Darryl George, a Black high school student in Texas, has left his school district after being punished for nearly all of his junior year over his hairstyle. He is seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent further punishment for not cutting his hair and to allow him to return for his senior year. The federal judge handling the case dismissed most of the claims of racial and gender discrimination in George’s lawsuit, but allowed the gender discrimination claim to stand. The judge questioned whether the school district’s hair length rule does more harm than good.
Attorneys for the school district argue that the judge does not have jurisdiction to issue the restraining order since George is no longer a student in the district. George’s attorneys argue that he was forced to leave his high school due to emotional distress caused by the school’s actions and that he wishes to return. The district’s dress code states that grooming and hygiene policies are meant to teach discipline, prevent disruption, and instill respect for authority.
George’s departure from his original high school was due to being placed on in-school suspension for his hairstyle, which violated the dress code. His federal lawsuit also alleged that his punishment violated the CROWN Act, a state law prohibiting race-based discrimination of hair. The school district had previously faced challenges to its hair policy in a separate lawsuit in 2020. George’s request for a restraining order is set to be heard in court in October.
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