Teachers dress code

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm with OP - I am sympathetic to teachers who work with young students - who are on the floor, dealing with paint and glue, outside on the playground. But a pair of yoga pants and a pair of machine washable pants can cost the same. I'm not asking for pantyhose and heels. I am asking for you to look like you are going to work. It's about expectations. There are dress codes at all sorts of jobs. It doesn't keep me up at night. I would never say something about it. BUt it gives me a bad impression of the school.

If the teacher was going to work, then they looked like they were going to work. So your demand has been met.
If it gives you a bad impression of the school, find a new one.

Huh? What logic is this?

[Anonymous]

One of my most vivid memories of being a new young teacher at a private school was needing a root canal and crown I could not afford. I cut my budget to the bone, walked around with a temporary crown that kept falling off and ended up needing a revision to the root canal, and finally begged a colleague for a loan, which was utterly humiliating. At the same time, my middle school girl students informed me that they wanted to nominate me for that old TV show "What Not To Wear." They would good-naturedly tell me that I wear too much black and suggest things that I should buy, all of which were from stores/brands way beyond my budget. Their moms probably thought my clothes were horrible, too. There was nothing I could have done, and young teachers at private schools really don't have the options you imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my most vivid memories of being a new young teacher at a private school was needing a root canal and crown I could not afford. I cut my budget to the bone, walked around with a temporary crown that kept falling off and ended up needing a revision to the root canal, and finally begged a colleague for a loan, which was utterly humiliating. At the same time, my middle school girl students informed me that they wanted to nominate me for that old TV show "What Not To Wear." They would good-naturedly tell me that I wear too much black and suggest things that I should buy, all of which were from stores/brands way beyond my budget. Their moms probably thought my clothes were horrible, too. There was nothing I could have done, and young teachers at private schools really don't have the options you imagine.

I’m sorry that happened to you. Those kids were horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my most vivid memories of being a new young teacher at a private school was needing a root canal and crown I could not afford. I cut my budget to the bone, walked around with a temporary crown that kept falling off and ended up needing a revision to the root canal, and finally begged a colleague for a loan, which was utterly humiliating. At the same time, my middle school girl students informed me that they wanted to nominate me for that old TV show "What Not To Wear." They would good-naturedly tell me that I wear too much black and suggest things that I should buy, all of which were from stores/brands way beyond my budget. Their moms probably thought my clothes were horrible, too. There was nothing I could have done, and young teachers at private schools really don't have the options you imagine.

Advice from an older teacher - always be serious about understanding and connecting with your kids, but never take what they say very seriously unless there's a real warning sign of trouble.

Teenagers are going to teenager, which sometimes means getting mean. If my students told me I was the biggest dork on Earth (no doubt some have said that privately), I would just laugh.

They're children. Not adults worth feeling bad about.

[Anonymous]

But there are two separate issues. One if people like or dislike the dressing style. And the other one if there should be a minimum dress code. For instance the dress code in my office is to wear a shirt. My boss might dislike my shirt but still I comply with the dress code.

I don’t think that yoga pants or shorts are appropriate dress code for teacher that are not in pe. We like it or not , the way we dress also affects how we are perceived. This doesn’t mean that you have to buy expensive clothes, but we have convey the image that we are going to work not to the gym.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But there are two separate issues. One if people like or dislike the dressing style. And the other one if there should be a minimum dress code. For instance the dress code in my office is to wear a shirt. My boss might dislike my shirt but still I comply with the dress code.

I don’t think that yoga pants or shorts are appropriate dress code for teacher that are not in pe. We like it or not , the way we dress also affects how we are perceived. This doesn’t mean that you have to buy expensive clothes, but we have convey the image that we are going to work not to the gym.

People who work in gyms wear yoga pants to work because they need the freedom of movement and ability to get down on the floor. Similarly, teachers also must move quickly and get down on the floor at time with kids... so why when you see yoga pants do you assume "couldn't be working!"

[Anonymous]

What grade is OP’s child in? They didn’t say. Unsurprisingly.

[Anonymous]

If teacher's dress is important to you, make sure you do a school tour during the school day, not during Open House. I've been to several and child has visited some through shadows and tours. I've seen classroom teachers (not coaches or PE teachers) with:

-exposed tattoos
-cloying perfume
-large dogs in the classroom
-neon basketball shoes
-basketball shorts and long athletic socks
-revealing and/or tight tank tops

Those same teachers usually wore a button down shirt and tie, or slacks and blouse during Open House and admissions events.

Personally, I am turned off when principal and other important admin wear political clothing or very noticeable luxury branded items.

[Anonymous]

Just let teachers (and anyone for that matter) be comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just let teachers (and anyone for that matter) be comfortable.

+1
I don't get the hate for black yoga pants. The fabrics are thick and fantastic now.
They have pretty much been adopted as a generic "black pant" at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just let teachers (and anyone for that matter) be comfortable.

Absolutely. There are much bigger problems than whether an underpaid teacher is wearing yoga pants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just let teachers (and anyone for that matter) be comfortable.

Shorts and flip flops ok?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just let teachers (and anyone for that matter) be comfortable.

Shorts and flip flops ok?

Why not? If that’s what an adult is wearing, I assume that is what they are comfortable in and that it doesn’t impact their ability to do their job.

Some of my kid’s worst teachers over the years have been the best dressed. Some of her best teachers have been the most casually dressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just let teachers (and anyone for that matter) be comfortable.

Shorts and flip flops ok?

Kinder in late spring? Yes

[Anonymous]

When I started teaching in the early 90's I bought very nice "professional" clothing. Dresses, suits, nice blouses and pants. Guess what? I ruined them all in my first two years of teaching. I'm a science teacher. I use chemicals, take kids outside, use soil, dissect things, sit on the floor for physics experiments. Teachers need to wear clothing that is appropriated to their jobs not what some parent who words in a freaking office all day thinks is appropriate. And BTW - if you want teachers to wear fancy clothes maybe you should increase their salaries!