Black Texas student suspended for natural hair sent to alternative school

Darryl George will be sent to an alternative school program, from Oct. 12 through Nov. 29 for “failure to comply” with multiple campus and classroom regulations, the Barbers Hill High School principal said in a letter.

Michael Wyke/AP

A Black high school student in Texas who was suspended for more than a month for wearing a natural hairstyle was removed from his school on Wednesday and transferred to an alternative school.

Darryl George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu (a town roughly 30 miles outside of Houston) will be placed in a disciplinary alternative education program through Nov. 29, according to a notice sent from the school district and shared by the student’s family.

The notice, dated Wednesday, addressed to Darryl’s mother, Darresha George, and signed by Barbers Hill High School Principal Lance Murphy, cites violations of “multiple infractions of campus and classroom rules” including:

• Disruption of the in-school suspension classroom;
• Failure to comply with directives from staff/administration;
• Violation of tardy policy; and
• Violation of the dress and grooming policy.

All of the alleged infractions excluding the tardiness are apparently connected to his natural hairstyle. Darryl will be allowed to return to class on Nov. 30, the notice states.

“As the School Principal, I have determined that your child has engaged in chronic or repeated disciplinary infractions that violate the District’s previously communicated standards of student conduct,” Murphy said in the notice obtained by NPR.

Darryl, who turned 18 last week, wears his natural hair in locs, which he says are an…