Preschool teacher dresses inappropriately

[Anonymous]

It does sound as if she dresses inappropriately.

But, I can tell you this. No school and no teacher will be perfect. If there's any important lesson to learn from her midriff is the importance of picking our battles and looking past people's flaws (at least those not critical to her central mission in your life). My son's teacher dresses very appropriately, and if I could trade her for someone less uptight, I'd take that someone - even with a midriff.

[Anonymous]

lots of cleavage last year. don't think the children were old enough to notice or appreciate. i did appreciate though.

[Anonymous]

The teacher may be a bit "colorful" in her dress, but like other posters have said, they would trade her bare shoulders for their tight-wad teachers any day. just chalk it up to someone interesting in your child's life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why this is bothering me, but she wears very tight jeans, and alot of shirts that shows bare shoulders even in winter. Often I can see her midriff even when she isn't sitting on floor or reaching. In warmer weather, it's dresses that I would consider a beach coverup. She's a great teacher.

Would you say something to the director?

Do you really think the director is unaware? (Exactly!)

No, you wouldn't dress that way. However, you interact with adults at your job, and you're not paid a pre-school teacher's wages. I don't personally approve of dressing that way myself, but I approve of meddling in other people's wardrobes even less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why this is bothering me, but she wears very tight jeans, and alot of shirts that shows bare shoulders even in winter. Often I can see her midriff even when she isn't sitting on floor or reaching. In warmer weather, it's dresses that I would consider a beach coverup. She's a great teacher.

Would you say something to the director?

Do you really think the director is unaware? (Exactly!)

No, you wouldn't dress that way. However, you interact with adults at your job, and you're not paid a pre-school teacher's wages. I don't personally approve of dressing that way myself, but I approve of meddling in other people's wardrobes even less.

I certainly wouldn't want to "meddle," but if this clothing is truly inappropriate, the teacher is showing the girls that you dress to reveal your body, and showing the boys that this is what women do. That's not a very good example. Taking issue with awful taste would be meddling, but if this attire models a gender stereotype that the parents wish to avoid, or she is presenting herself in an overly sexualized way, bring it up. Ask yourself: would you want pictures-- say, from a magazine ad-- of a woman dressed like that in one of the kids' storybooks? On the school room wall? If not, she's not dressed appropriately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why this is bothering me, but she wears very tight jeans, and alot of shirts that shows bare shoulders even in winter. Often I can see her midriff even when she isn't sitting on floor or reaching. In warmer weather, it's dresses that I would consider a beach coverup. She's a great teacher.

Would you say something to the director?

Do you really think the director is unaware? (Exactly!)

No, you wouldn't dress that way. However, you interact with adults at your job, and you're not paid a pre-school teacher's wages. I don't personally approve of dressing that way myself, but I approve of meddling in other people's wardrobes even less.

I certainly wouldn't want to "meddle," but if this clothing is truly inappropriate, the teacher is showing the girls that you dress to reveal your body, and showing the boys that this is what women do. That's not a very good example. Taking issue with awful taste would be meddling, but if this attire models a gender stereotype that the parents wish to avoid, or she is presenting herself in an overly sexualized way, bring it up. Ask yourself: would you want pictures-- say, from a magazine ad-- of a woman dressed like that in one of the kids' storybooks? On the school room wall? If not, she's not dressed appropriately.

The point is, what are the odds the director is unaware. (Zero.) Yet based on the teacher's ongoing "sexy" dress, the director must not care. Therefore talking to the director about the teacher's dress is a little like tattling. Or meddling. One of the perks of being a pre-school teacher must be an informal wardrobe. Let it go.

[Anonymous]

Do you really think the director is unaware? (Exactly!)

No, you wouldn't dress that way. However, you interact with adults at your job, and you're not paid a pre-school teacher's wages. I don't personally approve of dressing that way myself, but I approve of meddling in other people's wardrobes even less.

I'm not clear on why some PPs relate the teacher's choice of clothing to her salary. Her salary can just as easily be used to purchase appropriate clothing for school that can also be worn during her free time. Perhaps she can't afford two wardrobes (work and leisure). However, she is making the choice to work as a pre-school teacher and must accept the fact that it is inappropriate to dress a certain way at work. The compromise would be to wear less revealing clothing during leisure time so she only needs one (work appropriate) wardrobe. I can't show up to work in jeans simply because I can't afford two wardrobes. Clothing expenses are part of being gainfully employed.

[Anonymous]

The point is, what are the odds the director is unaware. (Zero.) Yet based on the teacher's ongoing "sexy" dress, the director must not care. Therefore talking to the director about the teacher's dress is a little like tattling. Or meddling. One of the perks of being a pre-school teacher must be an informal wardrobe. Let it go.

I don't consider it meddling or tattling when you are paying for a service. I think it is a fair expectation for a teacher to be a good role model as part of the educational experience.

[Anonymous]

OP here thanks for your input. I agree, likely the director has noticed. I don't plan to say anything although I do still think its not appropriate for work attire. Actually I was kind of warned about this from a current parent when I was touring the school. They said to look past the nightclub outfits, that she was the best teacher in the school. I just am floored still that she dressed like this even for back to school night!

[Anonymous]

It is really a shame that this talented girl doesn't know how to be professional. It will totally ruin her chances at further professional success - despite her talents.

[Anonymous]

Maybe being a really, really good preschool teacher IS her professional aspiration? Just a thought...

[Anonymous]

Yes, but still, if she ever wants to direct a school, develop curriculum with colleagues in other programs, mentor younger women studying to be preschool teachers... she'll have a harder time being taken seriously.

(I was not suggesting she should "aspire" to something grand.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, but still, if she ever wants to direct a school, develop curriculum with colleagues in other programs, mentor younger women studying to be preschool teachers... she'll have a harder time being taken seriously.

(I was not suggesting she should "aspire" to something grand.)

Whoa! There is something wrong with your last statement. Teaching is grand! Please refrain from putting down teachers, especially those who choose to educate little ones, as these women (and yes, men) are gifted and extraordinarily patient. If we had our priorities straight, they'd be at the top of the career ladder.

[Anonymous]

If it's preschool I wouldn't worry about it, as your kid has no clue about the signals the teacher is sending. DS had a very curvaceous preschool teacher who wore extremely tight outfits, and while DH and I had a few laughs about it, DS never had any idea.

If it's middle school I would worry more.

[Anonymous]

To 23:04 - Did you notice the quotation marks? I wasn't criticizing the teacher's professional choices, but rather the slight condescension of 18:47.