A High Court decision overturning Lucan Battison's suspension for refusing to cut his hair has caused some of the region's schools to examine their own rules.
Havelock North High School principal Greg Fenton said his school's rules may be subject to scrutiny at an upcoming board meeting. "Our code of conduct
is something that families agree to on the enrolment form. It seeks to provide a safe environment for all students and staff and to maintain the good name of the school."
Mr Fenton said schools needed to apply rules fairly and consistently while allowing for a degree of flexibility to accommodate special circumstances.
"I believe we currently do this, and parents are generally supportive and understanding of the rationale for such rules.
"Whether the limited funding schools such as ours get warrants spending on lawyers to unpack rules which are based largely on common sense is something that is debatable. I would far rather spend this money on students and their learning."
Meanwhile, Lindisfarne College deputy rector Campbell Howlett said in light of the High Court decision his school would "certainly be looking at our policies to ensure they meet the expectation".
"With regard to comments about 'having to lawyer up' I'm not sure we'll go down that path, but we have to be mindful of the judicial review."
Te Awa School principal Tim van Zyl, Napier, said the school's board of trustees was continually reviewing its policies and procedures. "We do it [review school rules] to ensure we're doing the right thing; to ensure they are within the legal parameters."
And Richard Puanaki, principal of St Joseph's School, Wairoa, said if his school was faced with legal action by parents, it would "go down the road of communication and review first and foremost".
"Because of this strategy, penalising and conflict are better managed."
