Education Hair Discrimination

[Jazzy]

A judge ordered Wednesday that a trial be held next month to determine whether a Black high school student in Texas can continue being punished by his district for refusing to change a hairstyle he and his family say is protected by a new state law.

Darryl George, 18, has not been in his regular classroom in Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu since Aug. 31. Instead, he has either been serving in-school suspension or spending time in an off-site disciplinary program.

His Houston-area school district, Barbers Hill, has said George’s long hair, which he wears in neatly tied and twisted locs on top of his head, violates a district dress code that limits hair length for boys. The district has said other students with locs comply with the length policy.

Full article

---

If he wears his long hair on top of his head, do you think it violates a district dress code that limits hair length for boys? (Why/Why Not)

 

[Lamb]

The new bill doesn't state that it protects length of hair:

https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HB00567F.pdf#navpanes=0

 

[Albion]

Full article

---

If he wears his long hair on top of his head, do you think it violates a district dress code that limits hair length for boys? (Why/Why Not)

We don't really know if it does or does not. However, the school board probably thinks that the rules have to be applied consistently or else it will be accused of playing favorites, etc.

This fellow does have long hair, even though we might say, offhand, that it's in compliance. But the rules ("relating to discrimination on the basis of hair texture or protective hairstyle associated with race") don't seem to apply since there is nothing about very long hair on males that is, in fact, associated with race.

And then too, if he's given a pass, what is the next student's creative approach to cutting corners with the dress code going to be?

 

[tango]

Full article

---

If he wears his long hair on top of his head, do you think it violates a district dress code that limits hair length for boys? (Why/Why Not)

A dress code that limits hair length for boys but not for girls is sexist - race doesn't even need to be considered.