In a recent ruling, a judge in #Texas sided with school officials at Barbers Hill High School in #MontBelvieu, stating they did not violate state law by suspending a Black student, Darryl George, over his locks. The suspension, issued at the beginning of the school year in August, was based on the school's dress code, which prohibits hair below specific lengths.
Despite the enactment of Texas' CROWN Act, which bans racial discrimination in schools based on hairstyles commonly associated with race, the judge found no violation in this case. George's family plans to appeal the decision.
The incident sparked national attention, echoing a similar situation in 2020. The family had also sued Texas state officials, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, alleging a violation of the CROWN Act. However, school officials argued that the Act could be overly permissive, potentially undermining unity and conformity within the school environment.
During an interview with CNN, Greg Poole, the superintendent of Barbers Hill Independent School District, contended that some individuals are attempting to portray the CROWN Act as a "blanket allowance of student expression" to serve their own agendas. Earlier, Poole had expressed a similar sentiment in a full-page advertisement published in the Houston Chronicle, emphasizing his belief that "being an American requires conformity with the positive benefit of unity."
In a disappointing verdict, a judge in Mont Belvieu, Texas, upheld Barbers Hill High School's decision to suspend Darryl George over his hairstyle despite the enactment of the Texas CROWN Act. This ruling, while legally sound, highlights the ongoing struggle against racial discrimination in schools.
Link: Forbes
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