Take it off, it is disrespectful.

Those are words many students have heard when they wear hats to school. We only follow this rule because it is “tradition” and “what we have always done.” Hats are harmless. How are they disrespectful?

Some schools and our elders say it is disrespectful because soldiers do not wear hats. Soldiers do not wear hats because they are not necessary. Hats could fall off when running or get caught on something when crawling under objects. They could also fall off when doing other high energy activities. But we are not talking about the military, we are talking about hats in school.

Citizens had to remove hats in front of important leaders in monarchy times. Why should we have to follow this rule when that was a thing of the past and the United States government is not even a monarchy. We are still talking about hats in school though?

Students should be allowed to wear hats. They are only expressing themselves. Why would teachers or adults take a minute out of their day just to say something like “take your hat off it is disrespectful” or “you should not wear a hat in school so take it off.” It is degrading for some students. If they are told at a young age not to wear hats at school and that it is “disrespectful” they will not want to wear hats anywhere. Why would this be taught when they are merely expressing themselves.

Why can’t we wear hats in school we ask? Because it’s tradition and disrespectful; is the kind of response we will have for the next couple of decades.