Terrytown school rethinks its hair policy

Christ the King Elementary School announced last week that it would scrap its hair policy that forbids students from wearing hair extensions.

However, it is unclear whether a sixth-grader photographed leaving the school in tears after being singled out by teachers for her braided hair extensions would return to the Terrytown, La. school, FOX 8 News reported.

Video of Faith Fennidy dejectedly walking out of school two weeks ago drew accusations that the rule targeted Black students. A state judge blocked enforcement of the rule after the families of Faith and another girl, Tyrielle Davis, filed suit.

A lawyer for the Fennidy family, James Williams, and officials with the Archdiocese of New Orleans said last week they would meet on Monday. But a statement from RaeNell Houston, the superintendent Archdiocese of New Orleans schools, says the family postponed, then canceled the meeting.

Lawyers for the Fennidy and Davis families issued a statement late Monday saying the meeting had not been canceled. Their news release said it was rescheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Houston’s statement said Fennidy’s family, and the family of Tyrielle Davis, another student who joined in a lawsuit over the policy, were told two weeks ago that Christ the King’s hair extension policy had been rescinded.

“When this issue arose, the school immediately reviewed its policy and recognized that there may have been sensitivities that needed to be addressed,” Houston’s statement said. “They then reached out for input from the Office of Catholic Schools, the Office of Black Catholic Ministries, other principals, and parents.”

Attorneys for the girls’ families said the school did not immediately rescind the policy. They initially refused to change the policy, the attorneys claim, “instead asking that if Faith and Tyrielle return to school they pretend that their hair was natural.”

In her earlier email, Houston said she will work with school officials to “create a uniform policy that is sensitive to all races, religions, and cultures.”

The video that sparked the controversy went virile after Faith’s brother posted it on Facebook. He included an explanation that there were practical reasons for Faith’s use of extensions.

The school moved last week to put out another potential fire after someone placed signs outside the school with messages like “Rules Are Rules” that voiced support for the hair policy.

New Orleans Archbishop attended Tuesday’s meeting with the two girls’ families and school officials, where it became obvious that the hair policy would no longer be enforced but the Archbishop and school officials left the meeting without speaking with members of the media.

It is unclear whether the families of the two girls will pursue a legal resolution of the incident after meeting with Archbishop Aymond and school officials.

This article originally published in the September 3, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.