whoisjohngalt
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:12:07 GMT -5
Posts: 9,140
|
Post by whoisjohngalt on Sept 13, 2012 8:20:57 GMT -5
You are right, but in my experience it was never men, always women who pushed dress code to the limit. So, may be my view is skewed on this. I also should say that I've never been in public school in US. Literally. All my experience is in retail, banks and than corporate offices.
Lena
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 1, 2024 15:46:54 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 8:24:58 GMT -5
Jeans are not professional dress. You should be able to tell the students from the teachers. And, i do think there are some exceptions for gym teachers and such who should be able to wear track suits, athletic wear.
|
|
wvugurl26
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 15:25:30 GMT -5
Posts: 21,700
|
Post by wvugurl26 on Sept 13, 2012 8:32:22 GMT -5
I guess most of my teachers were in their 30s or older. They all dressed pretty conservatively. They rarely wore jeans but when they did, they were work appropriate.
Now in my current building I see women dressed inappropriately all the time.
To be fair where I went to public school and where I work are two very different areas. People also wouldn't dream of behaving in public like people do here.
|
|
giramomma
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 11:25:27 GMT -5
Posts: 21,327
|
Post by giramomma on Sept 13, 2012 9:05:28 GMT -5
What kind of stores are available in your area? I can see the argument for wearing a 3 piece suit, but if the only place you've got in town is a Target, I don't see that happening. At least, the Targets in my area don't sell anything beyond business casual.
I would also be careful to make a simple rule of business casual. I would specify something like: Khaki's and polo shirts. I went shopping at Kohls for clothes for work, and like 80% of the tops were cut waay to low for my taste, even though they were nicer than t-shirts.
I might go so far as to visit the stores you DO have in your area, and suggest brands that you feel are appropriate.
|
|
zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,866
|
Post by zibazinski on Sept 13, 2012 9:06:49 GMT -5
I loved DSs high school. Two levels so the women honestly looked like June Cleaver until you got to their feet, then they were wearing athletic shoes! I loved it! No way were they breaking their bodies tumbling down stairs in heels! But professionally dressed, they were!
|
|
zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,866
|
Post by zibazinski on Sept 13, 2012 9:07:31 GMT -5
Can you get polos with your school logo on them? That always looks nice.
|
|
alabamagal
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 11:30:29 GMT -5
Posts: 8,118
|
Post by alabamagal on Sept 13, 2012 9:53:47 GMT -5
I vote for no jeans. Maybe just old school here, but I think Khakis look way more professional than jeans. All the issues with being in low income area, or being in the art room and the playground, etc. do not really matter. Khakis are usually less expensive than jeans and just as durable. I work in an industrial environment and can wear jeans or khakis and I much prefer the khakis, or other rugged pants that look better and are more professional (even though not an issue where I work). I also have a pair of khaki colored pants and black pants that are made of denim like material. I'm not sure that will fit in.
So I say no jeans, but I can imagine that you will have a much bigger issue with women's tops. Defining what is too reavealing, no thin straps, being long enough to cover mid-section, etc. will probably bring out much more arguments than the jeans things. My kids went to a very strict private school, and before they had uniforms, there was always issues with the girls tops. We would get constant email definig what was good and what wasn't, until they make the kids wear uniforms.
|
|
Miss Tequila
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 10:13:45 GMT -5
Posts: 20,602
|
Post by Miss Tequila on Sept 13, 2012 11:39:39 GMT -5
"Do you think it's appropriate for teachers to wear jeans to work?"
No. Professionals do not wear jeans to work. We do get "Jeans Friday" but as a rule we are business casual.
My children aren't allowed to wear jeans to school (public school but with a fairly strict dress code) so Iw ould be absolutely against the teachers wearing jeans to school.
|
|
Chocolate Lover
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:54:19 GMT -5
Posts: 23,200
|
Post by Chocolate Lover on Sept 13, 2012 11:46:04 GMT -5
I have never worked in a school that allowed jeans to be worn every day. It has only been on Fridays that we were allowed to wear them. I am not a fan of uniforms at all for students. I know it is easier for the parents, but I just don't like them. Thankfully my kids never had to go to a school that required them. ETA: I did get to wear jeans more than just Fridays last year since I worked in a Life Science lab. We took the students outside to the stream and woods a lot. I also worked with chemicals so I was allowed to wear jeans on those days. The "uniforms" in our elementary school aren't your traditional button down shirts, etc. It's a public school and the uniform is a solid red, navy or white t-shirt/collared shirt and either navy or khaki shorts/pants. It's nothing too strict it just makes life easy in the morning for me to grab their clothes, iron them and get them dressed. Over the summer, the boys went to the Boys & Girls Club and my 9yo took his clothing choices in a very bizarre direction. LOL Wait, wait, WAIT!! You IRON their clothes??? In the mornings? Are you nuts?
|
|
bean29
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 22:26:57 GMT -5
Posts: 9,934
|
Post by bean29 on Sept 13, 2012 11:57:38 GMT -5
Well, I don't clearly remember what my teacher wore in school but am pretty sure that my HS Social Studies teacher always wore jeans. I am sure I had other teachers that frequently wore jeans.
