The outdated rule of no hats allowed in school should be reconsidered. We wear hats as an extension of our daily attire, to hide bad hair days & to help kids feel more comfortable in their own skin. We don’t put a hat on in the morning and say to ourselves, “let’s be disrespectful and distracting today”. We put a hat on in the morning because it completes our look, brings us a sense of security and sometimes even keeps us warm. We bring before you a petition filled with signatures of individuals, in Goreville School, who believe allowing a trial period on hats for our High School would be an advancement in shared respect between students and school staff. We believe our voices are important and we want to be heard, not dismissed. We understand school is a place full of rules and breaking them will have consequences. So, we are asking as the ones who have to follow the rules, can we have an inch if we promise not to take a mile? Thank you for taking the time to consider how this rule stifles your students’ individuality. In a world that wants to create sheep, we hope you choose to encourage our inner Blackcats.

By signing this petition you agree to the above statement. Our goal is to be able to present this statement before our school board in hopes of making history. You agree that school staff would ask us to remove a hat in the event it does become a distraction in anyway. You also agree to follow the dress code as you would normally: Choose school appropriate hats, no costume hats, large hats, or hats with profanity, etc. You understand this trial period may only be for High School students until otherwise noted.