BUENA PARK : Dress Restrictions for Schools Studied

Manuel Rivera, 14, likes wearing oversize jeans that bag and drag on the ground, a Los Angeles Raiders jacket and a T-shirt that has a picture of a gangster with a can of spray paint.

But Manuel and other students in the Buena Park School District may not be allowed to wear such clothing next school year.

The The Buena Park School District Board of Trustees on Monday considered adopting a stricter dress code to prevent students from wearing any clothing that gang members also wear.

“Certain types of hats, shirts and anything that is going to, in any way, enhance gang activity, we don’t want kids wearing that kind of stuff to school,” Supt. Jack Townsend said. Students may not be able to wear oversize clothing, hanging belts, initials on belt buckles, hats, caps, hair nets or any other clothing that could be associated with gang activity, alcohol, drugs or anything illegal.

But Manuel, a seventh-grader at Buena Park Junior High School, and some of his classmates believe a stricter dress code would violate their right to choose the clothing they like to wear.

“We should be able to wear what we want to wear,” Manuel said.

He said he likes baggy clothing because it’s comfortable and in style.

Trustees are to act on the proposed policy on student dress regulations at their June 28 meeting.

“We looked at our current dress code policy and it was a little anemic for today,” said Sandra Barry, assistant superintendent of educational services.

“We’re trying to ensure that the clothing is not a distraction and not a safety hazard and has no references to drugs, alcohol or anything illegal,” she said. “We want an environment where learning is fostered.”

Barry added that if trustees approve the policy, parents will be advised late this summer of the new dress regulations before they start shopping for their children’s back-to-school clothes.

The proposed policy also will prohibit girls from wearing sexually suggestive clothing, such as short shorts, midriff tops, off-the-shoulder tops, muscle shirts, undershirts, fishnet tops or skirts that expose their buttocks or don’t cover undergarments.

Some students at the junior high school believe that a stricter dress code is a good idea, while others believe that it may be too restrictive because the baggy clothes reflect the current style and the era in which they’re growing up.

“I think it’s a good idea, but (trustees should) not make it so strict (that) kids can’t wear what they want to wear,” said Teresa Flores, 14, an eighth-grader.