Dress Code Will Cover City Teachers, Staff
Posted on 13. Mar, 2009 by Admin in Charter, District, News
by Steve Campbell (10/21/2008)
Should teachers be allowed to let down their hair and be casual once in a while, or must there always be a strict code of dress? Can teachers function effectively in their “sunday best” every day? Does a shirt and tie really make that big of a difference?
The answers are – no, yes, depends on the definition of “sunday best,” and YES.
Huntsville City Schools is a district considering such a code for teachers and staff:
“Students have a dress code that forbids overly baggy, tight, or revealing clothes, including outfits that depict drugs, alcohol or violence. Teachers have no dress code. Support employees, such as custodians, have uniforms but no other dress-related guidelines.”
It is the opinion of UEC that teachers can go casual before and after school hours. But in school, as role models for our children and youth, they should very much watch what they wear and what their clothes might suggest.
First and foremost, how can educators expect students to follow reasonable rules of dress when they are unwilling to do so themsleves?
There have been numerous studies demonstrating that innappropriate dress is an indicator of misbehavior. One leads to another. And that correlation probably doesn’t just lend itself to students. Educators are generally more professional and effective when they dress and act the part.
Too often, such reasonable policies are shot down by school administrators, district administrators, or union officials, because they are afraid of offending teachers. It is the position of UEC that schools and districts, such as Huntsville City Schools, are on the right track and clearly understand that education is all about doing what is right for students, which means setting a good example.
See full article here.
What do you think?