SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Hats, T-shirts and sunglasses bearing cigarette logos have been banned from city public schools in a decision intended to curb teen-age smoking.
The San Francisco school board voted 5-1 Tuesday night to prohibit students from wearing clothing or accessories with tobacco logos.
Board member Leland Yee said the ban is similar to one on gang attire and clothing that bears racist remarks.
The board's lone dissenter, Dr. Dan Kelly, called the ban an ''ignorant'' way to educate students about the dangers of smoking.
''(Students) have some right of free expression ... whether we think it's healthy for other kids to view it,'' Kelly said.
The ban was proposed by several community groups, including Chinese Power Against Tobacco and the Chinese Progressive Association, which conducted a smoking accessories survey at three high schools and one middle school in San Francisco.
Of the nearly 1,000 students surveyed, 96.7 percent of students who smoke and 72.8 percent of nonsmokers said they knew someone who has bought or received tobacco-related promotional items.
President Clinton last August proposed banning tobacco logos on hats and T-shirts as part of a major initiative to stop young people from smoking.