I see nothing wrong with what this board is suggesting. It's already how I dress when I teach. For men, a collared shirt is no big deal; I'd start getting pissed off if I had to wear a tie. For the broads, a teacher shouldn't be showing her midriff anyway.

what's wrong with teachers in jeans and a nice shirt? It's not like we pay them enough to buy real clothes...

Ook: what's wrong with teachers in jeans and a nice shirt? It's not like we pay them enough to buy real clothes...

Depending on the jeans, 'real clothes' might be cheaper.

Damn teachers, how come MAH TAX DOLLARS allow them to shop at K-Mart? They should shop at Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

I don't think there's anything wrong with elementary school teachers wearing jeans. Nice dark ones, anyway. I doubt the teachers were wearing ripped, saggy jeans.

/had to wear bike shorts under skirts during early field experience.

[van_halen_hot_for_teacher.jpg]

David Lee Roth nailed it.

But how else will they attract the 14 year olds?

Ook: what's wrong with teachers in jeans and a nice shirt? It's not like we pay them enough to buy real clothes...

The last figures I saw, teachers make between $40k-$60k per year Link(2007 stats)
Normal work clothes are quite affordable. This is education, not high fashion.

I work in a neighboring school district (getting a kick, etc). Yep that's pretty much what our code is too, although it isn't specifically written anywhere. What a boring story. At least we'll (hopefully) get a hot teacher thread out of it.

but I can still wear my visor, right?

In other news, there's a very good reason that a lot of teachers never left the school environment.

When did this change?

More importantly, as a teacher why would you choose NOT to dress up?

Formal clothing creates an impression of authority. If I got a job as a teacher, you bet a collared shirt and slacks would be my minimum attire (although with comfortable, functional shoes). They ought to have several basic business suits too; both men and women. It's about having clear authority in the classroom, not being their babysitter or friend.

As long as they make an exception to wear comfortable shoes ("professional" shoes HURT after standing in them all day), and allow physical education instructors the ability to dress in sane clothing for those situations, I fail to see the issue with this. There aren't enough hot teachers to justify allowing cleavage in their dress code anyway.

Well, it's about time, I say.
If teachers would stop trying to dress like students - if they would present themselves according to professional adult standards of grooming and appearance - then maybe all these 14 and 15 year old female cheerleaders and male wrestlers would quit throwing themselves at their elders - would quit lurking in the back seats of their cars or hiding out in their basements - demanding sexual attention.

What professional shoes may look like

Well, I wear jeans often when teaching. What's wrong with well maintained jeans? Also, I understand the collared shirt thing, but I sometimes wear t-shirts that have math puns on them or other mathematical designs (wearing one today as a matter of fact). Adds an element of individualism to the classroom and piques student curiosity.

powhound: Well, I wear jeans often when teaching. What's wrong with well maintained jeans? Also, I understand the collared shirt thing, but I sometimes wear t-shirts that have math puns on them or other mathematical designs (wearing one today as a matter of fact). Adds an element of individualism to the classroom and piques student curiosity.

Depends on the size of your tits, tightness of the T-shirt, and whether you're female, I guess.

Seems reasonable to me. I mean, just saying "business casual" and then reprimanding anyone that takes it as a license to do something stupid would be what I would go with were I a principal, but I'm lazy. A more explicit workplace dress code seems like little enough to ask of instructors.

//Been known to wear a three-piece suit to lectures occasionally, but that was less being professional and more outright messing with the students.

genepool lifeboat: Ook: what's wrong with teachers in jeans and a nice shirt? It's not like we pay them enough to buy real clothes...

The last figures I saw, teachers make between $40k-$60k per year Link(2007 stats)
Normal work clothes are quite affordable. This is education, not high fashion.

I said, "Mom, let's put these clothes back, please"

She said "no, you go to school to teach, not for a fashion show"

powhound: Well, I wear jeans often when teaching. What's wrong with well maintained jeans? Also, I understand the collared shirt thing, but I sometimes wear t-shirts that have math puns on them or other mathematical designs (wearing one today as a matter of fact). Adds an element of individualism to the classroom and piques student curiosity.

There are pros and cons of both sides. I would say that the "con" of your side is that, in the students eyes, you're on the same level as them. You're supposed to be viewed as an authority figure and "resident expert", not as "just one of the guys". But, if it keeps them interested and helps them learn, that's all that matters in the end.

Knucklepopper: powhound: Well, I wear jeans often when teaching. What's wrong with well maintained jeans? Also, I understand the collared shirt thing, but I sometimes wear t-shirts that have math puns on them or other mathematical designs (wearing one today as a matter of fact). Adds an element of individualism to the classroom and piques student curiosity.

Depends on the size of your tits, tightness of the T-shirt, and whether you're female, I guess.

A-cup
I where white t-shirts and dump ice water all over myself before class starts.
Male

That would be *wear*

The board better be careful. Teachers have a tendency to flip out when anything resembling professional standards or accountability are demanded of them.

I also don't get the jeans prohibition. Authority is conveyed by behaviors, position, and knowledge; not by clothes. And while you do want to maintain those views, you also don't want to be sterile and unapproachable.

powhound: That would be *wear*

Good thing you're a math teacher, or else the irony police would be here.

genepool lifeboat: The last figures I saw, teachers make between $40k-$60k per year Link(2007 stats)
Normal work clothes are quite affordable. This is education, not high fashion.

