Get Schooled

By Lydia

September 1, 2005 08:03 AM | Link to this

I’m glad you chose this topic to discuss, because when we came to work Monday, all of my colleagues were talking about this teacher in her flip-flops and jeans.

Our principal would have a mild heart attack if we came to work like that! He doesn’t even like us to wear jeans when we pay for the privilege and donate the money to charity.

I think that if we want people to take us seriously and treat us like professionals - we should dress appropriately.

By Robert

September 1, 2005 08:35 AM | Link to this

In my school district/school, the powers that be are afraid to discuss female dress codes. They do not want to say that females should wear stockings or even describe the tops that are appropriate. Because of this, females come to school dressed all sorts of ways from flip flops (they call them female shoes) to tank tops to shorts.

Males, however, are REQUIRED to wear dress shirts and dress slacks. And, they are RECOMMENDED to wear ties.

Why is it okay for females to wear an Izod-style shirt but it is not okay for a male? Sounds like a lawsuit to me….

By Don

September 1, 2005 08:36 AM | Link to this

While its a good idea to have a dress down day for teachers the standards should be set with them. Dress shirts, slacks and shoes with heels for men. Skirts and blouse or dress for women,& shoes w/heels. This should be the minimum. Students can then be asked to wear appropriate attire with good concious.

By old teacher

September 1, 2005 08:39 AM | Link to this

We have a dress code in the Buford City School system. We are expected to dress like professionals at all times. Many of the teachers here in the middle school wear the same uniform as the students.

By Maire

September 1, 2005 08:40 AM | Link to this

I think it depends on what you teach. I teach special ed at an elementary school, and wear khaki’s, scrubs, anything comfortable to get me through the day. I am on the floor, changing diapers, feeding children, lifting them in and out of wheelchairs and many other activities that would be difficult to perform in some high heels and a skirt!!!! Who cares people quit passing judgement and be comfortable. You know we’re professional, we went to college for 4 years.

By Lydia

September 1, 2005 08:48 AM | Link to this

Don - I can wear nice slacks and still look professional, so your suggested “minimum” attire for women would never fly! Like Maire said - it depends on where you teach and what you teach. We cannot expect Special Ed. teachers (God bless you!) to come to work in their finest clothes when they perform such duties as feeding, changing and lifting students.

And FYI - I do wear open-toe shoes, but, I have regular pedicures!

By Ed

September 1, 2005 09:04 AM | Link to this

I agree that if we want to be treated with respect and treated like professionals, we should look like professionals. I teach high school, and I wear a dark suit, starched, long sleeved, white shirt, and a tie every Monday-Thursday. Friday is “mandatory” casual day. Fridays are a pain because I have to iron and choose something to wear. I began wearing a business suit every day about 4 years ago as a “lark.” I now realize that it’s easier to dress every morning by doing so. I try as well to send the message that school is serious business by dressing like it is.

By Karen Armsby

September 1, 2005 09:07 AM | Link to this

About sixteen years ago when my oldest was in second grade, a new principal came in, who instituted a teacher dress code immediately: no sweat pants or sweatshirs, unless it was spirit day and they wore the school logo sweatshirt, no blue jeans, and no pants with a reinforced outside leg seam! It was defineitely business casual and we parents all liked the change. When the teachers dress professionally I believe it is easier to enforce the students’ dress code and to expect good conduct from the students.

By Dan

September 1, 2005 09:10 AM | Link to this

Maire you make a few good comments right up to where you claim a 4 year degree makes you professional, nothing could be further from the truth and I hope you don’t convey such nonsense to the kids you teach Professionalism is dictated by your actions, how you deal with people situations, rationally and equitably. Dressing properly can be a reflection of that. As a professional you should set a good example. But clearly a piece of paper on the wall does not mean you are a professional

By Lynne

September 1, 2005 09:13 AM | Link to this

I just think it’s a shame that we would need to have a dress code enforced on us. My dress code is self-enforced. Professional adults shouldn’t need to be told what is inappropriate wear. But, apparently, some do! I have a colleague who wears see-through shirts with neon-colored bras! Outrageous!

By Funk Gee

September 1, 2005 09:19 AM | Link to this

Yea sure - you take a lame teacher and dress him up and that’s supposed to make them better? What’s wrong with flip flops? Jeans? Who cares. Performance is what should matter. Not how the teacher is dressed.

