Teachers: Do YOU have a dress code?

[loco4dis]

The high school I teach at has no dress code. Teachers wear flip-flops, shorts, cut-offs, jeans, Che Guevera t-shirts, track suits, etc. I find it appalling. I don't expect them to wear business suits, but they should at least be able to distinguish themselves from the students as the actual adults in the building.

 

[The_Horned_King]

All I'm going to say is don't get me started on dress codes!!! Both for adults and kids.

that said my school district has a more "free" dress code...while it is in our contract that they can NOT tell us what to wear they have a suggested business casual environment. With MANY DOUBLE STANDARDS..women can wear shorts or capris, men as religated to pants only. Women can wear open toed/heeled shoes, men can't.

That said ,it just suggested..and my principle is more then fair espically when the weather is 93 degrees like it was last week to end our school year.

 

[MrsPete]

Ours is pretty specific -- I'm saying this from memory, but it's pretty close:

Ladies' dresses or skirts at least knee-length.
No low-cut, see-through, tight, or otherwise revealing blouses.
Dress pants or capris are acceptable. No shorts.
Shoes must be worn; no flip-flops or bedroom shoes.
No visible underwear, no bedroom attire.
No clothing that is distracting, controversial, or distasteful to the general public. No clothing that promotes alcohol or drugs.
Denim is fine (as in jackets or skirts), but jeans only on Fridays.
Men's shirts must be collared, but ties are not required.
All clothing is to fit properly.
No visible tattoos or piercings other than earrings on women.
No hats in the building.
Spirit-wear tee-shirts and sweatshirts are allowed on Fridays (and occasionally on other days if "big game" days fall on non-Fridays.

A few groups are allowed to dress differently; for example, the PE teachers wear school-colored workout suits with shorts underneath. Some of the vocational teachers wear clothing appropriate for working with car parts or bricklaying.

 

[LoveKermit]

I have dress clothes and more casual clothes (like Old Navy or Banana Outlet khakis). I can't wear dress shoes 5 days a week. However, I will always dress on the side of business wear for conferences and parent night. I have worked with people in the past who have the theory that if conferences fall on Friday and I wear jeans on Friday, then I wear jeans to conferences. I could NEVER do that! I had to catch a flight one year after conferences and I think I wore something more comfortable, but in Nov. in Chicago, it's always easy to wear pants and a jacket (a suit). Plus it's a chance to wear the expensive clothes I sometimes buy. Maybe my "dress" clothes are dressier than others. And my definition of casual is still more dressy than some in my building.

 

[MrsPete]

And the more I thought about this thread--capris? Really? If I've spent a cool $50-70 at Gap, Banana or Ann Taylor Loft on dress capris, I better be able to wear them to work (because where else would I wear them?).

The cost of an item has never had much to do with its professionalism. I have a couple bathing suits that cost $50-70, but that doesn't make them school-appropriate! Likewise, I have things I've bought on ebay or on clearance racks that've become staples of my school wardrobe!

With MANY DOUBLE STANDARDS..women can wear shorts or capris, men as religated to pants only. Women can wear open toed/heeled shoes, men can't.

That's not just the school's double standard -- it's society's standard! Traditionally men keep their legs and feet covered, while women have a wider variety of footwear within the professional realm. Don't kid yourself that it doesn't go the other way too though: Men get to wear comfortable shoes, while women teeter about on pointed-toe heels. Men can just brush their hair and teeth, and they're ready -- society demands much more from women. And let's not even get started on formal wear! Who ever thought it was a good idea to let women freeze in strapless gowns and thin "wraps" while men wear suits?

 

[emer95]

We don't have an official dress code at our school, and there's a wide range of what people where. Personally, I love to dress up. I wear skirts/dresses a couple of times a week, but I also wear dressy capris, open toed shoes, etc. I don't ever wear flip flops, shorts, spaghetti straps, etc. I do wear sleeveless tops, because we have no a/c and today was unbelievably hot and uncomfortable in the classrooms.

It does amaze me to see how "comfortable" people get in regards to their dress. A young woman was let go after her first year, and one of the reasons (among many) for her dismissal was inappropriate dress. Another woman had to be spoken to more than once for the amount of cleavage she shows. I would have died!!

