First class student barred from graduation for refusal to shave beard

May 20, 2016 6:58 PM

Andrew Jones who is a student of Amite High school in Louisiana, Mexico, is reportedly the head of his class and a first class student but none of these attributes had been enough to allow the school authorities overlook something as simple as his beard.

Andrew Jones

A high school valedictorian has reportedly been barred from his graduation simply because he had refused to shave off his goatee.

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Andrew Jones who is a student of Amite High school in Louisiana, Mexico, is reportedly the head of his class and a first class student but none of these attributes had been enough to allow the school authorities overlook something as simple as his beard.

Jones who had been meant to deliver the valedictory speech during the graduation has also been stripped of that honour over his violation of the school policy on facial hair.

Local news station, WWLTV, reports that the 4.0 student has sported his goatee for four years now, but is also amo0ng a group of 14 students asked to shave their beard upon their arrival at the school's graduation ceremony held on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

Upon their arrival at the ceremony, they had been warned that if they refused to go into the bathroom to shave their beards, they would not be graduating with the rest of their class.

The reports reveal that Jones had been the only one who had refused on the grounds that the rule had never been enforced prior to the graduation ceremony.

Jones had held his ground even though he knew his high school graduation was a once in a life time event.

Speaking during an interview, Jones said:

"Eventually they took my gown.

"They told me they had to take my gown from me. It don't make sense, every day of school I went with it, even more, I did shave. I had like sides and everything, but I shaved that for graduation."

Expressing her displeasure over the situation, Jones' aunt, Sabrina Davis said:

"What was the real issue that he couldn't walk with his class?

"He was top of his class, you know, that moment was the most important moment of his life."

Mark Kolwe, Tangipahoa Schools Superintendent while speaking with WVUE, disclosed that Jones had been warned about the policy on several occasions, adding that he had personally made an appeal to get Jones to shave his beard, but had also failed.

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Mr Kolwe also revealed that the Principal for Amite High was unavailable to explain the reasons for allowing Jones sport a beard throughout the school year but not on graduation day.