Family sees discrimination in school's demand that boy cut his long hair

WECT reported that the Classical Charter Schools’ 2022-2023 handbook says, for boys: “Hair must be neatly trimmed and off the collar, above the eyebrows, not below the top of the ears or eyebrows, and not an excessive height. Distracting, extreme, radical, or faddish haircuts, hairstyles, and colors are not allowed.”

Edward's mother has filed a grievance with the school's board of education, but the grievance won't be heard until the board meets in April.

Last year, Edward was able to wear his long hair in a braided pony tail or in a bun on top of his head. His mother said that compromise has changed, and dozens of other families are also being impacted.

"According to their rules ... it's still in compliance," Mia Chavis said, noting that Edward's braid and bun keep his hair off his collar and above his ears – the rules the school has set.

Chavis said she and other parents have been told the ponytail or bun is "faddish."

Edward's grandmother, Tami Jump said, "We normally braid our children's hair when it grows longer because we believe that the braid shows strength, it shows character."

Chavis said she's talked to African-American parents who have also been asked to change their sons' hairstyles.

WRAL News reached out to the Roger Bacon Academy, a Leland company that operates the Classical Charter Schools, for comment, but did not receive a response.

Classical Charter Schools of America told WECT:

“Our schools have procedures for dealing with matters such as these. A review is underway and will be considered by the Board on April 27. Instead of respecting the process, the ACLU has jumped in with threats and accusations that drive people apart, rather than bring them together,” said Baker A. Mitchell, president and CEO of the Roger Bacon Academy that manages four CCS-A schools."

The American Civil Liberties Union on Monday released a written statement against the policy, suggesting that as a public charter school which receives federal funding, Classical Charter Schools of America appears to be violating the U.S. Constitution.

Ashley Lomboy, a member of the Waccamaw Sioian Tribe, was told by the Classical Charter Schools of America in Leland that her son Logan must cut his hair.

The ACLU claims the rule is discriminatory.

"At this point, it's not even a Native thing," Chavis said. "It's a human rights thing.

"They have a pledge that they say every morning, and it's even on the back of his shirt that he has to wear for PE every Thursday. The first line of that pledge is 'I pledge to keep myself healthy in body, mind, and spirit.' If I had to force him to cut his hair, it would be detrimental to his body, his mind and his spirit."