a more suitable school for you and your childs needs.
Whether I agree or not with the ban of facial piercings or not if the school rules say no then you can’t pick and choose which rule you follow as your childs school life progresses. If one rule is ignored you have set a precedent for other rules to be pushed to the side and chaos will preside!
Children/young adults need boundaries, rules and clear expectations to ensure that there are a limited amount of interuptions to their important and trouble free education. I am sure that if you look to the more successful schools in the area you will find they are the ones who uphold the rules and standards that are set.
A bit of advice to the parents involved, let your children express their individuality, let them grow and discover, but don’t let them damage their education.
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If the parents didn’t agree with the rule, perhaps they should have contested it before the piercing, not afterwards.
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Why does Karl Foster think his daughter is above the rules regulated by the school? I applaud the school for upholding codes of conduct in this day and age!!!!!
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Rules are rules. Grow up, teach your children respect and responsibility. Or ask them to teach you some.
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Why do people break these rules? Its is obvious they dont read the handbooks or they would know that it isnt complient with school rules. Its ridiculous how parents let children have piercings so young, also the piercer that did it shouldnt have as they were under 18 too! As well they look really silly!
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When I was at school, bear in mind I only left 6 years ago, we were allowed one set of studs in our ears and 1 ring and a watch and that was it.
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Mr & Mrs Foster should focus their concern on ensuring that their daughter’s education is not disrupted, rather than running to the media with childish whinges of “It’s not fair”. It’s simple, comply with the dress code and get back to school.
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World Exclusive From The Shropshire Star
“Teenager in Rebellion Shocker”
Parents across Shropshire were up in arms today as news broke that a teenage girl had her lip pierced / had weird hair / started smoking / used bad language near a church.
Marjorie Didbury from Bayston Hill said “it put me right of Jeremy Kyle it did, anyway I’ve got to get back to my ivory tower, byesy bye”.
In other news 50,000 people died in an earth quake some place, no Britons were involved.
Get a grip Shropshire Star is this really news worthy?
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More idiot parents – good for the school – and yes it is fair.
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I for one know students who go to that school, one of who is my sister in law and she has a tongue piercing and a belly button peircing. People keep saying how could parents want to deface their children but this girl was not forced to have her lip pierced she probably suggested that is what she wanted for xmas which is why her mom got it her. I myself have a tongue and belly piercing and yes schools have to ensure health and saftey but the peircings are just as if not more dangerous in every day to day life than school! If there is some weird twisted minded thug that takes pleasure in ripping out pupils peircings do you not think it would be better practice to ban them from the school. I bet if they lined all the children up about 80-85% of them would have more than one piercing. teachers just choose not to pay attention to some students and pick on others. She is 14 not 4 stop being so dramatic because if she didnt want it in she would take it out. I say well done to the parents
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As long as the rules are applied evenly to everyone its not a problem. My daughters school openly say no facial piercings, it is for a reason and a genuine one,
ie:- to ensure the pupil is not injured as a result of that piercing whilst at school in a pe lesson for example.
I have no problem with young people having piercings, but these rules have been in place for several years.
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I agree with everyone on here
Education is as much to do with how to get along in the outside world as it is to do with how much math you know and any kid looking to be taken seriously will be looked down on if their face looks like a pin cushion.
Nice to see you are encouraging your daughter to do herself down already Mr. Foster
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Glad the school has done this, rules are set in place, we start with one piercing and where does it go from there!!!!
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school should stop thinking about looks and get on teaching tellthem its her religion.let her wear it
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Uncle Ted, yes it is newsworthy. Parents who encourage their child to cause a situation whereby a teacher has to give one on one tuition while the rest of the class suffers, deserve to be ridiculed. If these people are not shamed by the rest of us, it becomes socially acceptable to defy the school.
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These are the same stupid attitudes that had parents pushing junk food through school fences when healthy food was supplied. If you want your kids to grow up and be at least part of society and have some chance of getting a job support the school, send your kids back into school and make them apologies (not just say “sorry, uh whatever” – like so many know how to do now!).
Bit of a cheap story, really. Glad its had the reaction it has though – I’d hope the editor reviews what happened.
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I heartily agree with the Head’s decision, schools have rules the same as places of work do. All children need to learn (and sometimes their parents) to abide by these rules.
