A judge has recently ruled that a trial will take place next month to decide whether a Black high school student in Texas will continue to face punishment from his school district for his choice to wear dreadlocks. The student, Darryl George, has been removed from his regular classroom at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu since August 31, either serving in-school suspension or being placed in an off-site disciplinary program.
According to Barbers Hill School District, George’s long hair, styled in neatly tied and twisted dreadlocks, violates their dress code, which has specific regulations regarding hair length for boys. The district argues that other students with similar hairstyles comply with the length policy. On the other hand, George and his family believe that his chosen hairstyle is protected by a new state law.
Expressing his relief and gratitude, George stated, “I’m glad that we are being heard, too. I’m glad that things are moving and we’re getting through this.” State District Judge Chap Cain III has scheduled a trial for February 22 to determine whether the school district’s dress code restrictions on boys’ hair length violate the CROWN Act. The CROWN Act, a new Texas law effective since September, prohibits hair discrimination based on race and prevents employers and schools from penalizing individuals due to hair texture or protective hairstyles.
While George’s mother, Darresha George, is disappointed that the judge did not grant a temporary restraining order to halt her son’s punishment, she remains determined to support him. In an affidavit, Darryl George describes the treatment he has faced as “cruel” and expresses his love for his hair, considering it sacred and a source of strength. He simply wants to attend school and be a model student but feels harassed by school officials and treated unfairly.
Barbers Hill Superintendent Greg Poole defended the district’s policy in a paid advertisement, insisting that they are not in violation of the CROWN Act. He believes that districts with traditional dress codes are safer and achieve higher academic performance, emphasizing the importance of conformity as an American value.
However, the two lawmakers who co-wrote the state’s version of the CROWN Act, State Reps. Rhetta Bowers and Ron Reynolds, attended the hearing and affirmed that Darryl George’s hairstyle is protected by the new state law. Bowers argued that the district’s punishment stemmed from George’s choice to wear a harmless protective hairstyle that causes no disruption in the classroom.
In addition to the upcoming trial, George’s family has filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency and a federal civil rights lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the school district. They allege that these authorities failed to enforce the CROWN Act. The federal lawsuit is currently before a judge in Galveston, Texas.
It is important to note that Barbers Hill’s policy on student hair has faced prior legal challenges. In May 2020, two other students filed a federal lawsuit against the district, resulting in one student returning after a temporary injunction was granted. The judge in that case believed that the student’s rights to free speech and freedom from racial discrimination would have been violated if they were not allowed back on campus.
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