Navigating the Student Teacher Dress Code: A Comprehensive Guide
Deciding what to wear is often the first tough decision of the day. What should your student teaching outfits look like? What to wear may sound like a silly question, but it’s important. For teachers, however, there are some schools where athleisure is the accepted norm, while others continue to make teachers decide whether to pay to wear jeans. Depending on our professions, the options could be limited or truly endless. Generally, there’s been a slow shift away from ‘business professional,’ in favor of a more relaxed standard allowing employees to express themselves a bit more while at work. This article explores the nuances of student teacher dress codes, offering guidance on how to navigate this often-unspoken aspect of the profession.
The Importance of Appearance in Education
A student teacher is a teacher. You may or may not receive the salary your colleagues are receiving. But you will have the same responsibilities as your fellow teachers. In an all-adult workplace, you’d only have to dress in a way that looks mature to other adults. But in a K-12 setting, you need to dress in a way that will make children perceive you as an adult authority. You also need to dress in a way that will make the parents perceive you as a mature role model for their children. Think of it this way: Imagine the outfit that your mother made you wear on fifth grade picture day. A good student teaching outfit will be like that, only a little bit more adult.
For many teachers, the outfit should match the instructional role. A gym teacher in a suit and tie, or a business teacher in sweatpants and a t-shirt, just won’t fit the bill. A number of teachers see value in keeping a standard at work. “Simple: What you wear to work and what you wear on vacation or with friends should not be the same clothes."
Understanding the "Conservative" Expectation
It’s often said that teachers at K-12 schools are expected to dress “conservatively.” “Conservative” here is being used in a social sense rather than a political one. To understand how this conservatism works, you need to understand why schools have a more conservative attitude toward your outfits, compared to other adult workplaces that require formal wear.
Deciphering School Culture
This is where things get a little tricky. Different schools can have slightly different “cultures” when it comes to the way you should dress. But it can be hard to fully guess what the dress expectations are. Maybe you didn’t have a chance to visit your school before your first day. Or maybe you did make a preliminary visit or two, but simply didn’t stop to notice exactly how teachers were dressed.
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Navigating Uncertainty: Seeking Clarity and Overshooting
If you’re not sure what to wear on your first day, you could contact the principal or another staff member and ask them about dress codes and dress expectations. Be careful with this approach though. When you ask this question, it may seem like you’re trying to figure out if you can get away with dressing in anything you want.
The other route to go when you’re not sure is to overdress on the first day. Your co-workers will seldom be offended if you show up in an executive “power suit.” Erring on the side of caution shows them you really care about the first impression you make. I’ve done the “overshoot” on my first day of fieldwork (or actual paid work) at three different schools - and it always worked out well for me. So I can recommend this first-day approach with confidence. If you’re going to overshoot, however, I must leave you with this caution.
Case Studies and Diverse Perspectives
“I teach theatre."
“I teach environmental science, which means me and my students play in dirt on a regular basis."
“We had no dress code. Most people dressed casually, depending on the day. I noticed that if people had district meetings, they dressed up a bit more … I think dress codes are unnecessary, outside of uniforms, for professionals."
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“I teach science, which can be pretty dirty in the lab, and we also go outdoors! I wear smart-ish, comfortable clothes."
“My current position has a fairly strict dress code for several reasons."
“For me it’s about looking professional and respectable. People do get perceptions of others based on appearance and first impression."
“We had to implement a schoolwide dress code in our district to prohibit TEACHERS from wearing pajama pants and slippers. We are the example."
“I’m a teacher and I always wear a button-down shirt and slacks."
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“If you want to be treated as a professional, you need to look like a professional."
“At 28 years in, I wear whatever I want. When I was [younger], I wore suits and heels because I needed that armor to shore up my confidence."
“When I’m paid enough then I will dress professionally …"
“I’m fortunate to work at a school with no dress code!"
“Different careers dress for what helps them to best fulfill their roles. I don’t need to be in a suit to be an effective teacher."
Examples of Dress Code Policies
Teachers usually dress in a style that could best be described as “business casual.” Think slacks, not denim jeans. Wear a collared shirt, not a tee. Pants and not shorts. No prominent clothing company logos, even on “nice” clothes.
Ed Corey, a co-chairperson for the board, said there was not an incident that prompted the dress code. “The vast majority of our teachers are already in compliance with the policy that just passed the vast majority of the time," he said. Unacceptable items include shorts, dresses, skirts that are shorter than two inches above the knee in length, flip-flops, inappropriately sheer and tight or low-cut clothing. Graphic T-shirts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, pajama pants, yoga pants and jeans are prohibited.
The Debate: Rigidity vs. Professionalism
“Being present every day and offering a supportive, engaging and rigorous environment is another way we are role models to our students on a daily basis," Jason Lafreniere, a special education teacher, said. "Can I do that in jeans and sneakers? Sure."
“This prescriptive list risks undermining professional judgment, creates unnecessary rigidity in the profession that demands daily flexibility," Laus said. The Connecticut Education Association offers loose dress code guidelines and expectations, but districts determine policies for their staff.
tags: #student #teacher #dress #code