I am a professional, work in a professional environment and we have no dress code. Our secretary wears jeans almost every day, and I wouldn't say she is dressed "unprofessionally". I wore jeans yesterday, and have seen almost every one of our professional consultants in Jeans or shorts. Course we invite them to golf outings and sporting events so they know we don't always expect professional dress.
I was thinking about your thread at home, and jeans can look professional and other clothes can look sloppy, dumpy and unprofessional. The last place I worked had a dress code that allowed mini skirts but not capris. I figured the dress code was created by dirty old men.
I am not sure the way a teacher dresses makes a bit of difference in the effectiveness of their teaching. My DD has a teacher that seems to delight in telling her students that she is strange and they have no choice but to put up with her b/c she is the only one that teaches that class. That just seems wrong to me. It is like I can do anything I want and you have to put up with me NaNaNaaNaa. I am not impressed right from the beginning.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 1, 2024 15:46:54 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 12:10:04 GMT -5
"Do you think it's appropriate for teachers to wear jeans to work?" No. Professionals do not wear jeans to work. We do get "Jeans Friday" but as a rule we are business casual. My children aren't allowed to wear jeans to school (public school but with a fairly strict dress code) so Iw ould be absolutely against the teachers wearing jeans to school. I'm a professional in a professional job with lots of other professionals and every day more people than not are in jeans.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 1, 2024 15:46:54 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 12:13:28 GMT -5
I had NO teachers that wore jeans. My male teachers generally wore shirts and ties or at least collared shirts. My female teachers wore dresses or slacks.
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 47,253
Member is Online
|
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Sept 13, 2012 12:14:06 GMT -5
I worked had a dress code that allowed mini skirts but not capris. I figured the dress code was created by dirty old men. A lot of posters would die if they worked with me. As long as I am wearing closed toed shoes and long pants/skirts in general they don't really care what I am wearing. I dress a couple notches above the students but lower than the professors. What the professors are required to wear when teaching are not the type of clothes I would wear in a lab environment. They don't either.
|
|
Miss Tequila
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 10:13:45 GMT -5
Posts: 20,602
|
Post by Miss Tequila on Sept 13, 2012 12:22:07 GMT -5
"As long as I am wearing closed toed shoes " Acck...that is where I draw the line...I love my sexy summer heels! No, not the grandma shoes that QoCC posted
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 47,253
Member is Online
|
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Sept 13, 2012 12:26:24 GMT -5
OSHA doesn't care if you want to be sexy. I think I do a pretty good job of having bitching shoes while still being within OSHA regulations. Some of my shoes if they really wanted to they could probably make a stink over but they only said "closed toed shoes". They didn't say anything about having to wear ugly shoes.
|
|
Tiny
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 21:22:34 GMT -5
Posts: 13,369
|
Post by Tiny on Sept 13, 2012 12:46:30 GMT -5
I'd go with Business Casual. I HATE when people trot out the we should be wearing jeans cause we're getting 'dirty' or whatever... Yeah, right - your jeans cost just as much (or more) than a pair of Khakis. Wear Black khakis if you are so concerned about stains or dirt. You may also need to remind the people to avoid the Four B's - NO Boobs, NO Bellies, NO Butts, NO Backs.
What's the dress code for students?
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 1, 2024 15:46:54 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 12:59:04 GMT -5
"Do you think it's appropriate for teachers to wear jeans to work?" No. Professionals do not wear jeans to work. We do get "Jeans Friday" but as a rule we are business casual. My children aren't allowed to wear jeans to school (public school but with a fairly strict dress code) so Iw ould be absolutely against the teachers wearing jeans to school. I'm a professional in a professional job with lots of other professionals and every day more people than not are in jeans. It seems like a toss up if my professors are in jeans or not, unless there is a conference.
|
|
Miss Tequila
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 10:13:45 GMT -5
Posts: 20,602
|
Post by Miss Tequila on Sept 13, 2012 13:03:17 GMT -5
"NO Boobs," but...but...I have nice boobs
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 47,253
Member is Online
|
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Sept 13, 2012 13:04:03 GMT -5
Same here, most of the professors wear jeans and it would be a stretch to call many of them fashionable. The only time I really see them cut it up is for conferences, ceremonies or during rotations at the hospital. Otherwise they are pretty causal, especially during the summers when they aren't teaching..
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
Don't be a fool. Call me!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,326
Member is Online
|
Post by swamp on Sept 13, 2012 13:04:51 GMT -5
I don't have a problem with dark wash, good fitting jeans in good repair on a teacher.
I had teachers who managed to make a suit look sloppy.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,409
|
Post by thyme4change on Sept 13, 2012 13:06:55 GMT -5
I don't have a problem with the teachers wearing jean - conceptually, but the problem with enforcing a dress code is when you have subjective things like "neat" or "clean." So, when I think of people wearing jeans, I think of "nice" jeans. Which is fine - teaching can be a very physical job, and as long as they look "neat" jeans are fine. Unfortunately, you say jeans and people will wear all kinds of crap. So, I would think about the group - can they handle the responsibility of jeans with the caveat that they look "nice?"
