HEADmaster bans students from exams

No number ones for Offaly students!

The headmaster of Tullamore College in Co Offaly has tried to defend his decision to ban 3 Junior Cert pupils from the exams.

HEADmaster Edward McEvoy says they breached the schoolrules. Apparently there's no blade one hair do's allowed down in Co. Offaly.

The boys were told they could sit one exam but that would be it!

There has been widespread outrage around the country about this but the HEADmaster has claimed the rules must be obeyed "for the sake of good order and calm conditions for the rest of the students".

Former Minister for Education Noel Dempsey, spoke out today in defence of the schoolboys.

"What's more neat and tidy than a nice, short haircut?" he asked. "I really can't understand the logic or the reasoning. Perhaps there are underlying circumstances, but on the face of everything I've seen on this, I just think that what has happened is ridiculous."

Green Party TD Paul Gogarty has called on the Government to change the Education Act to prevent a repeat of what happened in Tullamore. He said the legislation should be altered to allow student representatives to sit on boards of management.

Here's what some of the SpunOut.ie discussion board members are saying:

"i'm sorry, but what the hell is going on???
i probably would have agreed with his actions, had they been delinquents or had sent death threats to the examiners, but its just crazy.
not being allpwed to sit the exams you've been preparing for, for the last 3 years, because of your hair, which is too short??
its a crime."

"He should be sacked. How mental is that. A guy nearly set a school nearby where i live on fire, suspension.
Cut your hair too short and you cant sit you j.c. exam. Riddiculous.  The jerk then said the parents were deprieveing the boy of his education. Bu- but- "HE WAS THE PRICK THAT WOULDNT LET THEM SIT THE EXAMS BECAUSE THEY'RE HAIR WAS TOO SHORT... "
Okay, deep calm breath... "

"it takes the piss---- if hair is too long it wud prob b the same!!!!  its people like that that just make people hate school and i think encourages them to get into more trouble when they are at school cos it seems like they cant do anything right o they end up not even trying"