Cerritos : ABC Bans Clothes That Promote Gangs, Drugs

No more spiked collars. Forget about wearing T-shirts promoting drugs or alcohol. And watch out for donning certain colors and types of bandannas, shoelaces and gloves.

As school started on Monday, students in the ABC Unified School District were receiving an education on the district’s new dress code.

On Sept. 5, the Board of Education of the 22,000-student district unanimously approved a policy that prohibits students from wearing clothes and accessories that appear to be gang-related. The district joined a number of surrounding school districts that have restricted gang attire.

According to Douglas Wolfe, ABC director of elementary education, the policy is intended to protect students from gang violence. “What we are attempting to do is remove all signs of gangs on campus,” he said. “We want to keep our campuses safe.”

Last year, the Sheriff’s Department assigned a deputy to the district full time because of an increase in gang-related incidents, including fights on campus. In 1987-88, 64 gang-related incidents were reported. In 1988-89, 105 gang-related incidents were reported.

If a student is caught violating the dress code, he will be asked to either remove the clothing or be warned about wearing the article of clothing again to school, Wolfe said. Enforcement of the policy probably will be relaxed for the next month as students and parents are told of the new code, he said.

Items that have been banned by the ABC district include:

* Hats and baseball-type caps that do not contain school logos.

* Clothing or jewelry that suggests sexually related or obscene gestures, pictures or wording that promotes drugs or alcohol.

* Clothing, jewelry or accessories, such as spiked collars and wristbands, that might pose a safety threat to students and others.

* Clothing such as gloves, bandannas, shoestrings, wristbands, jewelry that is related to a group or gang.