 

[I Love Pluto]

I'm retired now, but I lived through the sixties when a teacher HAD to wear a skirt or dress. Mini dresses were a problem at first, then they were OK. Pants were a problem even though pant suits were "in". Then some type of clothing god later decided (in the 70's) that pants were OK. I have seen the "dress downs" and the "dress ups" through the years. I have seen cleavage, with and without bras. I have seen skin tight as well as baggy. It amazes me how any teacher of today can wear their clothes really tight, then complain when the sixth grade boys are whistling and staring at her. It seems there have always been "clothing issues".

What I DON'T UNDERSTAND is how they enforced all of the clothing guidelines when it was so HOT in those non-air conditioned school buildings for the first and last months of school. Times have really changed!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

At my school the basic guidelines are a collared shirt of any kind and any bottoms (skirt, shorts, etc.). Generally, the shorts are the nicer, longer kind...but it is south Florida, and when you have to stand outside for recess in 95 degree weather, it's nice to not be wearing pants!

I've found some inexpensive skirts i LOVE that I wear with nice, basic tops....I usually either wear skirts or pants. I'm short and capri pants look weird on me! I do believe that having a high standard of dress can help enforce your place in the classroom. This was drilled into us in college. Doesn't mean that you can't be an effective teacher in a bathing suit...but looking professional can sure help!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

We have a vague policy which suggests a professional appearance, but I have noticed a drastic deterioration in the appearance of some of my fellow teachers. I'm not talking about specialty teachers whose positions require them to dress a certain way, I'm talking about core subject teachers.

I couple years ago, our director of secondary education decided he wanted to come up with a particular look (based on WDW model he said) and offered polo shirts with the school name and mascot on the pocket area. He tried it first with social studies and anyone else who wanted to participate, Mondays and Fridays. He felt this would be the first step in selling the idea of a uniform to students. I felt that instead of dressing things up, it actually dressed things down. We have dress down Fridays twice a month, but honestly some times you can't tell.

I know the way we dress has no real bearing on the job we do, but I also think there is a level of respect that comes with appropriate attire. If we expect to be paid like professionals, shouldn't we look the part? A couple years ago I was taking some admin courses and the question came up in class. The professor, a former principal and superintendent, said he always answered the question with this statement. Even the kid who bags my groceries can put on a tie.

So, do your schools require a particular level of dress? What is acceptable? What is unacceptable? Is there a written policy?

When you said that the way you dress has no bearing on the job you are wrong. While you cannot judge a book by its cover you and I both know that dressing in a professional manner reinforces the fact that you are a professional. We have people come to school in low cut (think serving wench wearing a push up bra)type clothes to the point at one meeting I sent my friend anote and asked if we had somehow been transported to Hooters. Short and flip flops, jogging suits and sneakers, skirts so short you can see what they had for breakfast is only a partial list, and the ever present muffintop (sometimes it is the whole dozen) enhancing pants low, low rider pants with the classy tramp stamp showing,the thing is, we have a union and they say no dress code. The kids have no one to emulate and no example from which to rebel either. How can they tell what is appropriate and what is not if we do not set the example.

If you want respect then you need to dress for success so to speak. Perfect example while nurses no longer wear starched white uniforms but rather scrubs, what if you saw a nurse come to your room in a pair of Daisy Dukes and a tight shirt tied under the midriff with no bra....what would you think? I would think porno flick. She might be the best nurse in the world but really are you going to have confidence in her?? If clothes were not important then you would not see the president dress in a power suit for an important speech or press conference and then wear a less harsh color when he wanted to appear more approachable.

I only wish our school had a dress code. Clothes send a message and we should be setting the example .

 

[Cindy B]

Dress code has been drilled into me by my tons of professors. I would never wear anything tight!

I'm "blessed" so I make certain that my shirts aren't too tight. I always wear tank tops or plain colored cami's under anything with a v neck.

I'm going to be student teaching in a very urban district... (one of most dangerous cities in the U.S.!)

I asked a former classmate who works full time in the building if anyone in the neighborhood bothers you. And she said, they know you work for the school by wearing the uniform so no one bothers you.

I'm not thrilled at all to buy women's navy dress pants, really how ugly can you get--but if I can avoid a mugging, I'll wear all the ugly pants I can.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Dress code has been drilled into me by my tons of professors. I would never wear anything tight!

