Make Public School Great Again

From the classroom of our resident artist, Mr. H, to your head.

This hat takes a current, as far as I can tell, largely meaningless, though occasionally aesthetically pleasing—trend of putting text upside down on hats and gives it purpose. By flipping public school, it becomes a reflection on the state of public education.

Ask a teacher you know what their classroom looks and feels like, and my guess is their answer will align closely with the message behind this lid. As a Boston Public Schools visual art teacher, former BPS Educator of the Year, and a 20+ year veteran working with one of the most challenging student populations in Boston and beyond, I’ve seen firsthand the long-term effects of policy decisions, pandemic fallout, declining accountability, lack of meaningful teacher supports, and inconsistent discipline structures combined with out-of-touch professional development and an over reliance on the language of “equity.”

These conditions increasingly leave teachers to defend themselves, both metaphorically and, at times, literally, while navigating systems that genuinely feel upside down and backwards. It’s not to say things were ever perfect, but compared to the current climate, one might even call them great.

Usually, we’d pair something like this with a charity or cause. In this case, I think I qualify, so scoop one up and help me raise my family in the city… while still being able to afford to send my kids to private school.

Hat Details:

• Structure: Structured
• Panels: 5-Panel
• Brim: Curved
• Closure: Snapback
• Material: Cotton