Students at Wendell High School Wednesday did not actively participate in an organized demonstration concerning what colors they can wear to school. They may, however, have worn red and blue clothing to protest colors they thought were going to be banned by district administrators.

There were no banners and no slogans. School principal Jon Goss said, "Nothing has happened. There is no protest. Kids are present at school; they are attending classes as usual."

Many students visiting at the entrance to the high school during Wednesday's lunch period were wearing red and blue in some way. One boy pointed to his knee-length shorts which had a red and blue pattern. One girl was wearing blue jeans, a red T-shirt and blue jean jacket. There were eight or nine boys wearing sports jerseys in the school colors, navy and gold.

Red and blue have traditionally been associated with Los Angeles street gangs the Bloods and the Crips, respectively. Both Goss and District Superintendent Greg Lowe said there are no real gangs in the school populations.

Lowe said he doesn't know of a demonstration. He said he had no phone calls about it but wondered if recent talk about keeping gang colors, attire and behaviors from creeping on to the school yards might have precipitated some rumors.

"The school board, at its regular meeting, has been discussing attire and gang-related colors in a brain-storming fashion," Lowe said. "We are probably going to be discussing that again at the next regular meeting, but, we have no plans to ban any colors."

Lowe said it is not unusual for the board to discuss these subjects as they work to stay on top of what is going on within the populations of the high school and middle school.

In developing policy and thinking ahead, Lowe said, "The board was concerned that putting bans on common colors that are worn in regular school clothes would be impractical and cause hardships."

Teachers at the high school said that by wearing red and blue, some kids might have been just saying they couldn't afford to get new clothes.

During a May 20 board meeting, district officials adopted a strict standard code of dress after talk swirled concerning a possible uniform policy at the middle school.

Read more information about the standard code of dress at Wendell schools by visiting the Wendell Web site: www.sd232.K12.id.us.

Mary Hanson may be reached at mhansonmbd@ aol.com.