For some school district officials, the “hoodie” constitutes a security breach that can hide a student’s identity from surveillance cameras.For 18-year-old senior Ivan Nambo, the “hoodie” keeps him warm.North Garland High School has banned sweatshirts, jackets and shirts with hoods that can cloak faces or cover up iPod headphones.“I was taking a test in the library, and [a staff member] told me to take it off,” said Ivan, adding that it can be hard to concentrate when the building is cold.But Garland ISD spokesman Chris Moore said there’s a simple reason for the ban: to make sure everyone can see who’s walking around in the school.“At North, they had had some issues regarding security and safety with the hoods,” Mr. Moore said. “The hoods were pulled over faces.”

Like Garland ISD, Arlington ISD does not have a districtwide policy banning hoodies, but individual campuses can place their own restrictions.

According to the Dallas ISD’s Web site, middle and high school students cannot wear jackets with hoods. In Mesquite ISD, students are allowed to wear hoodies as long as the hoods are off inside the schools.

North Garland High has about 60 security cameras. If an incident were to happen on campus, Mr. Moore said, students wearing hoodies might not be identifiable.

Mr. Moore said students can wear hoodies to and from school, just not during school. He added that students can always wear nonhooded sweatshirts.

Sachse and Lakeview Centennial high schools also don’t allow hoodies. Mr. Moore said individual campuses can specify their own dress codes.

“We try to rely on site-based management,” he said. “No one knows the issues as well as the teachers and principals.”

Nicole Jones, a sophomore at North Garland High, said she wishes she could wear the eight hoodies she owns. But she understands the hoodie ban, because some students did not take hoods off their heads when asked by the principal over the intercom last year.

“We deserved it. I don’t like it, but it’s fair,” Nicole said.

Nicole said the ban is also effective in preventing students from dozing off in class or sneaking in earphones.

Source: The Dallas Morning News