Schools decline Movember challenge

Schools are refusing to relax their facial hair policies ahead of ‘‘Movember’’.

The Movember Foundation’s Robert Dunne emailed 178 schools requesting they suspend their clean-shaven policy for the month of November.

Movember is an annual event where men grow moustaches during November to raise awareness of mens’ health issues, such as prostate cancer and male suicide.

But many young men are unable to participate because school rules prohibit the growth of facial hair.

Students who show up at school with facial hair are often forced to shave with a supplied razor.

Central Auckland schools include Auckland Grammar School, Mt Albert Grammar School, Auckland International College, Onehunga High School, One Tree Hill College and St Peter’s College.

Dunne’s email said Movember needed the schools’ help.

‘‘We believe you have the power to help save young men’s lives with one simple act; making an exemption to your school rules,’’ Dunne said in the email.

New Zealand was losing far too many young men to illness and their refusal to talk to one another about health was, in many ways, more toxic than any disease, he said.

Despite Dunne’s plea, many schools were not willing to relax their rules.

Auckland Grammar School principal Tim O’connor said Movember would be a distraction from exams.

Avondale College principal Brent Lewis said students were only exempt from the cleanshaven policy for religious reasons.

Marcellin College principal’s personal assistant Deidre Merriott said teachers took part in Movember but students were not allowed.

But Auckland International College principal Michael Parry said if students wanted to participate in Movember he would consider it.

Movember Ambassador and radio DJ Jay Reeve advocated for the prefects of Tauranga Boys College to participate in Movember.

‘‘You cannot expect things to change if we try and tackle them at the same stage in life as we traditionally have. Allowing young men to be vocal and take the reins of how they speak about health and how they treat their bodies is key,’’ he said.