Mr Lawler apparently responded to the call, made by 17-year-old John-Paul Romano on Facebook, by suspending the highly regarded student leader for "bringing the college into disrepute".

He allegedly also said John-Paul's ongoing presence at the school would be "dangerous".

Given the response on social media and on the comments thread in this newspaper it would be fair to say many interested observers are of the view it is Mr Lawler who has brought the college into disrepute, not John-Paul Romano.

Many have made the observation it is encouraging to see a young person willing to stand up for what they believe in in these troubled times.

Others have remarked that John-Paul is a young man who has shown courage and leadership.

As for the "dangerous" allegation, the question that must always be asked when a young person questions the authority of their "superiors" is "dangerous to whom?"

The only apparent threat in this situation is to the power of the hierarchy to make unilateral decisions that affect past and present students without consultation or openness to alternative views.

That is hardly the message any school would want to be seen as sending in 2017.

While the school claims the controversial changes, which involve simplifying the existing school crest which dates back to the 1950s and changing the uniform, have been the subject of extensive consultation others hold different views.

"Anyone who has the courage to say `I disagree' gets shutdown or told to leave," one school insider said. "And that's board members, teachers and families".

Yes, on reflection it may not have been wise for John-Paul to have called for his fellow students to go on strike. It is also possible that as a 17-year-old he may not have been aware of just how potentially disruptive such a call could be.

This would appear to be the case given he has said "the protest wasn't just to be a physical one. You could have walked out of class if you wanted... it was just about making your voice and your opinion known."

It would have been a far better result for all concerned, including the broader student population, if it had been possible for a resolution to be negotiated that did not involve suspending a young man with passionate views about his family and his school and the connection between the two from the college.

Given a meeting to review John Paul's suspension is due to be held on Friday it is to be hoped that this can be achieved and that all parties can learn from this experience.