A Black student’s family sues Texas officials over his suspension for hairstyle
nbcnews.com
The family of a Black high school student in Texas on Saturday filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state’s governor and attorney general over his ongoing suspension by his school district for his hairstyle.
Darryl George, 17, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, has been serving an in-school suspension since Aug. 31 at the Houston-area school. School officials say his dreadlocks fall below his eyebrows and ear lobes and violate the district’s dress code.
George’s mother, Darresha George, and the family’s attorney deny the teenager’s hairstyle violates the dress code, saying his hair is neatly tied in twisted dreadlocks on top of his head.
Good. I hope he gets rich and that it ends this sort of bullshit in Texas schools.
Besides, even if it violates the dress code they have, this shouldn't be a part of the dress code to begin with. Who cares if somebody has some freaking dreads like get over it. Smh
I am baffled that the anglosphere has a dress code for schools in the first place. I don't think I've ever heard of anybody getting even talked to for what they wear in a public school here, and I've had teachers in the family for four decades.
Private schools sure, but those are for nepo babies and idiots.
Even private schools where I'm from are unlikely to have that kind of thing. They might have a uniform, but I'm not sure if dress codes are even allowed.
I suppose the exception would be if someone is wearing something that can be considered offensive. E.g. if they come to school in an SS uniform. That'd definitely cause a commotion. I've no idea how a hairstyle could be offensive unless someone shaved/shaped their hair into like a slur or something.
It's not just the Angloshphere, looking at this page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_uniforms_by_country Plenty of countries across Africa, Central/South America, the middle east and Asia have uniforms too.
Yeeeah, that's fair, but we're talking about an anglosphere country, we're talking about dress codes rather than uniforms and I really didn't want to stop to dig into the roots and history of school uniforms anyway.
Point is, dress codes in school are weird.
Hair-based dress code rules are always bullshit. I used to go to a school that required boys' hair to be above the ears, as well. I always thought it was stupid, so did my mom, so she let me grow my hair out and the worst they did was tell me I need to get a haircut.
It’s always stupid when these kids have to deal with this, but it’s especially stupid with this student because his hair looked awesome (if the photos we see are what they are upset about).
Yeah, if what I see in the articles and thumbnails are what he’s rockin’ then what the fuck is the problem?! He’s got a good thing going.
It's about control. Racism and control.
I think it looks stupid as hell, but I don't care ( but who cares what this old, obese, white dude thinks about some kids' haircut). Further, that's no reason to get suspended. Hell, I would have been suspended a whole bunch of times if my HS had a rule against stupid haircuts. I'd argue that HS is the time to be stupid about this shit.
Isn't the rule about hair not going past eyebrows or ear lobes? Every picture I've seen of this dude meets that requirement. I really don't understand the reasoning behind the violation?
There is no reasoning. It's just white conservatives triggered by black man.
*boy
Oy.... this was an innocent correction, right? Right?
The school's reasoning is "well if he ever took them down he'd be in violation, so he's in violation regardless".
Yeah I think the reasoning is that they're not allowed to have hair that, if let down, would be lower than their eyebrows/earlobes. You're not allowed to have long hair and put it up. Very stupid.
Schools in the US can regulate students hairstyle?! Wtf?
Yay small government?
Maybe in Texas.
We'll see how the lawsuit plays out
So can schools in the UK and Japan from what I understand. It's not uncommon. At the end of the day, school is there to prepare you for work and if an employer has a dress code in the contract you sign shouting "racist" at them isn't going to help.
Yea, both the UK and Japan are pretty fucked, I would not take policy from there. I have yet know of a job with a dress code other than fast food places or cooking also if your contract tried to define hair length or style anywhere it would most likely be void anyways.
Meh. A lot of offices require "business casual", but that is getting relaxed all over too due to the break from workwear during the pandemic. It is common sense at this point. I am glad I haven't had to stress over corporate dress code for a few years now. I felt like I was in highschool agonizing if someone would freak out over a sleeveless shirt or if stretchy black jeans would get called out.
As for uniforms proper, I have seen a tiny bit in the trades, mechanics, etc with jumpsuits or shirts. I just think of it as provided safety gear and clothes that can get dirty without destroying your own.
After working in an industry for over a decade where I had to wear safety vests, shoes, and hardhats, I got over how I looked. The number of idiots that would complain about having to wear a bright safety vest because they didn't look fashionable was ridiculous, and that included me right at first. I at least never refused to do something I was being paid and expected to do because I would get my precious work clothes and bright pink safety "vest" dirty.
ADHD rambling aside, but as long as the clothes are not uncomfortable, sexist, and restrictions are loosened during extreme weather, I will wear whatever within reason. My hair though? Fuck you it is my body and I will do what I want with it, barring having to pull it back at a job site for safety reasons.
The pandemic has permanently changed my perception of dress codes. All of us worked perfectly fine in hoodies and shorts. Because of not needing to dedicate time in the morning to my appearance, I can sleep in a bit and be better rested too. I'm happier and more effective.
So naturally the old executive guard disagrees at large corporations, but we'll see if that lasts.
What business does a school have telling students how to cut their hair? When I was in school (over 20 years ago), I had my hair long, short, colored, and everything in-between. Nobody gave a fuck.
Texas. They love the government all up in their business
Republicans. They love to tell the "others" how to live their lives. Remember, there always must be a enemy or persons to fight or oppress. No one is safe, no matter who you are your demographic is on the chopping block, their just busy attacking the most recent emancipated group. Today is trans people and women, tomorrow will be the rest of LGBTQ+, after that Irish and jew.
Skin color is probably a factor here. It was only a few years ago that a video was making the rounds of a teenage wrestler being forced to cut his dreads or forfeit a match, and pretty much every year at least a few stories make the rounds about black and native kids being told their hair style is inappropriate and they won't be allowed to walk on stage at their graduation unless they cut it.
I agree that it's quite likely racism is the problem in this instance. My point is that schools should under no circumstances be telling students how they need to wear their hair; apparently this school has a dress code that stipulates hear length. Schools exist to give students the knowledge they need to be successful once they reach the age of 18. They should not be policing how the students groom themselves or dress; that should be up to the parents. There should not be a "dress code" in the first place, outside of "don't show up to school naked."
Skin color is the only factor here.
What is an "in-school suspension?"
Like you sit in a corner staring at the wall from 8-3?
Yeah. In my experience you're still getting all of your classwork and you're getting instruction. But you're isolated from your peers.
In this instance especially it's fucking stupid. But in theory his education is not being completely interrupted by this bullshit
Wow. I can't believe it's 2023 and people are getting hung up about how someone's hair looks like.
It's not the hair...
It was never about the hair.
I’m really curious how this isn’t simply unconstitutional based on Bostock v. Clayton County. I’ve yet to see any news source being it up. This was the case the protects a gay person being fired for being gay in they you cannot say it’s wrong to be attracted to women as a women but ok for a man. You’re discriminating based on sex. Therefore if the hair length is ok for girls, it has to be ok for boys.
Barber's Hill should absolutely have a hair related dress code. And a red and white striped pole