SAN ANTONIO - An O'Connor High School honor student says she had to change her hair after the principal called it a distraction. Damaris Duarte says she has had the same hair color and style for several years but was sent to In School Suspension Thursday because of her hair.
She and her mother described her hair as brunette with blonde highlights. However, Northside ISD spokesperson Pascual Gonzalez says the blone in front with brown in back was considered "two tone" and a distraction for other students.
"It's not a highlight. It's two separate, contrasting colors that cause undue attention or a distraction for other students," he said.
Gonzalez says four other girls also got in trouble because of their hair.
"There's a girl in my first period who has pink hair and I don't think it's fair I have to change it when I've had it the same way for four years and she has bright pink hair and she gets to keep it," Damaris said.
She dyed her hair brown today and returned to class after it was done.
Her mother Sally says her daughter got a lot of compliments for her hair and she did not consider it a distraction. We asked Gonzalez what the hair policy is at O'Connor.
"Principals at all our schools have discretion for what they will allow in the dress code and what they will not," he said.
"It's definitely hurtful," Damaris said. "I had to choose between my education and my hair color."
Sally plans to go before the school board to ask for the dress code policy to be specifically spelled out. O'Connor students went to an assembly yesterday about what's appropriate dress and what isn't.
If you have questions about your child's dress code, just contact your principal.
