What does it matter?
Who cares if students wear their pants below their waist or show more skin than you’re comfortable with? As long as it doesn’t interfere with your teaching, what’s the big deal?
It’s a style, a fashion statement. It allows them to express themselves and their individuality. Crocs and sandals. Pajama bottoms and torn jeans. Backward hats and hoods. It’s just who they are.
It should be embraced, not discouraged.
Hmm, on the surface, it does make sense. But when viewed from whether it supports or detracts from learning and safety, failing to enforce a common sense dress code is a mistake.
Here’s why:
It transfers.
Small details of high expectations—like asking students to keep their work areas impeccable—transfer excellence to everything you do as a class.
Therefore, it’s a greater challenge to ask for supreme focus and hard work when their clothing, and by extension their attitude, says “I don’t care.”
It distracts.
Some of the current clothing trends among young people aren’t close to appropriate for school or their age. They clearly distract from the mission of learning.
Further, parents aren’t always aware of what their child is wearing. They assume the school wouldn’t allow dress that is more suitable in a night club.
It pressures.
Young people are under enough pressure due to social media and Tik-Tok and the mass confusion over who they’re supposed to be.
Removing dress-code guardrails creates anxiety in many students. It pressures them to conform and be part of the cool group. It allows for less freedom, not more.
It discourages.
Too casual of dress creates a too casual attitude. It encourages indifference and a statement that they’re not a “school boy” or “school girl.”
They’re above that. Too cool for that. Too nonchalant to show enthusiasm for learning, to do their homework, to study for the test.
It neglects.
Dress is a costume. For young people it’s a way of trying on personalities. This is normal. And schools should allow for individuality.
But part of preparing students for the future is teaching them that in the working world there are standards that must be met. School should reflect this reality.
It separates.
When you allow students to wear whatever they wish (within reason), it encourages separation between the haves and the have-nots, the cool and the not-so-cool.
It interferes with the high purpose of learning with and from and cooperating with people from different backgrounds, moral convictions, and socioeconomic conditions.
It disrespects.
Allowing students to push the envelope on dress encourages them to push the envelope on behavior, especially in the areas of respect and motivation.
In fact, permissiveness in any one area of classroom management leads to deterioration in the rest. High standards must be across the board.
It Matters
Your pursuit of excellence is contingent upon your demand of every detail. It’s not the big things. It’s the little things that communicate your expectations.
That raise the standards.
Room environment. Cleanliness. Precise policies and procedures. Neatness. Organization. Order. Respect. Dignity. Purpose. Responsibility.
They are the foundation upon which you build an effective classroom, school, and community.
So what should a school dress code look like? Are Crocs okay? Should you allow yoga pants, ripped jeans, and over-the-shirt jewelry? I’ll reveal our SCM recommendations and guidelines in a future article.
In the meantime, the core question for every teacher and school is this:
Does the way your students dress in any way detract from learning and preparing them for the future and the seriousness of purpose it requires?
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Once again, your post is ripe with common sense ideas that are sadly lacking in public education. The hoods are downright dangerous! You can’t see their faces in the case of a potential disaster. The ear buds are just plain rude. The skimpy clothes are detracting and distracting from learning. Outside of school, students are free to dress how they and their parents wish. However, in school, as in life, there are rules. In some hotel chains, for example, employees have to wear uniforms and men can’t have beards.
I think men can be allowed beard but must be neatly combed and in areas where foot is prepared must be covered up the reason for that, we have different beliefs
This is such a wonderful article.
So many great gems.
This is easier said than done. I can say, I can tell, I can get in a huge fight over this. Because they will refuse to take the sweatshirt off. Just keeping the hood down or a hat or cap off is a constant battle.
Truancy is accepted, and easily allowed by their families. They will go home and not come back for days.
So what are your consequences? How do you enforce them? Admin would love to back me up. But we are all at witt’s end.
We are still right here with your words. What would be the deterrent to not meeting the high expectations? Being sent home is a win for so many students. The only solution we’ve come up with so far is setting up an opportunity room with private carrels. Here students will spend their days until they arrive in uniform/dress code. They will join classes via the school LMS but be prohibited from joining any discussion. All assignments must be completed with no make-up work. Lunch is delivered or last call. They’ll board busses first or parents can p/up 15 minutes before dismissal. No socializing is the only consequence we could come up with. ugh Hoping for uniforms next year.
Do you speak of a public class room/school setting? I only ask because that is what is sounds like.
I’m not a professional, but I truly believe if that is one of the problems you have is lack of cooperation from students and family when trying to enforce the no hats know who it or a very tiny clothes. I ask how are you approaching the pupil when asking to remove the hood or other broken rule are you demanding the removal or are you asking to remove it said broken rule? Yes, we are adults and they are children. They have to listen, but whenever you ask a child or teenager to do some thing in a manner that they may feel like they have a choice, they may tend to act on it instead of rebel, and possibly explain the importance of why the hoods are not acceptable or hats or skimpy clothes give them an explanation that they can comprehend as a child or teenager . But that’s just my thought process on it.
Michael, I so agree with you. In these days of equity, our district allows hoodies in the classroom (even in elementary schools). It is shocking to me. Belly shirts and ripped jeans are allowed as well. It is very discouraging.
I, on the other hand, am in your camp. I recommend your website to every new teacher I mentor. Thank you for being ‘boots on the ground’ with us!
I have the same issues. These things are clearly against our school dress code and the inconstancy of enforcement makes it a constant battle. So I focus on what is happening in my own classroom and do not allow students who are out of dress code until it is fixed.
So you rather have your students miss your class because they’re not dressed to some arbitrary standards?
