[user104658]

I'm pretty sure it was disproven years ago that student appearance has any impact AT ALL on the academic performance of a school. I understand the point of a uniform: relatively inexpensive clothes that stop kids feeling like they have to "compete" to have the latest fashions (usually stupidly over-priced) which can lead to massive financial burdens on parents or alternatively bullying of kids who cant afford the "latest gear". A uniform makes sense, for that reason. Hair, including facial hair, has no such implication. It's a rule for the sake of rules.

And if its because the CATHOLIC school thinks they look neater / better clean shaven and in Uniform, that it reflects badly on the school to allow otherwise... Well, fine Christians, that is called Vanity, and it's a deadly sin. Then again shoe me a religion that isn't plagued by hordes of bloody-minded hypocrites and I'll show you my beautiful flying piggy.