By MArie

September 1, 2005 09:26 AM | Link to this

Dan, Teach my students about professionalism????? I teach them how to brush their hair, how to eat, and how to brush their teeth. My student are 10-12 but are on a 5 year old’s level. They don’t even know what letter the word professional starts with!!!!

By Marie

September 1, 2005 09:29 AM | Link to this

Funk Gee, I couldn’t have said it better :)

By Ben

September 1, 2005 10:12 AM | Link to this

Everyone from students to teachers and administrators should wear uniforms of different colors differentiate them. Uniforms will help eliminate some of the non-sense and cost for clothing. By having everyone in uniform will put the much needed focus on learning. Our kids are ranking last on the SAT.

By Heather

September 1, 2005 10:15 AM | Link to this

As some who is going to school to enter the teaching profession, I believe that being a professional has only about 10% to do with wardrobe. It is in the way you carry yourself, your tone of voice, choosing your words carefully, and behaving in a respectful manner towards your fellow staff, parents, and STUDENTS. There are certain things I agree should be off limits, for example, leave your beachwear at home. This would include flip-flops and anything else you look like you might/already have taken a swim wearing. The other side of this is that learning is supposed to be fun, and if teaching is bogged down in debates over what seams you can have on your pants, well what lesson are we teaching the students? That their education ranks somehow behind the administration’s preferance for suits? Should teachers be allowed to wear jeans? Why not allow it in schools that do not have uniforms? When they get to college it is very likely that at least one of their professors will be wearing them. Make teachers abide by the same standards as the students in that respect. Do we really need to teach kids that the only people to respect are those in a suit?

You want to educate the kids? Then ask yourself, which would rather have, an involved, eager, intelligent teacher, or a Brooks Bros. suit? And no, sometimes you can’t have both> Welcome to the “real world”.

By JT

September 1, 2005 10:20 AM | Link to this

I think it’s a good idea for teachers to have a dress code. My teenagers while in school, I remember made comments such as ” some teachers dressed as if the where going to or comming from a night club.” It is a distraction to teenagers. Think about it! We have so many cases in the news about teachers and students relationships.

By Parent

September 1, 2005 10:30 AM | Link to this

I see most of the comments are from teachers but I would like to share my thoughts as a parent. I feel that teachers should dress professionally. I’ve had the luxury of watching my 2 High School young ladies grow through the years. I realize that parents can’t take all the credit for it. My girls have been blessed with awesome teachers who helped mold them intellectually but who have also unknowingly taught them how to carry themselves in the “working world”. With all the “hoochie” wear and belly buttons showing it may not seem like your professional attire is even registering with the students but it is. You are the top dog in charge and when you walk into a classroom your attire should reflect that. As a parent I would not want to come into a classroom and talk to a teacher who dresses like they’re going to the mall. Your dress determines how people perceive you and sometimes how you perceive yourself.

By A Question for You

September 1, 2005 10:41 AM | Link to this

Are all shoes that don’t attach at the back “flip flops”?

When that tempest in a teapot about the women’s sports team at the Whitehouse hit the news, some of the shoes seemed okay to me with the outfits the girls were wearing.

Do you all think that all leather shoes that flop when you walk should be prohibited for teachers OR do you object to plastic or rubber shoes?

By Jeanine

September 1, 2005 10:45 AM | Link to this

I think it depends on what you are teaching. If you are teaching special ed or elementary school, then open-toe shoes and khakis are fine. If you are teaching middle school or high school, then a more formal dress code might be needed in order to convey your authority. However, if the only means by which you convey your authority are through your dress, then you have much bigger issues than your clothing. Each school has it’s own climate, and if “this” teacher in Gwinnett is able to spark enthusiasm for science, then she should be able to teach in a paper bag.

By Don

September 1, 2005 11:49 AM | Link to this

I am one who questioned the Gwinnett system when one principal tried to mandate all male educators wear ties. The issue itself and discussion was a “distraction to the learning process”. I would have preferred that the administrators had spent the time and attention to the quality of the interactions that teachers were having with students and parents. Students learn from educators who reach them, make the subject matter important and interesting, and make connections between these students, content and reality. Think of the educator in your past that influenced you in a positive way. How much of their impact was because of his/her choice in dress? Would they have been more effective if forced to dress to a corporate business standard?