A facial piercing is different to either a tongue or ear piercing in that if this girl was slapped or hit about the face, it could and most probably would cause her serious facial scarring, no doubt her father would expect the school to fork out compensation if that should occur!
Face up to the facts here, you and your child are breaking school policy and nobody would expect the school to back down and permit one singular child to have special permission to wear this stud during school time.
As for whoever it was that allowed this child to have the piercing in the first place beats me…my own daughter had to have written permission for her tongue piercing at 17 and yet it appears a child of 14 gets away with it? Quite frankly I think the father needs a lesson in common sense!
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Some super comments!
The girl is 14! She has the rest of her life to wear this jewellery. Education and growing up should be on her parents agenda, not deforming her face at such a young age!
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This is a no brainer and not worth the paper it was printed on. Get a grip!
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so she has a piercing how does affect her school work teachers should teach not police how a child looks it her body to do with as she pleases.
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Why would a pretty girl like that do that to their face? Sorry but I think it looks vile. Good on the school for standing their ground on this. The parents should be teaching their children respect – something that is clearly lacking in this household.
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I attend BRJ and would really love to know the girl who gets away with six piercings in one ear because as far as i have seen aroud school that girl doesnt exist! Im pretty sure the parents would blame the school if the piercing got ripped out in a scuffle and left scarring. there are plently of people with facial piercings and all of them take them out before school and back in on the way home. Rules are rule, grow up and abide by them or face the consequencces girls !!
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schools always encouraging children to be individuals to stand up for their rights! well does a piercing warrant a child not getting an education!!! come on people this child is prob more than willing to learn, treat others with respect,so why be punished for a little individuality
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When my son started at Priory School they had a junk food vending machine installed.
This was something I objected to but was ignored because the school received a one off payment of £500.
I suggest that every pupil who has a piercing donates a sum to the school fund. This will help them to understand the real world of business and enterprise. Like that as university students they will be a valuable commodity to be milked. (or their parents)
BTW when I was at school we were not allowed stockings until third year, only socks, nor to carry an umberella and all uniform from a felt beret on our head to large green knickers for underwear had to be worn!
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Poor choice of Christmas present by parents, let the girl choose what she wants to do when she is sixteen. Her parents need to grow up and just accept it, then move on.
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Very good Uncle Ted, but actually as local news it is in fanct news worthy!
The school were well in their rights to send the girl home. Why should they waste money on giving her one on one teaching just, because her parents said yes to a lip piercing.
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Uncle Ted, it is local news in, yes… you guessed it, a LOCAL newspaper! Simples!
The father should have known better.
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I thought all piercings other than your ear were illegal until the age of 16?
I wanted my belly button piercing when I was 12 but still waited until I was old enough to ensure I did still want it and it wasn’t a whim that would leave me with an uneccessary scar!
That aside though, the kid really has no hope. If her parents think it is perfectly fine to break school rules just because they don’t agree with them, this young lady is going to enter the real world as an adult with one heck of a shock.
Stupid, stupid parents. You should be ashamed and embarrassed of yourselves and I hope you are on reading these comments.
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A sound decision by the Head. If the parents wish to allow\encourage their daughter to have a facial piercing then it’s their prerogative. However, as stated in other comments they shouldn’t encourage their child to disobey the rules. If the school allowed a lip piercing then they risk opening the floodgates to other ‘facial modifications’. Where do you draw the line? They clearly draw it at an ear stud!
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When i was at school all that was allowed was 1 pair of ear studs no hoops,1 watch and 1 hand/finger ring. ALL to be removed at P.E and swimming etc. No other form of body piercings allowed.That was then though. Today school children think its great to have their bodies pierced in unusual places.Personally the young lady in question doesnt need this stud on her lip it looks out-of-place and quite noticable. Whatever will be the next craze to hit the young?
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I can’t really see what all the fuss is about – the girl and her parents were aware of the school rules, and despite receiving a warning she continued to wear the stud in her lip.
Others have already pointed out that she is a 14 year old child, and as such must accept that she (or her parents) can’t always have her own way.
Well done to the school for making it clear that the children in their care are…..children.
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Shame on the parents, firstly for allowing a 14 year old ” a piercing ” for a Christmas Present. Secondly, trying to break school rules then using an excuse that they ” think with their heads, not lips “. Thirdly, for getting in touch with their local paper trying for the symphathy vote because they feel hard done by.
