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Dear Thelma: I am a high school teacher. I know the tradition has always been to remove hats in the classroom out of respect. The question students ask that I really don't have an answer for is this: Who are they disrespecting when they wear their ball caps in class?

Answer: Students disrespect no one person in particular when they do not remove their hats in class. What they are rejecting is a societal norm that springs from a historical tradition that has much to do with respect and reverence for authority in general.

This tradition is said to stem from medieval times. A knight lifted his face guard with his hand to show who he was, originating the military salute. Knights returning from battle entered the castle and took off their helmets as a sign of reverence before the king. These military traditions are thought to have been adopted by nobility and their households and carried on through the centuries to become a part of the etiquette of modern culture.

At the turn of the 20th century, hats continued to be functional. No longer armor for a battle, they were part of good hygiene, serving as protection from industrial dirt in the cities and the outdoor work of rural life. Hats continued to be tipped or removed when meeting someone to show respect or friendliness - like the knights of old lifting a face guard or a military salute. Hats were taken off indoors to show a higher level of civility or respect for what goes on inside. In times of old, hats served their purpose outdoors.

Perhaps with the exception of baseball players and working cowboys, most hats today are more fashion than function. I doubt most pitchers and ranch hands want to wear their sweaty, dirty hats at the dinner table, but for most students, hats are simply an accessory - part of their look for the day. Viewed as such, the need for hat etiquette can seem unnecessary and even nonsensical.

While there's nothing particularly bad about wearing a hat inside, taking it off shows your level of respect for the society that you live in and its traditions of civility.

Along with serving as a place to learn academics, school is a place to learn to function in our society. It's important we learn the standards expected of us. And in our society, for now, tradition calls for the removal of hats in the classroom.

Asking good questions and good manners never go out of style.