AIBU this is NOT a moustache

[ChocHotolate]

My son (age 13) has been given a Saturday morning detention for having a moustache (not allowed at his school).
I have attached a pic, I don’t think this is a moustache and certainly not enough to shave.
Interested in what everyone thinks before I challenge the school.

My part iraqi ds has similar but slightly more visible because his hair is darker. DH doesn't want him shaving it until DS feels he wants to - it is a world of skin irritation they don't need until absolutely necessary

That's ridiculous. My dc school have a no facial hair rule but in reality nobody says anything. When dc1 was this age they had to wear masks so quite a few of them tried growing beards with various levels of success. They thought they were so clever having forbidden beards that the teachers couldn't see! My ds3 has blonde sideburns and the only time anyone has said anything to him was when the girls doing the make up for the school play made them look much darker and more visible.

completely ridiculous

It's obviously not a moustache, he's growing up and STARTS to have a vague shadow. Imposing to start shaving right now is stupid, I would tell the school I am not allowing him to go to a detention for that.

This is probably the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard from a school in all my life.

Yanbu.

This is disgusting. No school should be banning a boy from having facial hair. How unkind is that, to single a boy out if they happen to be starting that journey a bit older than they're 'meant' to? Plus which, getting obvious facial hair earlier than the UK white male is something that some boys have absolutely no control over. My own son has British and southern European heritage and got much more of a 'tache than this by 13/14. Boys from southern Europe might get facial hair earlier. Boys from other parts of the world definitely will. What does it look like if a school singles those boys out and threatens them with detention? Nobody should be shaving any part of their body because school says so. It's palpably different to head hair length, although only schools stuck in the Stone Age still discriminate against boys who have longer-than-collar length hair.

(I'm not commenting on whether or not your son has a perceivable moustache or not, as that really isn't the point!)

I went to an all girls school in the 1970s and most girls at the time had more of a moustache than that

No. If a young girl had facial hair to that level would she be commanded to remove it?

Do they ban leg hair?

It's not a moustache and even if it was I don't see why people can't have natural facial or bodily hair if they wish.

Some of us women (and girls) have more facial hair than this-would they give a DT to a girl in this situation?

Also, some religions say facial hair is important. Whether this applies to your son is not the point-it applies to some people. I normally support schools and my kids know they shouldn't usually complain, but...

This is one time where I agree going ballistic is the right decision.

This is absolutely ridiculous.

The rule itself is ridiculous but this boy has a couple of blonde hairs.

I know many teen girls who have darker and more upper hair lip than this.

Teens are already self conscious enough.

That's insane. Your poor son. 100% challenge the detention. That's very unfair.

My teenage daughter has a more impressive moustache. And yes she is laughing along with me as I type.

Agreed. I think it's appalling

Looks like peach fuzz, aka deffo not a mustache!

My DS had a moustache in the last yr of junior school - it was bum fluff tbh, lol, but dark - and he was so proud. He is still nursing his bum fluff, several years later. I think because he's refused to shave, it's never really got thick.
Anyway, back to OP, I'd email school and tell them that your DS won't be attending w/e detention for his bum fluff, attach a pic as the Head probably hasn't seen what the fuss is about. It's discrimination, of a pubescent boy! WTAF. I

Ridiculous and discriminatory rule, definitely challenge it!

Thank you, looks like a rare unanimous vote that I am not unreasonable.

I am planning to contact the school to ensure that this is the only reason and that he hasn’t actually done something else (I would be surprised, he’s never in trouble).

I was about to post similar - my part Pakistani ds had what resembled a moustache from much younger than would be considered a suitable age for shaving. It should be pointed out to the school that their policy is racist.

I had more facial hair than that at the same age as him, never mind how much I have now!

I can vouch that natural facial hair makes not a jot of difference to the learning of teenage boys and I teach several with well-developed moustaches.

DS has had noticable upper lip hair for 18m. He has a razor for when he feels ready to start shaving which has so far been not yet. It hasn't really thickened up much since it became more apparent. There are a couple of brave blond hairs pioneering on his chin.
His grades seem to be unaffected.

Clean shaven policies are potentially discriminatory on religious/ cultural and SEN (sensory issue) grounds.

We used to call that “ bum fluff” back in the day 😊

Weekly waxing?????

fuck that first a joke, I'd be getting it lasered. It hurts me too much. I get it done 'occasionally' when it starts to bother me. I'm thinking about laser treatment but it's expensive when the waxing is only occasionally.

@ChocHotolate

if he was mine he would NOT be going to the detention & I would be emailing or having words with someone senior to the twat who gave him the detention.

my neighbours daughter has a much heavier one than that (she's 13. Poor kid) I wonder how they'd handle that??

Teachers of both genders probably have more hair than that.

Mind you this detention might increase his street cred and have a perversely positive effect!

I remember trying to grow a moustache at 15
Dad said I looked like an Italian ice cream man...off it came in two strokes of a razor.

The loon hasn't got a moustache ..nothing there.

A) That’s not a moustache

B) Why in earth are schools banning facial hair?!

I’ve seen some women with more facial hair than that.