Texas High School's Hairstyle Policy Sparks Controversy: Black Student's Dreadlocks Lead to Alternative Education Placement

A Texas high school hairstyle policy is putting one Black student in alternative education.

In a recent move that has reignited debates on hairstyle discrimination, a Black student from a Texas high school has been slated for alternative education placement owing to his dreadlocks.

This decision, deeply intertwined, is causing ripples across education sectors and civil rights communities.

Texas High School's Hairstyle Policy Limits Some Students

Darryl George, an 18-year-old Black student, is a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas.

Following the enforcement of the Texas High School's Hairstyle Policy, George has faced an in-school suspension since Aug. 31.

The school's administration cites his dreadlocks as the cause for his suspension, emphasizing a purported violation of the school's longstanding hairstyle norms.

Principal Lance Murphy elaborated in a letter, later shared that George has repeatedly defied the previously communicated standards of student conduct, which are firmly grounded in the school's dress code.

This code, as per the Texas High School's Hairstyle Policy, dictates that male students' hair should not extend below the eyebrows, earlobes, or the top of a T-shirt collar.

The policy also mandates all students to maintain hair that's clean, well-groomed, of a geometrical shape, and free from unnatural colors or variations.

Opposing Stances and Legal Battles

Darresha George, the Black student's mother, alongside their family attorney, vehemently denies any violation of the dress code by Darryl.

They stress that the teenager's dreadlocks do not infringe upon the prescribed guidelines. Consequently, the George family initiated a twofold legal move.

First, they filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency.

Simultaneously, they launched a federal civil rights lawsuit against Texas's top-tier officials, primarily focusing on allegations of their failure to uphold laws that prevent discrimination based on hairstyles.

At the heart of the lawsuit is the CROWN Act. Effective from Sept. 1, the CROWN Act - an acronym for "Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair" - aims to eradicate race-based hair discrimination.

This legislation defends individuals against prejudiced actions based on hair texture or specific protective hairstyles like dreadlocks.

In a twist, Barbers Hill School District, too, has sought legal intervention.

They've approached the state district court, petitioning for a clear interpretation of whether their hair policy for male students, especially focusing on dreadlocks, breaches the guidelines of the CROWN Act.

Echoes from the Past

This isn't the first instance where Barbers Hill High School's hairstyle policy has faced public scrutiny.

Past episodes have depicted recurring conflicts between Black male students and the school's regulations concerning dreadlocks.

Notably, in 2020, two Black students, De'Andre Arnold and Kaden Bradford, faced potential punitive action because of their dreadlocks.

A federal judge, upon reviewing their case, declared the school's hair policy as discriminatory. This verdict played a pivotal role in Texas lawmakers sanctioning the state's CROWN Act.

The saga surrounding the Texas High School's Hairstyle Policy remains intense and multilayered.

With a Black student's dreadlocks serving as the flashpoint, the scenario underscores the broader issues related to racial discrimination and cultural acceptance within educational environments.

As the story unfolds and progresses through legal corridors, the implications could be far-reaching, potentially reshaping how policies are perceived and implemented in the future.