A Texas high school sent a Black student back to in-school suspension for refusing to change his hairstyle, renewing a monthslong standoff over a dress code policy the teen’s family calls discriminatory.

The student, Darryl George, was suspended for 13 days because his hair is out of compliance when let down, according to a disciplinary notice issued by Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas. It was his first day back at the school after spending a month at an off-site disciplinary program.

George, 18, already has spent more than 80% of his junior year outside of his regular classroom.

He was first pulled from the classroom at the Houston-area school in August after school officials said his braided locs fell below his eyebrows and ear lobes and violated the district’s dress code. His family argues the punishment violates the CROWN Act, which became law in Texas in September and is intended to prohibit race-based hair discrimination. The school says the CROWN Act does not address hair length.

  • doublejay1999@lemmy.world
    210·
    1 year ago

    Because he’s missed 80% of his classes, which won’t help with the challenges he will already face as black man, and because this would be a silly hill to die on.

    • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
      51·
      1 year ago

      Because he’s missed 80% of his classes

      Looking at other articles it looks like that missed classroom time was for continued suspensions over his hairstyle.

      This effort has apparently been backed by the district superintendent.

      Greg Poole, who has been district superintendent since 2006, said the policy is legal and teaches students to conform as a sacrifice benefitting everyone.

      “When you are asked to conform ... and give up something for the betterment of the whole, there is a psychological benefit,” Poole said. “We need more teaching (of) sacrifice.”

      Just for bonus points the school district’s policy is not only racist but sexist. This policy only applies to males.

      Barbers Hill Independent School District prohibits male students from having hair extending below the eyebrows, ear lobes or top of a t-shirt collar, according to the student handbook. Additionally, hair on all students must be clean, well-groomed, geometrical and not an unnatural color or variation. The school does not require uniforms.

      I have no idea what “geometrical” hair would be.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        2·
        1 year ago

        “When you are asked to conform … and give up something for the betterment of the whole, there is a psychological benefit,”

        We want you all to be good little soldiers so when you graduate, you can go off and be good little soldiers.

        • AA5B@lemmy.world
          1·
          1 year ago

          I can’t believe I had to scroll this far to find this quote - anyone else horrified that a school superintendent can say this and think it’s ok? Military school, sure, it serves a purpose that may save your life, but this doesn’t appear to be a military school, and conformity is not an educational value

          Put that together with this kid missing 80% of the year so far over hair and there’s something seriously wrong with that school.

          I mean, it’s a weird hill for the kid to die on, and I don’t see how it’s in his interest to do this, but it’s a serious failing of the school to impact his education like this

        • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
          2·
          1 year ago

          The superintendent with his comment has made it clear it has nothing to do with hair, and everything to do with exerting control and punishment when that control is rejected.