CLASS VALEDICTORIAN NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK BECAUSE HE HAD A BEARD

Andrew Jones showed up to his graduation from Amite, Louisiana, High School, top of his class, ready to speak as class valedictorian. He didn’t get the chance because he had a beard. The school district says it has a policy of no facial hair on male students. The superintendent said Jones and his family were reminded of the rule three times, including graduation night, along with 13 other graduates. They were told if they didn’t go in the bathroom to shave, they couldn’t participate with the class. Jones was the only one who refused, because he said the rule was never enforced before. He claims he had the beard throughout the school year, and he even shaved it shorter for graduation. Jones is headed to Saint Louis University with an academic scholarship, an athletic scholarship and a spot on the football team.
* This exact same thing happened to me. Well, not me. My sister.
* As you go through life, son, you’ll soon come to realize that rules weren’t meant for you. They were meant for others. You’re special. And good luck on the college football team.
* The school district has a policy of no facial hair on male students, and ABSOLUTELY no facial hair shaped like a gun.
* What year is it in Amite, Louisiana? 1967?
* Top of his class? Hard to make a case that the beard held him back.
* It’s sort of like how a high school would be if it were run by the Taliban.
* Only there you can’t be the valedictorian unless you DO have a beard.
* I hope the kid remembers this later when he’s compromising his ass off in the real world.
* So there was one less graduation speech. That’s a positive, right?
* He shaved the beard shorter for graduation? Hey, way to knuckle under to the Man.