Informed Opinions on Today’s Topics : Would Dress Code Make Schools Safe?

Under a bill signed last week by Gov. Pete Wilson, local school districts will be allowed to adopt dress codes banning “gang-related” clothing beginning Jan. 1. The bill says gang-related attire, such as baggy pants and sports caps, are hazardous to the health and safety of students and gives districts the legal authorization to enforce a clothing ban. Dress code supporters argue that violence on school campuses frequently results when students wear clothes associated with a particular gang. Civil libertarians have argued that such bans unfairly assume students are troublemakers based solely on their clothing.

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Will a ban on gang-related clothing reduce violence in California schools?

Lynn Mingori, dean of students at John Burroughs High School in Burbank, which forbids students to wear oversized pants, tank tops and bandannas:

“Absolutely. Our code has banned identifiable gang attire based on fear for our students. Our dress code is geared toward making all of our students appear like they are in school to be school successes. We expect all of our kids to dress appropriately.”

Jeff Horton, Los Angeles Board of Education member who represents North Hollywood and Van Nuys:

“If it’s not part of a larger program, it’s not going to make that much difference because it doesn’t address the underlying causes. If it’s done with a strong parental involvement, it’s going to be much more effective. It’s very hard to keep up with what has become fashionable and used to be gang-related.”

Harriet Sculley, president of the 31st District PTA, which represents the San Fernando Valley:

“I think it’s likely it might. It takes away the affiliation with the gang. It’s healthy to discourage it. When kids do it, they look like wanna-be gang members. By banning that clothing and even going to uniforms, it puts the focus on the person.”

Doris Allen, Republican assemblywoman from Cypress who wrote the bill:

“Students who may not belong to a gang but who happen to be wearing apparel associated with a rival gang are in jeopardy of being attacked, beat up and in some cases, shot. With the health and safety of our kids and teachers at risk, we must provide school officials with this tool to help rid our campuses of the distractions and dangers that gangs bring.”

Eadie Gieb, president of Parents & Students United of the San Fernando Valley:

“I think it’s certainly a step in the right direction. It says to students and people in the community that we are paying attention to this. I think the educational environment is improved as a result. I really applaud this.”

Isaac Galvin, officer with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Jeopardy program, which seeks to provide youths with alternatives to gang life:

“Yeah, it will definitely help. We’ve found that a lot of times kids get shot over what their clothes signify. Wanna-be kids dress down like gangbangers and they’re mistaken for gangbangers. We’ve found some schools that are very, very strict and they’ve been having great success--their fights are down, their shootings are down.”

Diana Munatones, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Unified School District, which allows individual schools to set their own policies regarding gang-related attire:

“We’ve always supported the bill. We have always been aware of changing trends and fads and clothing which may pose a danger. (The bill) creates public awareness of how important apparel and clothing is to learning. We’ve always had that kind of provision at our schools.”