A mother called the police when her son SMSed from school that he was getting his hair cut by a teacher. STOMPer FirstWorldProblems feels the mother overreacted and wonders how her son will survive NS.

The son, who studies in Springfield Secondary, was given a haircut as he had broken a school rule which required hair to be below a certain length. His mother reached the school and saw uneven patches on his head, which prompted her to call the police and make a complaint to the Ministry of Education.

A reader who responded to the article in The New Paper said that calling the police over a haircut is laughable, and that the action of the mum is preposterous and most certainly not consistent with that of a mature adult. The mother is making a wimp out of her son and it is behaviour like hers that have caused many youth to become wayward in their behaviour, added the reader.

Another reader suggested that the school give students a warning before shearing their locks, as hair is important to teenagers and it would be a blow to their self-esteem should they be ridiculed for their new uneven and patchy haircut.

STOMPer FirstWorldProblems shares his views:

"I read about the letters from The New Paper readers today (Jan 11). Looks like they, too, are also in disbelief and even disgust over what the mother did. Well, me too.

"Overreacting, much? It's just a haircut, and her son failed to follow school rules. She, as his mother, should have checked that her son's hair was of the correct length.

"In the first article about this case, a STOMPer said the school's teacher who cut the boy's hair acted -- and I quote -- 'like a barbarian'.

"Please, in my time we had teachers who wouldn't think twice when they meted out punishment to us, and our parents were either like 'good for you' or simply indifferent.

"Furthermore, if the boy and his mum can't stand a simple haircut (your hair will grow back!) then how will they react to his enlistment in NS?

"I certainly would cringe and laugh to read about the same mother running to his camp and calling the police over his new buzz cut and then complaining to the authorities.

"Are our boys going soft? They even need maids to carry their fieldpacks for them."