School Teachers Attire???

[gina32]

when I was at school, albeit a long time ago, male teachers would always be in suits, collar and tie and females be dressed smartly, now it seems that anything goes, jeans and t.shirts, flip flops or trainers, just generally not what i'd call smart. do others think the same or am I being old fashioned in thinking that dressing smartly goes some way to respect?

[Octavius]

"If you are dressed as a professional, you will think and act like a professional, and you will be seen as and treated as a professional."

Sorry Andy but thats absolute tosh. Professionalism is/should be judged on your actions and how you come across in person, not your dress sense. People who believe that dressing in a suit and tie to give the (often false) impression that you are an upstanding professional are usually on their way to court - and probably defending themselves against professional negligence!

[daffy654]

Hardly anyone appears in court dressed smartly these days octavius, I read a report of an inquest yesterday and the picture of the dead woman's boyfriend in a sleeveless vest and father in a grubby t-shirt disgusted me.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/18/article-2369136-1AE00690000005DC-156_634x606.jpg

[gina32]

Daffy, my thoughts exactly

[gina32]

I meant my thoughts to your previous post lol

[Octavius]

daffy, were they the defendants?

[Greedyfly]

I agree they should be dressed smarter - same goes for junior doctors these days!

[daffy654]

There were no defendants, it was an inquest, not a court trial. These were relatives of the deceased who were called to give evidence, they could have at least worn a cotton short sleeved shirt. Vests are for beaches or gyms, not coroner's courts or courts of law. I could probably link to hundreds of articles where the defendants have turned up in tracksuits or leggings but really can't be bothered to :)

[bednobs]

octavius there are no defendants at an inquest, surely?
at my husbands work there is someone who actually wears a bowler hat with his suit. In this hot weather he's been wearing a cream linien suit and a panama!

[andy-hughes]

Octavius - "Professionalism is/should be judged on your actions and how you come across in person, not your dress sense."

Absoultely.

But it's not, and we have to live in the world as it is, and not as we would wish it to be, or indeed as in this instance, it should be.

It is a simple fact that people judge us on appearence. it's not right, but it is a fact, and we must deal with it accordingly.

Therefore, professional people need to project an image of professionalism, not because it makes them better at their job, but because appearence is about perception, and who has the time to go around saying "I know I look like a tramp, but i am actually a PhD ..." to every single person they encounter.

So although I entirely take your point that no-one should be judged on their appearence, especially if that judgement is negative and erroneous - the fact is that we do make those judgements, and allowances for that simple fact of human nature make life easier all round.

[Greedyfly]

Bednobs - Cream Linen Suit and a Panama, I wish I worked in his world.

[Octavius]

bednobs, that really was my point.

Andy, and here you are perpetuating that social stigma by saying people should dress exactly as YOU would expect, otherwise you will disresecpt their professional integrity. Its a strange old world.

[rockyracoon]

In the 10 years that I've been to-ing and fro-in from school with the kids, I can honestly say I haven't seen a scruffy teacher nor have I ever seen them in jeans. It must depend entirely on the school management.

[mikey4444]

There is a school here in South Wales where some of the boys have resorted to wearing skirts to keep cool, because they are banned from wearing shorts !

Anybody understand that ?

[ichkeria]

I can understand the "wearing skirts" bit, not the "banned from wearing shorts"

[rockyracoon]

Mikey, I reckon the headmaster at my kids school would have a fit, then again I doubt any of the kids would be brave enough.

[LoftyLottie]

Because someone is long haired, unshaven and scruffy does not mean they are unwashed Squad.

Some of my teachers back in the dim dark ages were certainly not smart - they were more drab than anything else.

Smart casual would seem to be OK surely. Shirts, suits and ties? I personally don't think so.

What is wrong with long hair and stubble. I think you are being somewhat old fashioned Gina.

[LoftyLottie]

I didn't read back. But I entirely agree with Octavius.

[LoftyLottie]

If how I dress is a measure of how much respect I will get from some people, then they don't deserve my respect and I don't want theirs!!