Elementary Teacher Dress Code
ByMost people have heard the phrase “dress for success” and usually relate it to businessmen and women who are trying to get ahead. How an elementary teacher dresses can affect student respect and behavior and the way the teacher is viewed by other faculty, supervisors, parents, and people in the community, too. Carefully chosen clothes may increase others’ regard for the teacher. Back in the 1950s, even kindergarten teachers wore spike heels or a suit and tie. That was a restrictive way to dress, and most of us are happy that today’s standards are more relaxed. However, “dressing for success” still promotes prestige and respect today. On the first day of a new class, a teacher can immediately command more respectful discipline from a class by wearing a dark suit or dress to project a businesslike visual image. Later in the year, teachers’ bright colors seem to be appealing to students, especially elementary school students.
Elementary students are particularly sensitive to what teachers wear. They are at an age where they study fashions of dress—on each other and on music, TV, and movie stars. Likewise, they look extra hard at every detail of a teacher’s mode of dress. They will forgive almost anything, which is what certain sloppy and dowdy teachers count on. They will also enjoy stylish—though not faddish or silly—dress from their teachers who express respect for the job of teaching and for the students as worthy persons to dress well for.
The elementary teacher of today is better off in pants and comfortable shoes, to be able to crouch, bend, sit, and move with the active child’s activity. This comfortable dress for activity is also appropriate for most elementary teachers.
Dress code in high school teachers are a most independent group. It is an affront to many of them to even read about something as personal as how to dress. One hears, “I am only interested in teaching theorems of geometry.” Obviously, teaching skills, knowledge, and thinking are of prime importance. However, high school students are only a few years, or months away from the world of work. It benefits them to have mentors, teachers, and role models who dress in a businesslike manner.
Parents and community members are sometimes shocked when they come into a school and say, “I couldn’t tell the teachers from the children—everyone was dressed in jeans and sweatshirts.” Jeans are probably the most practical, attractive, and useful item of clothing ever devised. Some jeans, though, when they are soiled or ragged or fit badly look absolutely horrible. There are teachers who should not wear jeans at school, except for sports or relaxation in nonwork times. A teacher must look into a mirror critically and decide what decision to make about wearing jeans.
New elementary teachers often find their wardrobes are limited for their first years of teaching. Many times, familiar college clothes can be dressed up with a blazer, vest, dressy sweater, or scarf. Select these items carefully, perhaps in neutral colors that go with everything else in the wardrobe.
In observing thousands of teachers over three decades, I have observed that teachers who dressed “up” a bit more than the crowd eventually became the leaders of the school system. These were the ones noticed for selection as principals, assistant superintendents, or supervisors. Of course, some teachers remained happy as clams, still teaching geometry theorems all their careers – it is not for everyone to “advance.” But it is helpful for each teacher to feel respected and successful. Dressing with thoughtfulness may achieve that.
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