By Dee

September 1, 2005 11:56 AM | Link to this

I am a former middle school teacher and I think that it would be nice if teachers were required to wear scrubs each day with those really comfortable shoes that nurses often wear. Scrubs are worn by health-care professionals, so it could still be considered as professional attire. This way teachers would be comfortable, would not have to worry about getting their suits dirty, would not complain as much about standing up for 8 hours a day, and there wouldnt be any dress code differences for male and females.

By MollyHollyGolly

September 1, 2005 12:00 PM | Link to this

Yes, teachers should wear business causal, men in ties, and women in dresses or nice slacks.

Students should wear uniforms.

I have never heard anyone comment when seeing a parade of children wearing uniforms….”Bob,would you look at how trashes those children are dressed.”

Look how nice Japan’s school children look. Then look at ours (in general).

Teachers should always be better dressed than the students.

By John

September 1, 2005 12:10 PM | Link to this

Teachers, like all professionals, should have a dress code—ties, dress shirts and dress pants or khakis for males with comparable dress for females. Shorts, capris, jeans, t-shirts, sleeveless tops, flip flops, etc. should be banned from all professional work places, including schools. The deplorable attitude that many teachers, especially young ones, show toward their dress is a primary reason for the lack of discipline in the schools. A teacher should receive one dress code warning and sent home to change. A second violation should result in an immediate firing and revocation of the teaching certificate. If you have to ask yourself whether your dress is appropriate, then it is not.

By Beverly Gaffney

September 1, 2005 12:29 PM | Link to this

Good grief, John. Get a grip!! Where do you work? It’s certainly not in a school. As a teacher, I am required to be on the floor, climb on ladders to change word lists, and stand outside on a windy,dusty playground. I come home each day covered in dust and dirt. I’m not ruining my expensive clothes for this job. I dress “comfortable-casual”, and my principal has never had a complaint!

By Leia

September 1, 2005 12:40 PM | Link to this

John - are you serious? Do you honestly believe that the way a teacher dresses in the primary reason for the lack of discipline in the schools? Wow - you are so way off base on that one! If I wore a skirt and blouse everyday, it wouldn’t change the behavior of the kids who come in to school with no home-training!

By John

September 1, 2005 12:48 PM | Link to this

My wife teaches at an elementary school where she and other teachers are required to dress in exactly the way I described above. She has to do everything that any other teacher does. My children attend school in a system where teachers have to dress as I described above. Students in that school and that system test well above similar schools and similar systems in Georgia. The dress code is part of that reason. Sloppy and casual dress results in sloppy and casual performance by the employee, whether it be a teacher or any other professional.

By Leia

September 1, 2005 01:01 PM | Link to this

John - I teach at a high school and I dress professionally, but, I could wear jeans and sneakers everyday, and my students would still ace the A.P. exams every year!

By Carmen

September 1, 2005 01:07 PM | Link to this

Suits? Business Casual? Heels and Stockings? It is easy for “professionals” to write in commenting on what teachers should wear, but who is going to pay for it? First-year teachers barely get paid enough to cover living expenses, let alone go to Macys or Dillards and pay hundreds of dollars for attire.

I have been teaching seven years and received outstanding reviews and observations every year - all while wearing clothes bought at K-Mart and Wal-Mart.

I demand respect and a learning-focused classrom from my students and that is what I get, regardless of my dress.

If someone thinks that clothing has anything in the world to do with being a good teacher, please walk into any school and you will see your best teachers on their knees in worn-out pants and tired, old dresses helping kids. Not sitting at desks in $200 suits and too tired to walk around in 3-inch heels.

By em

September 1, 2005 01:08 PM | Link to this

Heather, I came from the “real world.” The “real world” is dressing professionally whether you are an accountant, lawyer, doctor, or teacher. Dressing down was a lark that emanated from the 1990s .com era. Dressing casually in most arenas is now on the rise but as with other things such as management style, hierarchy, and labor issues, public education is behind the times.

By Suzy

September 1, 2005 01:26 PM | Link to this

As a teacher for 10+ years, I have to say that my footwear and other clothing makes no difference to my students. Once they know what I expect from them, they either meet those expectations or they don’t. I wear sneakers and other comfortable shoes, even with a pantsuit or dressy capri set, because I have had two back surgeries and I can’t be on my feet all day in regular heels or dress shoes. If parents or administrators have a problem with my attire, they certainly haven’t approached me about it.

