Teacher cuts pupil's hair, mum files police report

I actually don't disagree on the hair cutting so much as when it was done (Right before an important exam, really?), the punishment if it was not done that instant (Docking marks, really?) and the actual consequences of said action (I could barely see the change in hair length).

My point is there was absolutely no reason why he couldn't have had it get cut after the exam and after the teacher had time to relay to the mother that this was going to happen because it was against the school rules. There was actually a similar incident in Malaysia where a girl was suspended from school for a week for wearing a miniskirt while doing a school community event (This event did not need them to wear uniforms, but word has it that a teacher did tell the girl not to wear a short skirt though she says otherwise). This girl was a straight A student with a good record and on top of that she was helping out willingly, so I should think getting one severe black mark for breaking a rule when others would have to pretty much engage in bullying and smoking in school to even get a suspension like that is way over the top.

Tl;dr A rule is not so much an absolute as a lesson and guideline. Make them be absolutes without considering the context and they lose their power.