Post by boogiepopmeup on Aug 24, 2004 21:18:15 GMT -5
www.gwinnettdailyonline.com/GDP/archive/article2755FBE8CD4C44B4BA4E723546AA1FD8.asp
the vanilla ice look?
Georgia county’s Board of Education bans gold teeth
The Associated Press
AUGUSTA — A new dress code for Richmond County students lacks teeth — gold teeth, to be exact.
The Richmond County Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously passed the code to ban gold teeth, large belts and clothing that appears to be gang-related. Gang hand signals, symbols, uniforms and meetings also were prohibited.
Before the vote, Trustee Kenneth Echols said he was concerned about banning items worn mostly by black students.
‘‘If the gangs have them, I have a problem with it,’’ Echols said. ‘‘But I think we’re kind of basically zeroing in on black children. White children do it too, but mostly black children.’’
But board member Andrew Jefferson defended the proposal.
‘‘The problem is not only with black kids, but you have a lot of copy cats on fashion and style based on some of the music videos and so far,’’ said Andrew Jefferson, a Richmond County school board member. ‘‘You have the Eminem look and the Vanilla Ice look. Basically, it is a total distraction.’’
As Jefferson pointed out, though, blacks aren’t the only ones wearing the metallic caps on their teeth, also called grilles, in Richmond County classrooms.
Jeff Padgett, the school board president, put the group’s decision in plain terms.
‘‘I think we have to decide that it’s about grades and not grilles. It’s about tests and not teeth,’’ Padgett said.
The Associated Press
AUGUSTA — A new dress code for Richmond County students lacks teeth — gold teeth, to be exact.
The Richmond County Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously passed the code to ban gold teeth, large belts and clothing that appears to be gang-related. Gang hand signals, symbols, uniforms and meetings also were prohibited.
Before the vote, Trustee Kenneth Echols said he was concerned about banning items worn mostly by black students.
‘‘If the gangs have them, I have a problem with it,’’ Echols said. ‘‘But I think we’re kind of basically zeroing in on black children. White children do it too, but mostly black children.’’
But board member Andrew Jefferson defended the proposal.
‘‘The problem is not only with black kids, but you have a lot of copy cats on fashion and style based on some of the music videos and so far,’’ said Andrew Jefferson, a Richmond County school board member. ‘‘You have the Eminem look and the Vanilla Ice look. Basically, it is a total distraction.’’
As Jefferson pointed out, though, blacks aren’t the only ones wearing the metallic caps on their teeth, also called grilles, in Richmond County classrooms.
Jeff Padgett, the school board president, put the group’s decision in plain terms.
‘‘I think we have to decide that it’s about grades and not grilles. It’s about tests and not teeth,’’ Padgett said.
the vanilla ice look?
