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Keywords

plaintiffappealtrialtestimonyregulationdue process
plaintiffdamagestestimonyregulationdue processappellant

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Humphries v. Lincoln Parish School Bd., 467 So.2d 870, 24 Ed. Law Rep. 1074

Facts

Parents brought an action seeking injunctive and declaratory relief after their sons were removed from the Ruston High School football team for not complying with a facial hair grooming rule. The head football coach required all players to be clean shaven during active team times. The plaintiffs contended that the rule violated their rights to due process and equal protection, and that it was not uniformly applied. The trial court dismissed their claims, leading to an appeal.

This is an action for injunctive and declaratory relief and damages based upon the removal of plaintiffs' sons from the Ruston High School football team due to their failure to comply with the coaching staff's facial hair grooming rule.

Issue

Did the grooming rule imposed by the high school football coaching staff violate the students' rights to due process and equal protection?

Did the grooming rule imposed by the high school football coaching staff violate the students' rights to due process and equal protection?

Rule

School authorities have the power to regulate students' hairstyles if such regulations are reasonably intended to achieve constitutionally permissible objectives. There is no constitutionally protected right for public high school students to wear their hair in a manner of their choosing. The objectives of improving academic and athletic performance are considered constitutionally permissible.

School authorities have the power to regulate high school students' hairstyles and such regulations are valid if reasonably intended to accomplish a constitutionally permissible objective. U.S.C.A. Const.Amends. 5, 6, 14.

Analysis

The court found that the grooming rule was uniformly applied and supported by testimony from the head coach and team members. The rule was part of a broader discipline program aimed at enhancing both academic and athletic performance, which the court deemed a valid objective. The evidence indicated that the football team had made notable progress in these areas, thus justifying the grooming requirement.

The testimony of Mr. Childress indicates that the grooming rule in dispute is a part of a 'total discipline program' intended to promote both academic and athletic excellence by the RHS football team members. The evidence also shows that there has been noteworthy progress in both academic and athletic areas by the members of the football team under Coach Childress.

Conclusion

The court affirmed the trial court's dismissal of the plaintiffs' action, concluding that the grooming rule was valid and did not violate constitutional rights.

The judgment of the district court is affirmed and all costs are taxed against appellants.

Who won?

The Lincoln Parish School Board and the coaching staff prevailed in this case. The court upheld the grooming rule as a valid exercise of the school authorities' power to regulate student conduct, emphasizing that the rule was uniformly applied and aimed at promoting academic and athletic excellence. The plaintiffs' claims were dismissed, and they were ordered to pay the costs of the action, reinforcing the court's view that their challenge to the rule was ill-founded.

The court upheld the grooming rule as a valid exercise of the school authorities' power to regulate student conduct, emphasizing that the rule was uniformly applied and aimed at promoting academic and athletic excellence.

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