I'm "blessed" so I make certain that my shirts aren't too tight. I always wear tank tops or plain colored cami's under anything with a v neck.

I'm going to student teacing in a very urban district... (one of most dangerous cities in the U.S.!)

I asked a former classmate who works full time in the building if anyone in the neighborhood bothers you. And she said, they know you work for the school by wearing the uniform so no one bothers you.

I'm not thrilled at all to buy women's navy dress pants, really how ugly can you get--but if I can avoid a mugging, I'll wear all the ugly pants I can.

I work in an urban school and you are so right to dress frumpy. If you are student teaching then you are not that far removed from the kids in age if you are s/t in h.s. YOu are smart to dress to blend. I do not blame you but I think the uniform thing is a result of all the people who do not think as you do and that is unfortunate for those of us who like clothes and HATE women's navy blue dress pants(of which I have NONE (nun?) in my wardrobe.
Good Luck with student teaching. You are already on the right track.

 

[Cindy B]

I work in an urban school and you are so right to dress frumpy. If you are student teaching then you are not that far removed from the kids in age if you are s/t in h.s. YOu are smart to dress to blend. I do not blame you but I think the uniform thing is a result of all the people who do not think as you do and that is unfortunate for those of us who like clothes and HATE women's navy blue dress pants(of which I have NONE (nun?) in my wardrobe.
Good Luck with student teaching. You are already on the right track.

LOL-- I had to giggle a little bit about the age comment. I'm an adult student coming to teaching as a 2nd (or 3rd career). I'm certainly not a cute young one!

I'm going to be in 3rd grade ESL class but the school is a K-8.

I'll be shopping in the ugly department for work clothes, but that doesn't really bother me. Despite the neighborhood, I've heard it's a great school and the best one for that town.

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm in a Catholic High School on Long Island, and we have a very specific dress code:

Women: dress or skirt to the knee with stockings. Nothing sleeveless
Pants with a jacket.

Men: Jacket and tie.

I love it!! I think we look like the professionals we are.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I'm in a Catholic High School on Long Island, and we have a very specific dress code:

Women: dress or skirt to the knee with stockings. Nothing sleeveless
Pants with a jacket.

Men: Jacket and tie.

I love it!! I think we look like the professionals we are.

The only thing that would kill me would be no sleeve less ....I DIE in the heat.

 

[Aliceacc]

We can wear short sleeves, just not tanky type things.

I felt bad for the guys during this week's heat wave. (Actually, I missed most of it, home with first bronchitis, then an allergic reaction to the antibiotic.) But jacket and tie in this week's heat--- it just didn't compare to the women in skirts and cotton T's.

And our faculty room is air conditioned, so there is a place to go to escape the heat when you're not in class.

 

[Cindy B]

I'm in a Catholic High School on Long Island, and we have a very specific dress code:

Women: dress or skirt to the knee with stockings. Nothing sleeveless
Pants with a jacket.

Men: Jacket and tie.

I love it!! I think we look like the professionals we are.

I don't mind the no sleeveless, but the stockings.. .ICK! I can't tell you the last time I wore stockings.

 

[Aliceacc]

Honestly, I don't even notice them anymore

 

[Cindy B]

Honestly, I don't even notice them anymore

The stockings? How can you not notice them? I guess if you are used to it, it's not such a big deal.

 

[torinsmom]

I work with 3-6 year olds, and we are on the floor A LOT. We don't have a dress code at our school. I wear jeans and sweaters/knit shirts most months. In late Spring I wear capris. I also wear Crocs. I seem to get plenty of respect from the kids and the parents.

Marsha

 

[Aliceacc]

The stockings? How can you not notice them? I guess if you are used to it, it's not such a big deal.

This is my 22nd year teaching under the same dress code (7 years in the first school, although that one didn't allow pants at all. 15 years in my current school.)

At this point in my life, it's just what I wear to work. No questions, just auto pilot.

When I went back to the same school 2 years ago (after 6 years as a SAHM) I had gone up a size. So I'm still building my work wardrobe. But it's largely suits-- I LOVE them!!! Pants suits, skirt suits, some 3 piece suits. They look professional, and they're the easiest thing in the morning!!! Just choose a color and get a T, blouse or sweater that matches.