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Sept 13, 2012 13:37:20 GMT -5
OSHA doesn't care if you want to be sexy. I think I do a pretty good job of having bitching shoes while still being within OSHA regulations. Some of my shoes if they really wanted to they could probably make a stink over but they only said "closed toed shoes". They didn't say anything about having to wear ugly shoes. But it's getting increasingly harder to find cute, closed toe sandals. When I find a pair, I snag them - almost regardless of price.
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Sept 13, 2012 13:41:01 GMT -5
Same here, most of the professors wear jeans and it would be a stretch to call many of them fashionable. The only time I really see them cut it up is for conferences, ceremonies or during rotations at the hospital. Otherwise they are pretty causal, especially during the summers when they aren't teaching.. Professors very rarely wear jeans. I know my boss only wears them when he's either come in briefly while on vacation or is on his way out of town and catching a flight directly from the university. I don't wear jeans that frequently to work.....only if I know I'm going to be crawling around on the floor or defrosting a freezer. A coworker of mine wears jeans and t shirts and despite the fact that he's very bright, his opinions are not given the credence they're due.....and I think it's largely because of his dress. He needs to dress less like a student and more like an employee.
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 47,253
Member is Online
|
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Sept 13, 2012 13:41:13 GMT -5
I gave up on sandals, I've never been able to find a closed toed pair of sandals that weren't designed for an 80 year old.
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Sept 13, 2012 13:45:47 GMT -5
I gave up on sandals, I've never been able to find a closed toed pair of sandals that weren't designed for an 80 year old. I have had the most luck with Eurpopean brands, DQ..... I had one pair that I wore until I wore through the sole. They were by Joseph Seibel and I can't believe the number of compliments I got on them - even by students. I cried when I tossed them last summer, but most definitely got my $$ out of them! And they are no longer available, dammit!
|
|
hsclassic
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 4, 2011 8:15:12 GMT -5
Posts: 199
|
Post by hsclassic on Sept 13, 2012 13:51:08 GMT -5
OP - I don't have kids, so take this FWIW.
In our county, the elementary schools do have "uniforms" that were voted in by the parents. Khakis/navy blue bottoms, solid tops with sleeves (about 6 colors to choose from). The kids look good and IMO it creates a structure - they are there to learn, not play (yes, recess and PE are good!).
OTOH, it disappoints me to see teachers not dressed in at least business casual. I have several good friends teaching elementary school, and I desparately want to tell them - dress appropriately! The kids are going to learn respect and discipline from those adults that practice the same about themselves. (Sorry for the rant.)
I can see where in your district, teachers not dressing in a professional (at least business casual) manner may very well have a detrimental impact on improving the attitudes of some of your students. So my vote is that it is business casual, with reasonable exceptions that have been noted. And, yes, I do believe in school spirit days, so if it is a Friday and everyone is wearing a school shirt, then jeans would be OK.
Good luck!
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 1, 2024 15:46:54 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 14:05:13 GMT -5
I think if you have a kid dress policy, you have to have an adult dress policy. Its only fair.
That said, I don't see how jeans are detrimental to impacting the attitudes of students. But then, i'm not a big believer in the concept of 'comanding' respect. I think you show it, and you engender it.
I spend lots of days running around teaching kids in stained up knit pants and old navy ts. I get down at their level, i get dirty when they want to get dirty, and i'm never afraid to let them pick up a brush or a sharpie or and ink pen, or sit on the grass or climb a tree... I respect what is important to them, and try to help them gain the knoweldge and skills that are important to us both...
and I always get addressed as Miss J. and hear please and may I and especially thank you... but its the creativity, joy of learning and ability to take risks and be carefree and explore that I am rewarded with...
Can you DO that in khakis... sure. Should you expect khakis to do that by themselves... no.
|
|
8 Bit WWBG
Administrator
Your Money admin
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 8:57:29 GMT -5
Posts: 9,322
Today's Mood: Mega
|
Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Sept 13, 2012 14:14:50 GMT -5
...:::"Probably no jeans for teachers and aides. Business casual is more than acceptable. Whether we want it or not, teachers have to look professional and set examples for their students.":::...
Well, unless you are Will Schuster on Glee, who rocks the jeans and sweater vests...
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,448
|
Post by Firebird on Sept 13, 2012 18:48:19 GMT -5
I love having uniforms... makes life so much easier. Why can't there be work uniforms for adults? I mean, I guess there are in some jobs, but not in mine.
|
|
quince
Senior Member
Joined: Sept 23, 2011 17:51:12 GMT -5
Posts: 2,699
|
Post by quince on Sept 13, 2012 18:54:28 GMT -5
Yes to jeans, and yes to athletic shoes, especially with all the time teachers spend on their feet... (unless they don't do that anymore...)
|
|