By em

September 1, 2005 01:41 PM | Link to this

Oops! I meant dressing professionally instead of casually.

By Teacher

September 1, 2005 01:43 PM | Link to this

Right on, Leia!
I don’t think teachers should dress like slobs or cheap-dates, but, as miserable, physical, and stressful as our jobs can be, we should be able to dress comfortably. No one can ever convince me that my attire affects discipline or learning in my classroom. I wear capris (our air conditioner goes out once a week), tennis shoes (human feet are not pointy toed), and comfortable shirts frequently. I have one of the lowest discipline referral rates in my school and my kids perform beautifully on standardized tests. My students respect me for who I am on the inside, not for how I appear on the outside. I’m proud to be teaching my students that depth of character is more important than appearances.

By David

September 1, 2005 01:50 PM | Link to this

John, I teach high school science. You are confusing correlation with causation. A correlation would be a comparison of the numbers of churches and the amount of violent crime. The more churches in a town, the more violent crime there is. You certainly wouldn’t want us to restrict the number of churches a community could have, would you? Of course not, that’s an example of a correlation. Just like the dress code for the teachers in your wife’s school. The true cause and effect in my example is one of the size of city compared to the violent crime. As a city grows, so does the number of churches and the number of people … and also the number of criminals. There are many more I could use; for example, comparing the sales of soft ice cream and amount of violent crime is probably the most famous example. Apparently the principal at your wife’s school never had to take a course in statistics; that’s a pity. Correlation never implies causation.

By Tammy

September 1, 2005 02:01 PM | Link to this

I have been a teacher for 18 years in the Georgia Public School System. I fully believe that teachers need to be held to a higher form of conduct, which includes dressing appropriately. One thing that does bother me, however, is how some principals will address the entire faculty about dress code violations instead of addressing it with the individuals in question. At my last school, there was a teacher who dressed rather provocatively and ALL the kids talked about her short skirts and thongs. I would personally welcome uniforms for both students AND teachers, as it would lessen some of the problems that we all have to deal with.

By ms b

September 1, 2005 02:01 PM | Link to this

First of all, is there a blog on how doctors or lawyers dress? I didn’t think so! Who are you to decide what I, as a teacher, wear to work everyday? Carmen hit the nail on the head! Thank you!
Sure, if you are a man and can throw on a suit or any combination of slacks, tie, and shirt- dressing professionally for school is easy! If the kids are comparing how they look and what labels they wear, do you not think that teachers are doing the same? There is too much pressure to look “cute.” I would love to wear a uniform of any kind!! I could show up in PJ’s and have complete control over my class and they would pass the CRCT with no problem. It has nothing to do with apperance and everything to do with attitude and demeanor. There is no other job on the planet as difficult as teaching! Unless you’ve done it. you will never know…

By JC

September 1, 2005 02:06 PM | Link to this

I remember in college when I rebelled against dress-codes because I thought they were meant to stifle my individuality and personality. As I grew older I realized that I wasn’t giving myself much credit to think that a suit and tie could rob me of who I am or impact how I perform. Eventually I came to realize that image IS important. It is certainly not the most important thing, but how you carry yourself (and this includes the clothes you wear) provides others with a first impression of you. If you look professional then people initially think of you as professional. If you can’t do the job no suit is ever going to make up for it. But why would you want to start off in a deficit dressing sloppily and then have to prove that you ARE professional?

“Professional dress”, though, depends on the profession. A banker has different standards than a teacher. It would be insane to make a special ed or PE teacher wear fine, wool suits, but you can look “put-together” and be comfortable without looking sloppy. Lack of money is a lousy argument because you can dress nice even if you shop at Target - it’s choice of clothing, not cost. The last time I checked I could buy decent slacks for the same as a pair of jeans. I don’t think we should make our teachers look like defense attorneys, but they shouldn’t look like they are going straight to Buckhead after class. What’s wrong with having teachers LOOK like they are in charge? If you are a good teacher it will just make you look better.

By em

September 1, 2005 02:18 PM | Link to this

Well said JC!

By David

September 1, 2005 02:20 PM | Link to this

I’m amazed at the number of teachers complaining about their chosen jobs, work conditions & poor pay.

If you have that many complains why not get another job with better working conditions and pay. In my workplace business type dress is demanded and I still get dirty and on occasions I have damaged my clothing, that goes with the job which I enjoy very much.

