Parents sue Pennsylvania school after teacher allegedly cuts 20 inches from daughter's hair
The parents of the young girl in Harrisburg have filed a lawsuit against St. Margaret Mary School in Dauphin County. The parents of an 8-year-old girl have filed a lawsuit against St. Margaret Mary School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, after a teacher allegedly cut their daughter's hair without their permission. The lawsuit alleges that the incident occurred in November 2023 during music class. The girl, who is Black, kept her hair long as part of her family religious beliefs. The parents, who never consented to the cut, emailed the school on the day of the incident but received no response. Since the incident, the girl has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is receiving professional help.
Published : a month ago by By Michael Guise in General
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The parents of an 8-year-old girl in Harrisburg have filed a lawsuit against St. Margaret Mary School after a teacher allegedly cut their daughter's hair without their permission.
Darin and Julia Smith filed the lawsuit in late January against the school on Herr Street in Dauphin County on behalf of their daughter, CBS 21 reported. The lawsuit obtained by the TV station said the incident happened in November 2023, when a teacher cut a piece of Velcro out of the girl's hair during music class.
CBS 21 reported that the lawsuit said the 8-year-old girl, who is Black, had 20 inches of hair cut and the parents never consented.
The girl, according to the complaint obtained by the TV station, kept her hair long "as a part of her family religious beliefs in correlation with allowing natural features [and] attributes provided by God to grow naturally." The lawsuit reportedly added that the girl's natural, long hair is a significant part of her culture.
The lawsuit goes on to say that the girl's parents emailed the school on the day of the incident but never got a response, according to the TV station. The parents reached the school over the phone three days after the incident, the complaint says, adding that the school never followed up.
CBS 21 reported that St. Margaret Mary School reportedly admitted that the teacher's actions did not follow protocol.
Since having her hair cut, the girl has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is receiving professional help, according to the complaint obtained by CBS 21.
The Diocese of Harrisburg released a statement to CBS 21, saying, "[D]ue to the active litigation involving a minor, it is not appropriate for us to comment at this time."
Topics: Lawsuits