Officialdom Gets an Earful as Students Have Their Say : Culture: ‘Youth Rap’ participants voice complaints of insensitivity, disrespect from teachers and police. Supervisor, head of county schools pledge efforts to help.

Carlo Domingo’s complaint is not a new one. Almost every weekend, the Kennedy High School senior said, he and his friends are pulled over by police who unfairly suspect them of gang affiliations because they hang out in large groups and cruise the streets in lowrider cars.

“Authorities don’t take the time to figure out who’s who and who’s in a gang and who’s not,” Domingo said. “The cops see us as a menace. . . . They think you’re in a gang because there are 15 of you. It’s gotten to the point where we can’t even hang out in a big group.”

But Wednesday, some top county officials were listening to Domingo and scores of his peers at the second annual “Youth Rap,” a chance for teens to make their feelings known on the issues most important to them.

Wednesday’s session on youth violence was attended by County Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez and County Schools Supt. John Dean. Sixty students from Kennedy High, in Anaheim Union High School District, and Valley High, in Santa Ana Unified School District, vented their frustration on school dress codes, lack of communication between students and teachers, racism, sexism and the feeling that school counselors don’t understand their needs.

Dozens of students also telephoned to speak to the officials on a special hot line linked to 45 high school and junior high school campuses across the county.

“A lot of students do care about their schools, but administrators and teachers don’t value their opinions,” one Kennedy High student said.

Vasquez and Dean offered few solutions but promised to continue accepting student input. The information will be forwarded to county school boards and school officials.

“We’ll keep the process going as long as it takes to solve the problem,” said Vasquez, who represents southeastern Orange County.

Students lamented that their high school years are being marred by violence both on and off campus, saying weekend parties are often disrupted by gunshots. Most said they felt uncomfortable even in their own front yards.

“In reality, our neighborhood is dangerous. I can’t let my 8-year-old sister ride her bike on our street because the gang members are just across the street drinking and smoking,” one Kennedy student said.

From the hot line came suggestions that parents instill morals in their children and spend more time with them, and that schools provide more classroom instruction on different cultures and sponsor evening presentations for parents on the problems their children face today.

Several students contended that teachers are commonly insensitive and disrespectful toward them. A teacher at Valley High made a cruel joke about Proposition 187, the recently passed ballot measure to prohibit social services, education and all but emergency health care to illegal immigrants, said Eric Castleberry, a 16-year-old junior.

Other students echoed Domingo’s complaint that they are stereotyped as gang members by teachers, law enforcement agents and even their peers because they favor lowrider cars and clothing such as oversized T-shirts or khaki pants.

“Right now Raiders jackets are associated with gang members, but what happens when the jackets go out of style?” asked Vak Sambath, a Valley senior. “What are you trying to do, keep up with the fashion trends or keep up with the problem?”

Domingo said he saw some value in the rap session. “It gives the adults a chance to hear the kids. I think it will make a difference because it’s giving me a chance to tell them my point of view.”