“I dress like a teacher on the inside”…this post was sparked by a conversation on Plurk last week.
Many people would not consider me “professional” enough to be a teacher just by looking at me. The judgment would be made based on how I look—what I wear on the outside. My Hawaiian shirt would not be appreciated. My jeans would be frowned upon. My sneakers would be considered a down-right sin.
If you have read more than a few posts on this blog you might be able to figure out that I bleed making the student’s classroom journey a deep almost spiritual one. Where the students go on that journey is determined by the energy the teacher infuses into the room. I believe that each of us has a certain type of energy that gets thrown out into a room and can take over a class. An energy that can say passion, love, hope, I believe in you, and don’t give up. It is hard to release your energy. It leaves you exposed. It leaves you open to insult. It leaves you emotionally drained. It leaves you with tears at the end of the day.
In order to release my energy, I need to be comfortable. I need to dress like the inner me. The inner me is not a very polished person. I hate working inside. I hate wearing shoes. I hate wearing dress slacks. I hate wearing ties. I don’t even own a good coat. I am happiest in a t-shirt and jeans, shorts actually. I can’t imagine someone walking up to an artist and telling them they would do a better job if they were wearing a tie. Dressing more professional would not make me a better teacher. I know, for eleven years I wore shoes, long-sleeve dress shirt, slacks, and a tie.
**controversial statement coming in 3,2,….** Clothing can be a barrier to connecting with students. Yes, you can dress people in various different garbs and the one in shorts and a t-shirt won’t be selected by students as a “teacher.” But what if you asked students which person do you trust? The one in the tie or the one in relaxed casual clothing? Which person would you be more comfortable asking a question to? The one with the suit or the one with the baseball hat on? I agree that any kind of energy can break that barrier. There was one study that that I came upon when doing research for my thesis a few years ago. They took college students and showed them a 10 minute video of a professor. S/he was not the most engaging person on the tape. In real life when they weren’t acting they were. When those students took a class after watching the video it took them approximately thirty days to begin to have a favorable view of the professor. The students who did not see the video? Favorable impression from day 1.
After reflecting on this post and my experiences, one more thought keeps coming up. If you would not consider me professional dressed in my jeans, if you would not automatically respect me based on the fact that I wear a t-shirt to conferences, then how do you treat the kids in your class that dress different from you? The Goths, the metal heads, the emos, the punks, the skaters, the nerds, the kids with dirty clothes, the barbies, the preps, the kids who wear to much clothing, and the kids who don’t wear enough. Please don’t look at their outside. Look at what they are wearing inside.
11 responses so far ↓
I work in a school where the teachers all were ties and so do the students. I guess when everyone dresses the same it is their ideas and thoughts that set them apart not their clothes.
Of course one could argue the uniform kills student creativity but in the end if your clothes are your only way to make a statement it probably isn’t worth making.
I like your points though and I’m probably not the best to comment on it because I haven’t worked in a setting where there wasn’t the mandated dress code. I can tell you where it does exist dress is obviously not an issue.
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I have a question… In USA can students wear any clothing to school? Here in Western Australia it is a requirement that all school students wear the school uniform regardless of whether they attend a public or private school. Main difference is the private school uniform is more formal.
I believe that they bought in a regulation in public schools in this State that no one working in a School can wear jeans to school — but don’t quote me on that.
PS You should see the dress code that I have being an aquaculture lecturer. I remember bumping into a friend at a local shop when I was on my way to work and he asked where I was going. When I told him he said you aren’t going dressed like that! The messier my dress the more appropriate it is considered — that is what the fish like.
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Hello!
This is Priscila from Argentina.
“Please don’t look at their outside. Look at what they are wearing inside.”Clever words.Hope everybody could understand them , it would be great.
Keep in touch
Priscila
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@Sue Waters There is a dress code for students, but it is along the lines of “Can’t wear anything that would disrupt the educational process.” So if you walk into a school you will see kids dressed in a wide array of clothes. The kid in an Iron Maiden shirt could be sitting next to a kid with a collared “polo” style shirt. There are some public schools that have uniforms. Generally urban elementary or middle schools but they are not common.
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@Paul I think you will find that all States/Territories in Australia require students to wear the school uniform. It’s just how it is.
But then Australia has lots of rules to protect us. For example you aren’t allowed to put any part of your body outside the car when it is moving e.g. no arm resting out window. No using a mobile phone at all if engine of car is running or key is in ignition. I will let you ponder the safety aspect of the school uniform
How do you think people where you live would cope with this type of rule? Would love to hear your students responses.
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@SueWaters Sounds like a potential post topic for the blogging competition starting up in January
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Interesting things clothes have become. I am in the middle of reading “The World Is Flat”. This argument is reminding me of my thoughts during reading. Is “professional dress” something in our culture that is near and dear to many peoples’ hearts, something they are fighting not to lose because they consider it a sacred part of our society? I think so.
I think back to all the old photos of Yankee stadium full of men in suits and fedoras. I do think it is a signature of American society, even through the 60s and 70s it has persisted.
Now, I do agree with you. The judgement should be made on character, not costume. All those groups of kids you have named struggle with this same problem everyday.
I walk into school each morning with bed head and shirt untucked. I race to “clean up” before I have to pick up my students. The looks I get, the comments made to administrators, it’s a good thing I am passionate about teaching.
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School uniform was one thing mentioned in our Skype call to Jan Smith and her students in Canada.
Here in Tasmania, Australia, school students are expected to wear school uniform especially if representing the school outside of the school grounds. Both public, private, government or non-government schools have uniforms.
You will have to wait until February to see the range of what my students can wear to school in 2009.
Great idea for a post in the student blogging challenge – maybe early February when most southern hemisphere schools will be back, hard at work.
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I’m with you on this one, Paul. I’m astounded by educators who think that putting on a look of professionalism and authority is important. To me, it’s distancing and disengaging.
Also, I wonder if anyone has ever bothered to ask the kids how they feel about what their teachers wear…
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Merry Christmas. I have nominated your blog for the Pop-tastic award. Come on by and pick up your certificate.
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I see both sides of this issue. As a former Catholic school product, I had a strict dress code to follow for 12 years. My kids had the same, at least through grade school. I think it makes a difference in the aspect of collegiality and discipline. Don’t ask me why, however, because I have no data to prove it, just a feeling.
As for teacher dress, whether we like it or not, I think it is important for teachers to dress a bit more formally and professionally. They should not try to copy the students, nor should they look like they just finished cleaning the garage. And this comes from a guy who could wear jeans and Converse 24/7.
True what many of you have said, that the real person is the one inside, not on the outside.
At the same time, one would not think of going toa wedding or funeral in a tee shirt and shorts. So sometimes, again like it or not, clothes do make a difference.
I used sing to my mom when she told me to dress up for church, “God don’t care what clothes I wear,” and He probably doesn’t.
But I’m not taking the chance.
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