Hats off to the Headgear Rule
Christopher White, Staff Writer
February 9, 2011
Filed under Editorials
Have you ever wondered why students can’t wear headgear in the building? Or how teachers or administrators can even consider wearing headgear in school to be a distraction? I know every time I’m asked to take my hat off, those are some of the questions that cross my mind.
We know that we come to school to learn, but not once have I ever been distracted by simply someone wearing a hat or something on a student’s head. I believe that if you want to learn then you’re going to learn, and if you don’t then you won’t? Wearing headgear isn’t going to change that fact.
People get up in the morning and spend time picking and choosing the outfit they want to wear for the day. We don’t just do that so somebody can tell us to modify our appearance; we wear what we feel comfortable in. If you’re one of those teachers or administrators telling someone to take off their hat or headgear, it may go unnoticed but, what you may not know is that you just changed someone’s comfort zone.
I’m sure you’ve likely never thought about it like that, maybe you should. It’s merely insanity to keep on repeating something over and over when there is no change or effect. Remember the saying if you can’t beat them join them?
After reading Christopher White’s editorial on wearing hats in school, I feel that he is right. Students do take time to dress themselves according to what they feel comfortable in. Some people may feel more comfortable wearing hats, and when you tell them to take it off, you’re affecting how comfortable they feel in what they wear. The teachers should just let it be, its not harming anyone. Not just in school but in all buildings as well, men are expected to remove their hats when entering the building. Its supposed to be some kind of gentleman’s gesture. But I always keep my hat on, who decided it was gentleman-like to take off your hat anyway. And on that note if girls can wear headgear in school (most of the time), then boys should be allowed as well.
- Reggie
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“Most men don’t do it these days but the main reason is to show themselves as proper or strong. It just makes them seem manly. They want to seem like James Bond (007) with his gentlemen acts that make him a kind and tough man at the same time…”
“It is a sign of respect. It’s origins are from knights would come across each other during their travels, and they would remove their helmets to show they had no intentions of challenging each other.”
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_men_have_to_take_their_hats_off#ixzz1FJUlU7BA
While Mr. White delivers a great argument, I think he may have not considered reasons why administrators still to this day enforce the removal of head gear. For one if the hat could be considered a thinking cap that works, the push for the “comfort zone” concept could have a stronger backing. Instead you have had students in the past who have abused this concept and used the gear for cheating or hiding. Today when you walk into a bank or federal building, you’ll see signs that require that all persons to remove head gear. That way the camera can get a better look at you. Not to mention you can also see how a person is feeling or doing if you can see their eyes. The wearing of head gear takes away from that. How will the teachers know if you’re actually getting the lesson if you’re in “your comfort zone”? Take the hat off and let you brain grow and fill up. Now if you can use your “Comfort Cover” and find some supporting statistics to prove your concept you might cause them to rethink the issue. Put a hat on for that… Keep em’ coming make us think, great
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