Dianne Isbell has written an etiquette column for the Belleville News-Democrat since 1987. She served as director of protocol for U.S. Air Force Communications Command before retiring in 2001. Q.

I’m probably coming to this party a bit late, but my take on the whole “wearing hats in the classroom” issue is: it doesn’t need to be adjudicated, or mandated by a school board. It’s manners. A ...