Video: A change in policy and in decision making has made it possible for students at Lafayette High School in St. Louis to wear hats during any given school day. The change was made in a hope to make the school a better place to be and to be more inclusive to student’s specific needs. More and more schools are to be seen lifting their ban on hats and specifically, students here at North are hoping to see a possible change in the future. Although the future for hats at north is uncertain, administration has begun to explore the possibility of editing the current school dress code.

“This is a change that works for us, but each school will have to make their own decision on what will work best for their students,” English Teacher, Crystal Gray said.

FHSD principals and administrators have been discussing an amendment to the district’s dress code. Hats, which can only be worn on hat days currently, may be allowed during school hours, as decided by the district’s administrators in the coming years.

“I think hats in the dress code will be a good change,” junior Devon Allen, who wears them outside of school, said. “It’s exciting to think something that big could change while I’m here. It’s been the norm to wear them forever.”

Principal Andy Downs says that the prospect of hats has been considered by people in staff meetings. The reason hats have been considered is because other school districts allow them and the influx of students here wearing hats on hat day. The discussion of implementing hats will be made around the next district meetings.

“It’s not the most urgent of issues, but it has been talked about,” Downs said.

They could prove troubling for school officials, though, according to Allen. Hats could stop kids from being recognizable if they needed to be identified. School counselor Stephanie Johnson said that the District will take measures to prevent that.

“We still want visibility of the face for the cameras,” Johnson said. “It would be the same as the code for shirts, too: no inappropriate images or language.”
Johnson has said this change is a possibility due to the popularity of hats in schools. (Brief by Sophia Schmidt)