Unlike pink, teenage expression isn’t a fad

Today it is pink. Tomorrow it may be plaid, stripes or a rainbow of

colors.

The children of Ensign Intermediate School may not have realized

the frenzy they would cause by choosing the rosy color to stand out

from the rest of the class in a group photo but the effect has left

pink as the color school officials love to hate.

Principal Ed Wong yanked the students from the photo because he

feared their attire might have been associated with a gang or party

crew, which are known for “gang-like activity.”

School officials certainly aren’t in an easy position, as the

community charges them with a variety of duties that go well beyond

reading, writing and arithmetic. The problem is these children

weren’t participating in gang-like activities, they were posing for a

picture.

If school officials want to crack down on those who use mob

tactics and fisticuffs to intimidate their fellow classmates, they

have the newspaper’s blessing. But they must understand that goal is

far more involved than simply keeping an eye out for fashion trends.

Violent segments of the student population exist, regardless of

whether they wear similar outfits.

Where is the line drawn? Pink may signify a “party crew” that

battles on the dance floor -- and might battle in other ways -- but

it is far from the only sign students use to identify their social

status.

Athletes wear letterman’s jackets or jerseys to signify pride in

their sport. Cheerleaders wear their uniforms on game days. Seniors

have their signature T-shirts, marking them as the kings of the hill.

A high school band might want to wear promotional T-shirts. School

officials deem none of these inappropriate. And none of them can be

precluded from leading to possible violence.

The fact is, children are creative, have a need to belong and will

express themselves and find ways around administrative blockades.

School officials have always played catch up to the dangerous

emblem du jour, reacting with automatic restrictions instead of

addressing the problem. If that practice continues, administrators

will soon find themselves inundated with dress code policies, ranging

from bandanas to yellow bow ties.