By scruggs

September 1, 2005 02:27 PM | Link to this

Though I’m currently in the corporate world, I have experience teaching math in both a high school and a university setting. Standing up all day, I want running shoes on. And (it was the days of chalk boards) I’d finish the day covered in chalk dust. Even when we switched to dry-erase, colored marks were all over my hands and clothes. So jeans and button downs were my accepted choice.

By Been there done that

September 1, 2005 02:34 PM | Link to this

I will come to John’s defense….

I have been teaching for 23 years now and I totally disagre with many of the teachers who claim dress does not matter. Not one study nor any of my experiences back up the claim that dress does not improve attitude or respect. Ask any child that can not afford the best cloths and they will tell you that kids care a lot about clothing.

Take two teachers with the same ability. One wears jeans, tennis shoes and a tee shirt and the other wears a nice pair of slacks and a blouse and ask the kids to chose which one looks the best. No doubt most will pick the better dressed teacher.

No one is saying you have to wear an evening gown so get off your wagon. Just wear something that sets you apart from the kids and the person trimming the hedges outside. It’s not about the money.

A little side note….Went to a Riverside Military HS game last Friday….and boy did those young men look sharp…….esp. compared to the kids on the other side who wore their pants down around their xxxx. Don’t try to tell me dress does not matter.

By Got cha

September 1, 2005 02:48 PM | Link to this

ms b said…….

“First of all, is there a blog on how doctors or lawyers dress? I didn’t think so”!

Oh, you are so wrong. Try, as a lawyer, walking into a court room without a suit and see what the Judge tells you in chambers. (Don’t you just hate it when someone proves you wrong?)

And every doctors office I have ever been in the doc is wearing nice cloths and most often a tie.

Bank tellers wear nice cloths….heck, even the college kid working the counter at Macy’s is wering nice cloths just to sell you a belt or pair of socks.

Teachers are always talking about how many degrees they have and how professional they are…..well, dress that way. Is that so hard to do?

By Studentforlife

September 1, 2005 02:50 PM | Link to this

I’ve been taught by many different types of teachers in many different ways. To be perfectly honest, the way they dressed never affected anything. I can tell you this, a public high-school teacher who dresses too “professionally” probably takes themselves a little too seriously. Students laugh at that sort of stuffiness. The teachers in my past who made the biggest impact on my life and learning dressed in whatever way made them feel the most comfortable. Guys, if jeans and a polo make you feel good, wear them. Ladies, there is no need for 3-inch heels or suits or other corporate-style clothes. I am now out of the academic world (but still learning, thus my screen name) and the corporate world is a lot more relaxed than some of you make it out to be. Admittedly, the way you dress can affect your career outcome, but mostly during the job interview. First impressions are crucial, but how you do the job is far more important in the long run. What my boss wears doesn’t matter to me at all. He is still my boss whether in suit and tie or flip-flops and t-shirts. The same works for teachers. If they come in wearing exactly what the students wear, it won’t change the fact that they are the teacher. Students listen most intently to those who most want to connect with them. Those who think that the style of clothes you wear will keep behavior in line possibly lack the ability to do so otherwise. A suit is not by itself an intimidating thing, the person within it should be what has the effect.

By Tax payer

September 1, 2005 02:52 PM | Link to this

ms b again……..

“Who are you to decide what I, as a teacher, wear to work everyday”

Uh, the last time I checked I paid your salary. Or does your money come from outer space?

By Studentforlife

September 1, 2005 03:01 PM | Link to this

Dear Tax Payer Last time I checked we also paid the Governor’s, President’s and Congressmen’s salaries but I don’t remember that giving us fiat over their wardrobes…..

By booyu

September 1, 2005 03:01 PM | Link to this

“There is no other job on the planet as difficult as teaching! Unless you’ve done it. you will never know…”

While we are on the subject of not knowing…..ms b….until you have done every one elses job on the planet…..I do not think you are qualified to make that statement. I am sure the guy throwing out ashphalt on a hot sunny day at $6 / hour would gladly trade jobs with you.

David….thanks for the grammar lesson. I am sure John is duly impressed with your semantics ability

And while we are at it people….there is no such word as (irregardless). There is regardless and there is irrespective.

By Leia

September 1, 2005 03:08 PM | Link to this

Tax payer - I pay taxes as well. So does that give me the right to choose what I wear to work everyday? I’m just trying to use your logic.

