An intellectually challenged Te Puke High School student has been barred from attending mainstream classes because he won't shave his beard, his father says. He said Sheldon would still be able to attend his learning unit courses despite the ban from mainstream class. Pirini said in his opinion: "They're really bullying my son, because it's my rule that I don't want him to [shave] ... they're using his education as a weapon." Former Te Puke High School student Brody Hide also faced a similar situation at the school this year where he was ordered to shave his beard off. She said the school had a complaints process and she was confident that the school had followed it appropriately.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 28, 2019 21:56 UTC