Normally it’s kids getting pulled from class because of shirt straps that are too thin or leggings worn as pants. Recently in Tennessee, it was the definition of ‘crew neck’ that was causing confusion.
For the record, can someone please explain to me what the hell was wrong with her shirt? It has a crew neck and sleeves, so what’s the problem? For real, someone please explain this to me.
Don’t even get me started on how these dress codes put the onus on girls to not be ‘distracting’ to boys.
Well, now the tables are turned, and the teachers who enforce the rules are feeling the frustration.
Superintendent Trent North, of the Douglass County School District in Atlanta, Georgia, sent principals and teachers an email outlining a dress code expectation that included no jeans or leggings, and no sneakers and flip flops. Fair enough. But what raised eyebrows was the addition of capris.
The email reads:
"Please emphasize the expectation that attire be professional and appropriate. Some items of clothing that are not appropriate for work include jeans (except on Fridays), flip flops, sneakers, leggings (except when worn with an appropriate length dress), shorts and capris."
He later clarified that this wasn’t a ban, but an expectation, and that if you wouldn’t wear it on an interview, you shouldn’t wear it while teaching.
Only in an interview you are sitting in a chair answering questions, probably in an air-conditioned room.
But in a school, especially an elementary school, teachers are constantly moving (not to mention, monitoring kids outside during recess). I’m no weather expert, but I imagine it gets quite hot in Atlanta.
My older son has never been a fan of school, since his first day in Junior Kindergarten. He went, but never enjoyed it – not one iota. Through the years he’s had many great teachers, but one in particular made an impact. This teacher understood my son’s love of hands-on work and offered him a spot on the “Geek Squad,” setting up equipment for school assemblies and holiday recitals.
This teacher had long hair and wore jeans and flip flops. The first day I met him, I actually thought he was a college student gaining practical experience by volunteering, and I wasn’t the only one who made this mistake.
What can I say? When you reach your mid-forties, everyone seems really young to you.
It was this jean-wearing, long-haired teacher who turned my “I hate school” son into someone who looked forward to going to school. He taught my son school work, but he also taught him to be comfortable in his own skin.
So, quite frankly, IDGAF what my kid’s teachers wear, so long as they are there to help my kids become the best people they can be.
And last I heard, capris had no bearing on that whatsoever.
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