You don’t pay my salary - I didn’t see your name on my paystub yesterday.

By Karen Armsby

September 1, 2005 03:09 PM | Link to this

Dressing professionally sends a message to the students that you are a professional and you take your job seriously. Dressing in jeans, tank tops, and flip flops sends a less professional message to the students. My mom always told me it’s better to overdress, than underdress to any occasion whether it is a meeting, an interview, a class, or a party. Dressing neatly or professionally says that you respect those your are with and that you expect their respect, too. With all of the disrespect shown to teachers today, it couldn’t hurt if they did dress more professionally. It may get some of the students’ attention.

By no clue

September 1, 2005 03:10 PM | Link to this

Studentlife…..I could not disagree more. You have stated a personal preference. But all the studies show that those that dress better garner more respect.

Two guys standing next to each other. One in his dress Marine uniform and the other in a Blues Brothers tee shirt and torn jeans…..need I say more. Heck, even the matra D at a fine resturant wears a Tux. How would you like to go out for a nice meal and the greeter was wearing his pants so low you could see his underwear and an old tee shirt with stains from who knows where.

Studentlife….I know your mama taught you to wera appropriate clothing that fit the situation. It’s called respect for the job and institution. Do I care what the person on the other end of the phone is wearing when I call for insurance quote….no….do I care about the cloths my child’s teacher is wearing…..you bet.

Next time you go to a formal wedding walk in with your AC/DC shirt and flops…..I am sure the Brides Dad will be proud.

By Lydia

September 1, 2005 03:11 PM | Link to this

Got cha - I’m glad you’re not in the teaching profession! There is a difference between the words cloths and clothes!

Go read a book and spend less time worrying about what I wear!

By Teacher

September 1, 2005 03:16 PM | Link to this

ClothEs, people, clothEs!

By Aston

September 1, 2005 03:26 PM | Link to this

Leia….I do not follow your logic.

Tax payer has every right to ask the Superintendent in his district to address the issue of school dress. The school is hired to teach his/her child(ren). Therefore, the teachers work for him/her.

“You don’t pay my salary - I didn’t see your name on my paystub yesterday”

Why would Tax payers name be on your paycheck? He/she did not say they were the school’s Superintendent. Tax payer commented that his/her money was used to pay teachers salary. Your comment makes no sense at all.

Leia…..who do you think pays the salary of teachers?

By John Knock

September 1, 2005 03:27 PM | Link to this

It seems to me there is a problem with conformity when some ignore the importance of a basic work etiquette—-personal appearance. While I understand the strains of teaching, appearance should not be neglected. Teaching is only as purposeful as one of many elements of good work ethic—-professional appearance. I dont understand why a balance of professional and casual look is such a problem for a teacher. If they are paid to change minds and souls, why stop at personal appearance? I think kids would ultimately learn something from a teacher’s appearance. Who is to say where a kids motivation and drive to succeeed will come from? It may come from the perceptions of the Teacher’s appearance. I think everything a Teacher says, does, and thinks is important to the well-being of their students/kids. Remember, little drops of water form an ocean. A small disgrace in appearance, among many other work variables, may or may not hamper a child’s progress. So, why take the chance? Teacher’s should dress professionally even if it means legislating it into their lives.

By Studentforlife

September 1, 2005 03:28 PM | Link to this

Dear no Clue As most do when stretching to make a point, you have confused the boundaries of a dress code with the boundaries of good taste. As for those that dress better getting more respect, I find it hard to establish causation. Is it that the clothes make the man, or that people in higher positions tend to dress better and are thus respected for their status not their clothing? Try this example on for size. Two men stand next to each other. The man on the right is dressed in Brooks Brothers tweed, starched shirt, red tie. The one on the left is wearing jean and a polo. The guy on the left is your supervisor, the man on the right you don’t know. Whom do you obey?

By David

September 1, 2005 03:30 PM | Link to this

When I was a student I couldn’t fathom why anyone would want a dress code. As a parent I think its great for students and teachers alike. The exact details should be worked out between the school,its teachers, its PTA and student representatives. It will allow the participants in education to concentrate on what is important and ignore what is not.

By studentforlife

September 1, 2005 03:33 PM | Link to this

Before any of you spelling-hawks says it, I’m aware. “Jeans” not “jean”. Pardon my sometimes less-than-nimble fingers.