I started at $65K in my district, high end of the grid right now is $98K. Of course, we need 6 years of post-secondary education including a specialized degree in Education, so I damn well better be well compensated.

Fribble: The board better be careful. Teachers have a tendency to flip out when anything resembling professional standards or accountability are demanded of them.

I kind of doubt it in this case.

For every teacher who almost pops out of her top, or who's a gunt-dragging land whale in sweatpants, there are another 20 in slacks and blouses (or slacks and polos) talking shiat about them right now in the teacher's lounge. Some of the older ones are probably even wearing sweater vests.

But it's an increasing problem with the younger staff, so I think the older ones will be willing to stifle their outrage if it means kicking the newbs into line.

And outrage at being told what to do is hardly unique to educators, fwiw.

evaned: I also don't get the jeans prohibition. Authority is conveyed by behaviors, position, and knowledge; not by clothes. And while you do want to maintain those views, you also don't want to be sterile and unapproachable.

You can dress in a manner befitting a person in authority without being sterile and unapproachable.

Do you wear different clothes on a date than you wear to grab toilet paper at WalMart at 2 AM? To church? To go camping?

People react to the clothes you wear, and there are appropriate and inappropriate styles of dress for different situations. It doesn't fit into my 'sperg-lord, it's-what's-inside-that-counts idealized worldview either, but it's nonetheless true.

And so here I sit, following a dress code.

When I was in High School, jeans would have been a major step up from Mrs. Belke's gold lamé stirrup pants.

/still have nightmares

Ess_Aytch: genepool lifeboat: The last figures I saw, teachers make between $40k-$60k per year Link(2007 stats)
Normal work clothes are quite affordable. This is education, not high fashion.

I started at $65K in my district, high end of the grid right now is $98K. Of course, we need 6 years of post-secondary education including a specialized degree in Education, so I damn well better be well compensated.

If you took the time to get your Masters, then you're absolutely entitled to it.

I teach HS SpEd & wear a shirt and tie to work minimun 3 days out of the week. It works for me & I have solid classroom management. It might not work for others and that's fine as long as the kids are learning & there is a delineation between student and teacher.

They try to make this code applicable to them in their off-hours in 3, 2, 1 ....

There is no school district that doesn't have better things to use their time on.

ajt167: There are pros and cons of both sides. I would say that the "con" of your side is that, in the students eyes, you're on the same level as them. You're supposed to be viewed as an authority figure and "resident expert", not as "just one of the guys". But, if it keeps them interested and helps them learn, that's all that matters in the end.

A poor sense of fashion and odd hair is what gives science teachers their creditability. Just as all history teachers should be mandated to wear argyle sweater vests.

sjcpjh1: I teach HS SpEd & wear a shirt and tie to work minimun 3 days out of the week. It works for me & I have solid classroom management. It might not work for others and that's fine as long as the kids are learning & there is a delineation between student and teacher.

A tie? Special Ed?

Well... depending on which area / age group in special ed, giving your kids easy access to a handy-dandy noose/leash combo may be unwise.

Just sayin'.

Better to look successful than be successful I guess.

ProfessorOhki: A poor sense of fashion and odd hair is what gives science teachers their creditability. Just as all history teachers should be mandated to wear argyle sweater vests.

I actually got an argyle sweater vest last fall, and I now understand why they're so popular despite looking so stupid. You can wear them over a tie with informal clothing and keep warm even when it's snowing, that's pretty awesome.

//I actually have the chemistry hair, too, one of the reasons for the buzz cut.

As an art teacher, the idea of being forced to wear "nice clothes" actually pisses me off. I spend all day working with materials that stain and destroy "nice clothes" and I don't have the money to keep buying new stuff.

/Wearing jeans and a t-shirt right now, typing on my lunch break.

SubBass49: As an art teacher, the idea of being forced to wear "nice clothes" actually pisses me off. I spend all day working with materials that stain and destroy "nice clothes" and I don't have the money to keep buying new stuff.

/Wearing jeans and a t-shirt right now, typing on my lunch break.

My art teachers were always smart enough to wear a smock.

dv-ous: sjcpjh1: I teach HS SpEd & wear a shirt and tie to work minimun 3 days out of the week. It works for me & I have solid classroom management. It might not work for others and that's fine as long as the kids are learning & there is a delineation between student and teacher.

A tie? Special Ed?

Well... depending on which area / age group in special ed, giving your kids easy access to a handy-dandy noose/leash combo may be unwise.

Just sayin'.

I do m/m.....basic learning disabilities, s/e would be a different story since those dudes are real unpredictable & the tie would be a noose. 60% of my kids have po's, 40% have been incarcerated. I also show my fights thought the years (9 years competitive jiujitsu) to help them establish the pecking order.

CapnBlues: i've got it bad.
so bad.

justaguy516: [van_halen_hot_for_teacher.jpg]



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I wear a collared shirt and black jeans with sneakers. While I recognize this is not the most professional of attire, I want durable and comfortable clothing because I remain active all day. Slacks would scuff and wear too quickly, and my feet would die in dress shoes. My behavior marks me as a professional, and my students respond appropriately.

Now, this works well for me, but I know other schools want to create a certain tone of respect and authority, and this does extend partially from the clothing. Cannot work for me, though; my comfort translates into better teaching.