Here is a site with the pros and cons of Dress Codes. (For any independent viewers out there, there are links to both pros and cons. Honestly.) Since we have had teachers running around the Tent recently, I thought they might want to comment.
(Just a side note: the page's formatting is really messed up when I view it with Foxfire. Ick.)
I'll admit my bias up front here: I like school uniforms. I went to both uniform-less and uniform schools when I was a kid, and though it's the student's duty to voice hatred of their uniforms and try to rebel against them in any way they can, secretly I actually liked the uniform because it took the pressure of "what to wear" (from both practical and social standpoints) away.
As a teacher one reason I like the uniform is because I can easily identify who belongs in the school and who doesn't. Since my school has had a couple of security scares in the last year or so, this is helpful.
I've always had a problem with people who say that school uniforms inhibit personal expression. Students are free to wear expressive clothes outside the school, and, quite frankly, if clothing is the only way they can think of to express themselves, we have to be helping them to express themselves better.
I teach at a private school, though, so I don't think the civil liberties question is as valid: people choose to come to the school, knowing full well that there is a uniform. Dress codes and uniforms in public schools face a different challenge. Most schools seem to work on a case-by-case "respect" policy that isn't clearly defined.
We also have an odd middle ground in Ontario: Catholic schools. They are parochial, but publicly funded, and most of them have uniforms. It's odd that this isn't challenged more often.
Anyway: dress code for teachers? Yes. It's a work environment, in which we profess to be preparing students for similar work environments, and dress should reflect that. At our school "business casual" is the expectation. (We also wear gowns to Chapel - now *that's* a throwback. Before the 80s, female teachers were reprimanded for wearing pants. Yeesh.) Some exceptions need to be made for such areas as phys. ed. and the arts, obviously, where the dress code should reflect the appropriate attire for safe and comfortable movement. A couple of newer teachers have had to be reminded that their dress should be more professional.
But most importantly: I don't know that uniforms really affect student performance one way or another. I think it really has more to do with the overall culture of the school. If the students identify with their school, they are more likely to be invested in individual and collective success. But this can be achieved without uniforms, I agree. As one article says, "Rebellious teens forced to wear uniforms might be even less inclined to do well." So if you don't reach the kids in other ways, the uniforms won't do much on their own. I'll cite Catholic schools in Ontario again: these kids wear uniforms, and achievement in Catholic schools varies along the same lines as in any other public school.
1 comment:
Sure, I'll take the bait. ;)
(Just a side note: the page's formatting is really messed up when I view it with Foxfire. Ick.)
I'll admit my bias up front here: I like school uniforms. I went to both uniform-less and uniform schools when I was a kid, and though it's the student's duty to voice hatred of their uniforms and try to rebel against them in any way they can, secretly I actually liked the uniform because it took the pressure of "what to wear" (from both practical and social standpoints) away.
As a teacher one reason I like the uniform is because I can easily identify who belongs in the school and who doesn't. Since my school has had a couple of security scares in the last year or so, this is helpful.
I've always had a problem with people who say that school uniforms inhibit personal expression. Students are free to wear expressive clothes outside the school, and, quite frankly, if clothing is the only way they can think of to express themselves, we have to be helping them to express themselves better.
I teach at a private school, though, so I don't think the civil liberties question is as valid: people choose to come to the school, knowing full well that there is a uniform. Dress codes and uniforms in public schools face a different challenge. Most schools seem to work on a case-by-case "respect" policy that isn't clearly defined.
We also have an odd middle ground in Ontario: Catholic schools. They are parochial, but publicly funded, and most of them have uniforms. It's odd that this isn't challenged more often.
Anyway: dress code for teachers? Yes. It's a work environment, in which we profess to be preparing students for similar work environments, and dress should reflect that. At our school "business casual" is the expectation. (We also wear gowns to Chapel - now *that's* a throwback. Before the 80s, female teachers were reprimanded for wearing pants. Yeesh.) Some exceptions need to be made for such areas as phys. ed. and the arts, obviously, where the dress code should reflect the appropriate attire for safe and comfortable movement. A couple of newer teachers have had to be reminded that their dress should be more professional.
But most importantly: I don't know that uniforms really affect student performance one way or another. I think it really has more to do with the overall culture of the school. If the students identify with their school, they are more likely to be invested in individual and collective success. But this can be achieved without uniforms, I agree. As one article says, "Rebellious teens forced to wear uniforms might be even less inclined to do well." So if you don't reach the kids in other ways, the uniforms won't do much on their own. I'll cite Catholic schools in Ontario again: these kids wear uniforms, and achievement in Catholic schools varies along the same lines as in any other public school.
Running around some more...
J :)
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