By easydoesit

September 1, 2005 03:53 PM | Link to this

Simple slip of the finger on the keyboard people….no need for panic.

“Go read a book and spend less time worrying about what I wear!”

I have to agree with Got cha. His comment addressed ms b’s assertion that no one cares what others are wearing and Got cha pointed out, quite well I may say, that is not true. So where’s your point?

And yes, teachers do need to dress better than the students. Only in recent history have teachers started to dress “down”. Does not send a good message to the children.

Question…..How far do we let teachers go down the dress chart before we say not acceptable?

By Spellingbee.not

September 1, 2005 03:57 PM | Link to this

Pardon my sometimes less-than-nimble fingers.

Amen studentforlife. Why is everyone so caught up in everyone’s ability to type and spell?

By wheresthe logic

September 1, 2005 04:06 PM | Link to this

“Two men stand next to each other. The man on the right is dressed in Brooks Brothers tweed, starched shirt, red tie. The one on the left is wearing jean and a polo. The guy on the left is your supervisor, the man on the right you don’t know. Whom do you obey?”

Did you not just make no clue’s point?

“As for those that dress better getting more respect, I find it hard to establish causation”

What planet have you been living on? Maybe that is your view….but I can tell you….if I am standing beside a man in a clean suit and one that dressed….early bum….I will bet you I am not going to ask the “early bum” dressed fellow for direcions. Geez.

By Jaye

September 1, 2005 04:39 PM | Link to this

To Maire:

I guess that you failed to learn about comma splices in your four years of college … Professional? I don’t think so …

By studentforlife

September 1, 2005 05:03 PM | Link to this

To Wheresthelogic Had you actually read the above mentioned passage that you so carefully copied and pasted, your first question would be moot. The man that is not dressed well is the boss and is therefore respected not for clothing, but for status. Read before you ridicule, else you end up looking much dumber than you probably are. In the end of all this, what the argument is is whether or not a child’s respect can be earned through clothing. The answer is no. A teacher in a suit is no more respected than a teacher in jeans. Ask the students in a high school who the best teachers are and you will, likely as not, find the best don’t dress to impress anyone. They are there to teach, not have the appearance of wealth. If they can do a good job, screw what they wear while they do it. BTW, my hat is off to all teachers!! Very little of what I know today cannot be credited to a good teacher.

By mythbuster

September 2, 2005 08:47 AM | Link to this

studentforlife….I guess your name says it all…..you do not have the ability to grasp information and therefore graduate.

“Two men stand next to each other. The man on the right is dressed in Brooks Brothers tweed, starched shirt, red tie. The one on the left is wearing jean and a polo. The guy on the left is your supervisor, the man on the right you don’t know. Whom do you obey?�

Are you even reading what is written? You seem to be in your own world. Sad. You cherry pick your positions and take things out of context. It is impossible to have a logical debate with someone like you since there is no logic to your thinking. You resort to name calling when you are proven wrong. How childish.

It is obvious that wheresthelogic’s point was that it you stand two people side by side….one in a suit and one in torn up jeans….that reasonable members in society would conclude that the well dressed person would recieve more respect. You can disagree all you want to but that in itself does not prove your point.

I have never read a book called….Dress down for Success…have you? And would it hurt any student if the teachers dressed just a little nicer than the students?

By Leia

September 2, 2005 09:08 AM | Link to this

While we’re on the subject of dress - would it be too much to ask that the parents refrain from wearing their tube tops and Daisy Dukes to the parent conferences? That does not send a good message either!

By teacher

September 2, 2005 09:19 AM | Link to this

When he visited schools over the summer, he said some looked like they were “dressed for the beach.�

Schools are not in session during the summer. Teachers often work on their own volition during the summer but it is not required. Students are not in school during the summer.
So why should teachers dress professionally when they are on holiday and school is not in session?

By Mickey

September 2, 2005 09:34 AM | Link to this

To teacher - you are absolutely right! I went up to my school several times this summer in shorts and a tank top to set up my computer lab. It was extremely dirty work and there was no air-conditioning on in that hallway.

By Caroline

September 2, 2005 09:38 AM | Link to this

Hmmm…purchase books, paper and pencils for my classroom that my employer doesn’t provide…or buy a suit…which is more important? I think the students would rather have paper than see me in a 3 piece suit!

