Let teachers wear jeans every day
By NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (118923)
United States
March 8, 2023 5:47pm CST
That is always my general thought but it was cool to see it put out there by a pro-teacher group today. I got back here from work a couple of months ago and one of the Moroccans and his nephew didn't believe that I had spent the day at work because I was wearing khakis, Sanuks, and probably a long-sleeved T-shirt. They insisted that teachers wear dresses and heels. I told them that, if that was a requirement for the job, that I would never have become a teacher.
My district doesn't have a dress code for teachers. Administration has tried to discourage jeans while also extorting teachers for $5 or $10 on a Friday to be able to wear jeans to collect donations for various causes. I NEVER participate in that stuff because I can wear jeans whenever I want. I don't need to pay to do it. (yes I do donate to many things during the year)
I've always said that I don't need to dress in a particular way in order to earn respect from my students. I don't wear yoga pants or short skirts. Most days I wear khakis and either sweaters, long-sleeved Ts, or polo shirts, and either Converse sneakers, Sanuks, or flip flops. I don't wear anything inappropriate (IMO) but I do wear jeans on Fridays and on any other day when I'm having a laundry failure.
The point is that what I wear has nothing to do with what students think of me as a teacher. I'm not Kayla Lemieux with the prosthetic z-sized breasts. I'm someone sharing my knowledge of science with my students. What I know and what I expect has nothing to do with what I am wearing.
The khaki situation looks dire for tomorrow so it will probably be jeans. Fine with me. I can't wait until flip flop weather!
7 people like this
5 responses
@LindaOHio (173478)
• United States
13 Mar 23
Sometimes what the teacher wears has nothing to do with respect. Sometimes the students can learn from the teachers what is appropriate dress. I ran/owned a temporary placement service for 7 years; and I was amazed at what the guys especially came in wearing. Just a thought. I see nothing wrong with a pair of khakis or a pair of nice jeans (not hole-y).
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (66740)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Mar 23
Never understood the need for dress codes in general. Sure in shop class it made sense, but anywhere else... not really. Good that you can wear what you want.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25806)
• United States
9 Mar 23
When I started teaching 21 years ago, male teachers were still required to wear dress shirts and ties.
Even after they relaxed the tie requirement, it was still expected men would wear dress shirts and slacks. Eventually, we devolved to golf shirts and khakis.
At my current school, we can wear jeans on Friday, or on stormy days.
I agree with you that the students aren't affected by what the teachers wear, within reasonable limits.
1 person likes this