I think the Headteacher Robert Hall is 100% right in his decision.
Good on the school, wish all schools followed the same policy.
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Agree that School rules should be obeyed, but what has this got to do with Health & Safety?
For other great myths about Health and Safety see http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/index.htm
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Bill,
It has everything to do with health and safety. What would happen if this child used a trampoline for example and it got caught in the fine mesh of the fabric or caught in a badminton net, it would cause injury.
These mouth piercings have also become infected because of poor oral hygiene, so H&S has a part to play. This is identified in risk assessment which leads to the final policy as a result of the findings of the risk assessment.
\these rules have also been in situ for all schools for at least 5 years that i know of.
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Who mutilated this child??? since when can an under 18 have a piercing?
what ever happened to a bike as a good old christmas present!!lol
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theres nowt wrong with it it has not got anything to do with the teachers it is no distraction to anyone !
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I work in a secondary school, and what annoys me is the time wasted by bickering parents arguing over trivial matters, when the only reason students go to school is for an education to help them get a fulfilling life.
Rules are there for a reason, and prepare students for “real” life. Parents are fully aware of dress codes before students start, and are reminded on a regular basis what is ok and what is not.
Don’t waste the time of staff who are paid to educate your children by arguing the toss, they are paid by our taxes to do a job, the clue is in the name…Teachers.
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‘Student’ you need to open your eyes, i attend brj & there is more than one person with more than one pair of studs in there ears! & about 6 people that go there have there lips done, even a lad has it done each side!they just take the end off the bar, nearly half the girls in the school have there belly bottons periced, & alot there tounge.
Mr foster has the right to be angery!
he has whitnessed some of these pupils, & i agree 110% with him.
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Well i thik this is all silly.
my son came home today from school & he stated that one of the teachers asked him to remove his earing, witch in the handbook of the school it clearly says you are alowed one stud in each ear, i mean this earing is realy tiny, & i dont see the problem seeing as the handbook says 2 studs & hes only just had it periced i mean he is 13.
his teacher stated if he dont take it out she still gets paid & she dont care.
i agree with Mr Foster im sorry.
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congratulations to the school for not letting a girl go to school witha lip piercing what happened if the school did allow her and she had an sccident and the peircing was ripped out the parents would be the first to blame the teachers SO WELL DONE TO THE SCHOOL
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I really don’t care whether it’s a good idea for the girl to have the piercing – although I do think she’s too young – the point is, most places of education or work have dress codes and other rules.
You can try to get them changed if you think they are really unfair or unreasonable, but while you work/study there you follow them.
This girl needs to learn this basic fact.
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I’m a secondary school teacher too and I’m sick of wasting time that I should be teaching on “adults”/”parents” who blatantly refuse to follow rules. The rules were there before he sent his daughter to the school – if he doesn’t like the rules, then he should find another school. He’s not forced to send his daughter to BRJ. Honestly, this “adult’s” actions are too pathetic for words. Sounds like the sort of idiot who thinks almost everyone should drive at 30mph but he should be allowed to drive at 100mph becuase “someone else did”. Pathetic pathetic pathetic.
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It’s interesting to note that most of those supporting Mr Foster seem to have benefitted so little from their own education that they now appear to be semi-literate.
I think that speaks volumes about their general attitude towards schools and education, and simply serves to confirm that the school are indeed right in trying to impose some discipline.
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What a very thoughtful and imaginative Xmas present for a 14 year old – she must look really attractive sporting a pierced deformed facial mutilation. It’s a real shame the parents are incapable of understanding the school ruling and the social stigma of such a vulgar present gifted by so called adults.
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Peter, harsh but true. A formal education is not essential for success in life but it certainly goes a long way!
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Karla should be able to wear the piercing it’s not like it’s going to stop her from doing her work.
The school shouldn’t be worried about this they should just keep on doing what there to do which is teach child not to tell there what to/not to wear.
Kids should be able to get what piercings they want when they want to get them they shouldn’t have to wait till after they finish school.
I have a daughter of my own there not even allowed to wear make-up at the school she goes to but 95% of the girls wear make-up anyway, my child is one of them and she 13 and almost all of her friends want piercings that the school won’t let them get.
It should be the parents choice if there child wears make-up or gets piercings NOT THE SCHOOLS!!
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