By T. Smith

September 2, 2005 09:53 AM | Link to this

Yes, they should have some sort of dress code. Some teachers at my sons’ school dress so casual, you don’t know if they are students or parents coming by.

By Karen Armsby

September 2, 2005 09:53 AM | Link to this

I would like to respond to some of the negative comments about dressing professionally. 1. You don’t need a big budget, and you don’t need to spend $200 on suits and dresses at major department stores in order to dress professionally. I usually shop the end of clearance sales at Dillard’s and Lord and Taylor and have spent $40 for a $200 suit, $20 for a $90 dress, $15 for $120 dress pants, etc. I wait for sales and usually spend about $200 for what was full priced at $1000 for a wardrobe of professional clothes. If you choose mix and match pants, skits, blouses and jackets, the ladies can turn a few pieces into many outfits. You can also find cheaper priced, but cheaper made professional style clothes at Wal-Mart and Target, or better made discount designer labels at department store discount outlets, and the many independent discounters. A small budget can go far with wise planning. 2. If you invest in quality made clothing, the fabric and construction of the garment are better, it fits better, lasts longer and the styles are classic, not trendy, so you get more years out of the clothing. 3. Maybe most of your students don’t care what you dress in, but your supervisors in the administration are noticing, and that will affect advancement in your career.

By Amy

September 2, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this

I am an early childhood education student. I believe that children are learning everything we do and that teachers need to be great role models. I love to dress casual and comfortable. But there is a time and place for this. I don’t believe in having to look like stiffs but there is definatly a difference in comfortable and professional and really unappropriate. It does matter what grade or class you teach as to what the dress code should be. I think that there shouldn’t be a dress code but as professionals we should know what is appropriate. Especially younger women teachers that choose to teach middle school or high school. Those students can’t control all their thoughts especially when teachers are dressing like the students. I look forward to teaching and I understand I better enjoy the college days of dressing until I become a professional.

By Mitch

September 2, 2005 12:24 PM | Link to this

YES, there needs to be a dress code. Try going to Redan Middle where they dress like they are going to the club!

By luvs2teach

September 2, 2005 01:25 PM | Link to this

Oh, you people make me chuckle…

Of course there should be a dress code, not just for teachers, but for society in general.

I’m too young to be a baby boomer and too old to be a Gen-X-er, but I remember when I dressed up for school, church, Easter, Christmas, and other special locations and events. I remember my grandmother wore hats when she went out, and my grandfather removed his when he went in. My grandmother even insisted on a slip under a lined wool skirt!

Now, we as a society have taken the idea of “Casual Friday” too far. It’s hard to tell at church if you’re there for services or a barbecue. Ball game or work dress? It’s hard to tell. I don’t know anyone who buys (or makes, as my mother did) new clothes for holidays. The fashion show at the mall is often a fashion show of bad taste (the show “What Not To Wear” doesn’t exist in a vaccuum).

As someone who worked both at McDonald’s and in the military, I have no exception to uniforms. I voted for them at my son’s elementary. I buy enough staff shirts to essentially have a uniform of my own for school. All the schools where I have worked have had dress codes for the teachers, typically ast a level above what is accepted for and expected of the students. Business-casual (as opposed to business-formal) is the term used.

I would never wear sweats, t-shirts (other than college shirts for spirit day), shorts, or flip-flops (as opposed to sandals - my rule of thumb? If I’d wear them on the beach, then they’re too casual for school)on a teaching day. I have worn shorts and tee-shirts during the summer for heavy-duty cleaning and rearranging. Like-wise, you’re not likely to find me in a dress with three inch heels - that’s not practical.

Harry Wong wrote a book for first year teachers, and it stresses the importance of looking professional. I took that advice to heart.

Finally, I have some friends who are lawyers - their “court dress” or client dress” is far more formal than their allowed everyday office wear.

Clothes should be tasteful, yet practical.

By Lee

September 2, 2005 03:47 PM | Link to this

Dress codes for teachers?? Just another example of administrators who refuse to deal with the very small percentage of problem teachers. It’s much easier to send out a dress code for everyone than to tell little miss twenty-five going on fourteen to lose the hip huggers and tank tops (or Mr. Look at me, I’m cool, or Mrs. Looking for husband number four). You get the picture.

I think most teachers will use their better judgement and dress appropriately for the occasion. The administrators should do their job and deal with the one’s who won’t.