BETHEL —  It is time to allow hats back in school was the consensus of nearly all the MSAD 44 school board members.

Telstar Junior, Ella Hopps, of Woodstock, with her fellow student council members behind her, led the charge presenting first to Telstar Principal John Eliot. Next it went to the school board policy committee and finally on Monday, May 6, the proposed change was debated before the full board.

Hopps was there, too. She said the “no hats” rule brings tension into the classroom. “The teachers are trying to enforce the rule because they are teachers,” she said.

Telstar student council members polled the Telstar high school teachers and their overall response, said Hopps, was they are in favor of allowing hats at school.  Oxford Hills, Buckfield, and Mountain Valley already allow hats, their research showed.  (Hoods are not allowed because of security issues).

During a sometimes tense discussion between school board members, Destiny Hughes said,  “It’s 2024. To think that a piece of clothing or apparel means you don’t respect someone is a silly, outdated notion.”

David Jones agreed, “hats no longer have anything significant to do with respect or indeed with self-respect … Today is the day. I think this is a rational approach.”

Eliot said students have wanted to change the hat ban for many years. He said when SAD-44 Superintendent Mark Kenney was principal he told students,” If you want to do something, there is a process, they never took it upon themselves to follow the process.

“Until now… I was totally impressed by the [Hopps/Student Council] presentation,” said Eliot.

Opposition

“What if they have other ideas about how to run the school?” asked Scott Cole. “[What if ] they don’t want exams anymore …  The world is full of rules. When you talk to someone and they have their hat on, it is a little bit of a message of, ‘I don’t quite respect you,'” argued Cole.

Marcie Winslow admonishing Cole said, “It’s really disrespectful for you to call it cute …”

“No disrespect, but this is an adult world, it’s an adult meeting it’s about The First Amendment …” interrupted Cole.

Winslow rebutted, saying yes, it’s an adult meeting but they [the students] would be adults soon and pushing down on their uniqueness and forward thinking defeats the purpose of why they are there [as a school board].

Cole said he had a hypothetical, “unless it’s sexual, violent, hate speech, you can wear things like ‘Trump for President,’ ‘Biden for President,’ that all fits into the hats [allowance] … I see hats with an M-16 on an American Flag backdrop, would that be o.k? … I think we’re opening a door into a place we shouldn’t look,” he said.

Kenney and school board member Stephanie Herbeck said there was a hostile clause that could be enforced when necessary.

Cole turned to Hopps and said, “Ella, I’m glad you’re here. I don’t know where your teammates are? They ought to be here with you, that’s a little lesson.”

Bryan Kendall said, “I get the teenage angst thing. You have things that help comfort you … I don’t think at the elementary level that they have that level of anxiety.”

Destiny Hughes disagreed, “children definitely do have anxiety… Woodstock has many students that would like to keep their hats on during the day for many different reasons, from anxiety to some of them may not get to shower as often as they would like and they would like to cover their greasy hair. I don’t think it’s fair to think that elementary school students aren’t also dealing with real life issues in 2024,” said Hughes.

The Board voted to remove a clause allowing teacher discretion.  The amended policy passed with everyone voting in favor except for Scott Cole who was opposed.

The second reading and vote will take place at the next regular school board meeting on June 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Telstar Library.

If it passes, students may start wearing hats this Fall.