On Wednesday, a judge issued an order for a trial scheduled for next month to determine whether a Black high school student in Texas can be persistently disciplined by his school district for refusing to alter a hairstyle that he and his family argue is protected by a recently enacted state law.
Darryl George, an 18-year-old student at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, has been absent from his regular classroom since August 31. During this time, he has been subjected to in-school suspension or assigned to an off-site disciplinary program.
Barbers Hill, the Houston-area school district, contends that George’s long hair, styled in neatly tied and twisted dreadlocks atop his head, violates the district’s dress code, which imposes limits on hair length for male students.
The district claims that other students with similar hairstyles adhere to the prescribed length policy.
Expressing feelings of stress and frustration over what he perceives as unjust punishment, George, a junior, stated on Wednesday that he is grateful for the upcoming opportunity to present his case in court.
With his mother Darresha George standing by his side, George stated during the Anahuac hearing,”I’m glad that we are being heard, too. I’m glad that things are moving and we’re getting through this.”
District Judge Chap Cain III in Anahuac has scheduled a trial on February 22 for a lawsuit brought by the school district. The lawsuit questions whether the dress code restrictions, specifically those limiting the length of boys’ hair, violate the CROWN Act.
This new Texas law, in effect since September, prohibits discrimination based on race in matters related to hair and prevents employers and schools from penalizing individuals based on hair texture or protective hairstyles, such as Afros, braids, dreadlocks, twists, or Bantu knots.
Darresha George expressed her disappointment that the judge did not consider granting a temporary restraining order. Such an order would have paused her son’s punishment until the trial next month.
“I have a son, 18 years old, that wants to go to school, that wants to get his education, and y’all messing with him. Why?” she stated.
In a sworn statement submitted last week to support the temporary restraining order, Darryl George stated that he is experiencing “cruel treatment.”
“I love my hair, it is sacred and it is my strength,” George wrote. “All I want to do is go to school and be a model student. I am being harassed by school officials and treated like a dog.”
A representative from the school district chose not to communicate with journalists following the hearing and did not promptly respond to an email requesting comments.
