S. Pasadena does so solemnly not swear

They're swearing off profanity this week in South Pasadena.

And it's about #!&@% time too, say some in this leafy residential city that to outsiders smacks more of Mayberry than misbehaving.

"Lack of civility can erode a community. It's one of the issues across America that affects even small towns," said Mayor Michael A. Cacciotti, who Wednesday night proclaimed March 3 through 7 "No Cussing Week" for his city's 25,824 residents.

The assault on vulgarity is being led by 14-year-old McKay Hatch, who said he is tired of being barraged by four-letter words at school.

McKay started a "No Cussing Club" last spring with 50 charter members at his middle school. He continued it last fall when he enrolled as a freshman at South Pasadena High School.

"Cussing just makes a person seem really unintelligent," McKay said. "If you get in the habit of talking like that it can backfire if you let it slip during something like a job interview."

The youngster acknowledged that four-letter words have tumbled from his mouth in the past.

"I'm not perfect. I've slipped before," he said. "I've said the F-word. I used to say, 'Oh fudge!' and the other word would slip out. So I don't say 'fudge' anymore."

He said he caught one of his teachers cursing Tuesday. "I told him this is 'No Cussing Week.' He said he had said 'sheesh' instead of $#@%."

McKay took heat when he set up a registration table at the high school during club sign-up day.

"My dad didn't want me to do it. He figured I'd be harassed," he said.

"I got cussed out by about 50 people during club rush. But I had 120 people sign up. Later, a senior who had cussed me out apologized. He's now the club vice president."

Through his club Internet site, the boy has also been showered with pornographic and obscene rants e-mailed by opponents of his anti-cursing campaign.

His father deletes the obscenities when they come in.

The boy's rough treatment was cited by Cacciotti.

"The proclamation is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the courage he had to stand up for what's right," Cacciotti said.

The youngster said he was influenced by his parents, Brent and Phelecia Hatch. The parents of seven, they are coauthors of a child-rearing guide, "Raising a G-Rated Family in an X-Rated World."

Brent Hatch, a real estate salesman and motivational speaker, helped his son set up the club website ( www.nocussing.com) and arranged for bright-orange T-shirts printed with a cartoon logo and the words, "Ya wanna hang with us? Don't cuss!"