Darryl George, a Black high school student in Texas, was punished by the Barbers Hill school district for almost all of his junior year over his hairstyle. George, now 18, has left the district after facing in-school suspension but wishes to return for his senior year. He has requested a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order to allow him to go back to school while a federal lawsuit he filed proceeds.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown dismissed most of George’s claims of racial and gender discrimination in August, allowing only the gender discrimination claim to stand. The judge questioned whether the district’s hair length rule does more harm than good. The district maintains that their policies on grooming and discipline are meant to instill respect for authority.
George’s attorney argued that the punishment caused him significant emotional distress, leading to a nervous breakdown, and ultimately forced him to transfer to another high school. However, George wishes to return to Barbers Hill High School.
The district’s dress code policy, which requires hair to not fall below the collar, eyebrows, or earlobes, was challenged in George’s federal lawsuit based on the recent CROWN Act, which prohibits race-based discrimination of hair. A state judge ruled that the punishment did not violate the CROWN Act.
The district’s hair policy has been previously challenged in a 2020 federal lawsuit by other students, with one student being granted a temporary injunction allowing him to return to school. George’s case is still ongoing, and he hopes to return to his original school. An Oct. 3 court hearing has been scheduled on George’s request for a temporary restraining order.
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