Safety is an important and hot topic in schools. In an age of violence, it is more prevalent than ever for personnel to be able to identify students. Hats, hoods, and headgear can arguably work against this. As a result, it is districtwide policy that no hats or headgear are allowed in its schools. However, despite the rule, students are adamant to get around it. Several senior students believe that durags should be allowed and it is ok to wear hats and hoods up in school.
Not all students, though, are staunchly opposed to the rules. Most live in a sort of middle ground. One such student is Senior Molly Murdock-Schey, who says, “I don’t really care for it. I don’t wear hats so it doesn’t bother me.” Other students feel more strongly about the rule. Such as Freshman Brandon Edwards who says, “The rules are bogus,” and Sophomore Isabella Vienne, “Genuinely, I don’t understand why people make a big deal about wearing hats at school. I think that it is cool and dope. Antoinette said let them eat cake, I say them wear hats.”
The current policy was instituted in June of 2022 regarding attire by the school board. In it, it states no hats or headgear or hoods are allowed. According to board member Dan Coffey “The rule to not allow headgear was necessary to get multiple other changes within the dress code policy to pass.” It seems that in order for the greater good to be achieved, sacrifices had to be made.
As a result of this rule, according to the Parent Teacher Advisory Committee, conflicts with students happened often due to them breaking the rule,, which was usually due to dirty or outgrown hair being hidden under hoods and hats, as well as coping with feelings. The committee believes that the rule should be revised to allow hats that don’t cover the face and leave the face identifiable to students. They believe headgear should be allowed in order to allow for personal and cultural expression. However, concerns over equitable enforcement of the hypothetical policy were raised which could be addressed if this policy is further debated.