Demonstration about hair

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32849, 24 February 1972, Page 14

Demonstration about hair

Two demonstrations were held outside the grounds of the Papanui High School In Christchurch yesterday to protest against the suspension of a pupil on Monday for failing to get his hair cut After the first demonstration, during which the Papanui police were called, a group of pupils left the school grounds and accompanied the demonstrators, who were mostly members of the Canterbury Union of Secondary School Students, which has an active membership of between 30 and 40. The principal of the school (Mr E. Fancy) said last evening that he would make no firm decision about what he would do with 20 or more pupils who had left the school without permission, until they arrived back at school today. “Few of the pupils at whom most of the demonstration was aimed appeared to be interested in it at all,” Mi Fancy said.

Under the law, parents of pupils under the age of 15 who are absent from school without good reason are liable to prosecution. The demonstrators who returned to chant and wave a banner outside the school gates at lunchtime yesterday, numbered about 15 on both occasions.

The pupil' who was suspended from the school on Monday is Stephen Latham, aged 16, of Grassmere Street, Papanui. and president of the Canterbury Union of Secondary Students.