I've grown accustomed, almost immune really, to newspaper stories lamenting the demise of sports and other extra-curricular activities in our schools, so this article about a new club forming at a suburban Columbus high school caught my eye:
"There's kind of a beard respect," said Cole, a resident of Powell and junior at Olentangy Liberty High School. "If you can grow a beard, everyone's like 'Hey, very nice.'
"You have to respect someone with facial hair."
The notion inspired Cole as well as pal Jared Acker (who reportedly grew his first beard in the sixth grade) to organize the Beard Club, an extracurricular group that will meet this month for the first time.
A dozen students have joined, they said, with two male teachers -- both bearded, of course -- serving as advisers.
Under a mission statement that emphasizes spreading "beard awareness and hygiene throughout the school community," future topics include the history and care of beards, and grooming products.
"Lumberjacks are our icons," Cole said.
