Principal of St. Margaret's girls school told bald students to wear wigs

3 St. Margaret's girls were singled out by their principal when they returned to school without wearing wigs after shaving their heads for charity.

In its 11th year of running, Hair for Hope has been helping cancer patients to raise funds and increase awareness about childhood cancer. This year’s turnout was no less than previous years and participants came from all walks of life. A total number of 215 students contributed their hair to the event, and they hail from the likes of RI, RGS, St. Margaret’s girls Secondary School and many others.

3 St. Margaret’s girls did not return school wearing wigs like they promised before participating in Hair for Hope 2013. (Image from Hair for Hope’s website)

St. Margaret’s girls school principal asks students to wear wigs

Among these 200 students, three St. Margaret’s girls were singled out by their principal when they returned to school at the beginning of this week for not hiding their bald heads with wigs.

Leia Lai, Cherry Wong and one more unidentified classmate, all of which are 15 years old, students from St. Margaret’s Secondary School, had promised principal Mrs. Marion Tan that they would wear wigs upon their return to school on Monday but failed to do so.

Mrs. Marion Tan, former principal of Geylang Methodist Secondary School, was not happy with the three St. Margaret’s girls returning to school bald because according to school rules, students are expected to maintain “their turnout as a young lady” and refrain from “punk, unfeminine or sloppy hairstyles”.

Views of Singaporean netizens about St. Margaret’s principal

After news broke that principal Marion Tan had suspended two of the girls for turning up in school without wearing wigs, Singaporean netizens raised an uproar against her decision.

Many felt that the St. Margaret’s girls should not have to wear wigs to school because they shaved their heads for a good cause. Others slammed Mrs Tan for placing too much importance on outward beauty, as the principal of an all-girls’ school.

Other St. Margaret’s students who believe that the blame should not be pushed to the school and principal Mrs Marion Tan.

What parents think

While some parents and netizens expressed their anger towards the principal’s actions, others conveyed that the St. Margaret’s girls should have kept to their promise of wearing the wigs. Cherry Wong’s father believes that, “Whatever the girls have agreed, they have to abide by.”

As it turns out, besides the three students who did not wear their wigs back to school as promised, there were two other St. Margaret’s girls who took part in the event as well.

These two students, Pee Chloe and Sumiko Choo, however, did keep to their promise and wore their wigs to school. In an interview, they stood up and stated clearly that they believed in keeping to their word.

Sumiko Choo, one of the St. Margaret’s girls who participated in Hair for Hope, and wore a wig upon returning to school.

Allowed to go bald

According to the latest updates, Leia and Cherry have now been allowed to return to school with their shaven heads without having to wear wigs, but only because their doctors have confirmed that they developed rashes because of the wigs.

So do you think it was right of the St. Margaret’s girls to return to school without wearing wigs as promised? Or was it wrong that St. Margaret’s principal Mrs Marion Tan insisted on the girls wearing wigs upon their return to school? Tell us what you think below!

For more on the news, watch this video:

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