Rules are rules, whether it be in business, in the classroom or wherever but this is a rule too far. I refer to the story about the school that isolated a boy with dyed blonde hair (Gazette, May 27).

Hairstyles have been a fashion feature throughout history and, in modern times, it remains commonplace. It is a way of life, whether it be a change in colour, tints, hairpieces or whatever. A change in hairstyle or colouring makes life more interesting, don't you think?

But what has all this to do with education? Are the teachers/headmasters to be the arbiters, the councillors of fashion in the classroom?

Are we then to conform to uniformity in dress, hairstyle or whatever? What nonsense. What a drab existence. Are schoolgirls going to be sent to the 'sin bin' for changing their hairstyle from, say, auburn to blonde, or blonde to red/green/purple or whatever favours their mood on any one day? Why, indeed, shouldn't boys, who like girls, are influenced by what is going on throughout the media in fashion, dress or hairstyles, do the same? Correct me if you will, but I am not aware that hairstyles are included in the education curriculum.

The sad outcome of this nonsense is that the boy's morale and self-confidence will be damaged. A matter not to be ignored. No doubt people will recall that once it was long, shoulder-length hair that was taboo in the classroom.

Today, boys follow the trend of the likes of soccer icon David Beckham, whose hairstyles vary from long to short, to shaved to pigtail.

But what has all this to do with the teaching profession whose sole task is to teach, in particular the three Rs about which, from the business and jobs point of view, we are surely failing our youth.

K.R. MANNS

Blounts Court

Potterne