Hats off!

I wear my hat as I please, indoors or out -Walt Whitman

My beloved workplace (and yes, I say that with all sincerity) has recently decided to pass a "dress code" for both administrative and 'direct care' staff (those of us who actually deal with kids).

I've applauded their efforts, including allowing for two different dress codes that take into account the different aspect of our jobs. Direct care staff are still allowed to wear jeans or "wind suits", which I assume also includes sweat pants, due to the sometimes physically demanding aspect of our job. (ie:physical containments).

The only rule on the entire page which baffles me is the new "no hats indoors" policy.

I have always worn a hat, mostly because I enjoy wearing them. I like how they feel on my head, I enjoy showing support for my favorite team, or a product or business. I have NEVER understood why people are offended by the wearing of a hat indoors, and have always looked upon those who are with morbid fascination. Growing up, if anyone asked me to remove my hat, I just assumed they were doing so in order to make fun of my "hat hair". I actually got in a serious verbal altercation with a friend in college because he refused to sit with me in the cafeteria if I continued to wear my hat.

What is the problem? Is it THAT serious? I mean, are someone's eyeballs going to explode if I don't immediately remove my hat while indoors? Am I spreading a plague by failing to remove my head covering?

I did a little research, and this is what little I came up with...

Amanda Gamble, an "ettiquitte expert" at about.com states the following:

I'll tell you the origin of the
"no hats on men indoors" rule. It began with men of
'lesser rank' removing whatever headress or coronet
(crown) they had on to show that they were not trying
to challenge or be disrespectful to the king or cheiftan
of their country."

OK, Chief, no challenge of authority here, just wearing my hat, because I'm a grown man, and this is America, where I have the right to do so. Of course, I still remove my hat during the Pledge, or the National Anthem, and during prayer. But my church is a "casual" service, and many men wear ball/cowboy hats in church, and I think God knows our hearts, and can see them through the hat. If we mean no disrespect, then there is no disrespect.

That being said, now that my "superiors" at work have asked us not to wear hats indoors, me wearing one would now constitute just that, disrespect, so I'm going to comply.

I've had bad luck with this in the past though as the kids become focused on my increasingly widened bald spot, rather than the instruction or therapy I'm giving them.

The "Chieftan or King" thing is the first semi-practical reasoning I've heard for this rule. But I'd like to hear from others as to their opinions on this, other than the tired "It's just rude".

You can run with this topic on your own blog, too, just be sure to give me a 'hat tip'!