100%! By putting your foot down, they will miss one class and hopefully gain hundreds more. You gotta spend money to make money….
I am a huge proponent of uniforms. They are economical, classy, and absolutely yes- dress affects behavior
I attended a military college. We had to wear uniforms. Simplified so much of my life!
ditto
Well said Barbara.
I think school uniform saves a lot of arguments and a great classroom management tool.
I’m with you on this. But I would settle for a good alternative implemented for a few years in our district. It was not exactly a uniform, but it looked nice and was limited. Students had to wear solid tops and bottoms. The shirts were either polo type or a school Tshirt ( the one casual option). It looked terrific, and the school kept those shirts around for people in need.
Yes!!!
We have been told, from the top down, that we cannot tell students what to wear. This is unfortunate!
I’m a substitute and I face this issue everyday. My district doesn’t have a consistent policy on dress. In one school it’s no ear buds, hats or hoodies on so students can’t sneak listening to distracting or inappropriate music. In another school, hats are off and hoodies on and ear buds can be in – there’s no way can I tell what they are listening to. In another school everything is allowed – even sitting on the floor with backs up against the wall – there’s no way can I watch what everyone is seeing on their tablets or tell what they are listening to. When I forbid these distractions, students have me called profane names and threatened to get me fired (I wonder how that would work when I’m doing my job.) Substituting is hard enough trying to keep the pace of learning going in a classroom where you don’t know the students or exactly what you will be teaching until 20-30 minutes before you greet students. When you add the wide range of acceptable and non acceptable behaviors to the mix, it makes the day very stressful. With the low pay and the stress, is this job worth the effort?
This only works if you have clear rules and strong support from admin. I asked about our high school policy on hoodies and hats in the classroom because it was not defined in the dress code (hoodies) and hats were supposedly not allowed but every single teacher ignored it. A few older (tenured) teachers actually wear hats themselves. The principal emailed back these words: “It’s your class, it’s your call.” This extends to cell phones as well. The hoodies and hats battle is not a hill I want to die on, so as long as the kids are on task, I mostly ignore it unless it is blatantly hiding ear buds. With no support from admin – this is nearly impossible to implement.
Our administration has literally told us we can’t enforce a dress code. They used to have one and a teacher tried to enforce it but the Vice Principal said in reference to a girl wearing something inappropriate (I forget, maybe a crop top) “Do you really want to ________ after the me too movement.” They’re scared of telling girls not to wear revealing clothing because of the me too movement!
No, I disagree. Dress has nothing to do with the me too movement. You have poor administration.
My whole district has the same message to all principals. It’s spread everywhere.
I have been reading your blog for over five years. Your advice and suggestions are very easy to implement. They mostly validate my actions in class which reiterates my teaching and classroom management philosophy. It has helped me tremendously and I never miss reading them.
At my last school, hoods and hats were not allowed but kids wore them all the time. It was exhausting trying to enforce it. Kids would refuse to take them off, so then what do you do? My principal’s suggestion if they didn’t comply was to tell them they would be written up, and that way the rest of the kids would know you were doing something about it. That didn’t help at all. I’m at a new school this year where hoods and hats are allowed and it’s not an issue at all. I’m relieved not to have to try to enforce this anymore.
There was a fifth grade girl, which I taught in both third and fourth grade. We had a rapport. I asked her near the end of her fifth grade year why she chose to wear that (a midriff shirt)? She shrugged her shoulders and class was over. Well she went to her homeroom teacher, said my comment made her feel uncomfortable. Instead of talking to me, the teacher notified the mom and then went down to the principal. Needless-to-say I spent the next three days in meetings and my union rep was present. I was given a slap on the hand and a note to file. Mean while I look the other way with inappropriate student clothing. I am there to teach. Not be a fashion consultant. I could be written up for sexual harassments next time. Ok. nothing to see here.
Chuck,
These days such things are not so easy to address and I am beyond sorry to hear this happened to you. I understand the agony of defending yourself against false accusations – my own experience and the experience of 3 other colleagues. I now often ask a fellow staff member to accompany me when addressing tough issues for similar reasons. Maybe having a woman speak to a girl if you cannot partner with someone. You are a good and caring teacher. Thank you for staying in the field with us!
I’m going to somewhat disagree here.
Years ago pantyhose and skirts/dresses were expected business attire for women and I HATED wearing pantyhose! Talk about a waste of money.
Later, when the dress code was relaxed and women wearing pants was no big deal, I can honestly say that my work ethic & work quality did NOT decline because I wasn’t wearing pantyhose.
So, I am not buying that relaxed dress codes necessarily lead to a relaxed attitude toward education. But, I’m open to checking out any stats or data on the topic.
However, I do believe there should be SOME kind of dress code that at a minimum doesn’t allow partial nudity, exposed underwear, rude or distasteful images, etc.
I don’t have a problem with hoodies, crocs, or anything that allows students to comfortably navigate the school building or walk to and from school.
I also don’t have a problem with uniforms which can help circumvent any issues created by having teachers become the fashion police.
I’m the same. I hate the concept of dress codes because they’ve historically been an uneccessary power grab . I could get behind a school-provided uniform – but much dress-coding is “preferencism” disguised under the veil of “professionalism”.
I disagree. I know by the other comments what I’m about to say will fall on deaf ears. I shall continue nonetheless:
1. Clothing allows for freedom and creativity, necessary for true critical thinking. I hope this transfers.
2. It distracts!? What about teaching students not to be “distracted” by others. Especially let’s not sexualize the bodies of girls because boys are “distracted”.
3. Regardless of what students wear, there will be pressure. Even in strict uniform schools, kids find a way to follow the crowd.
4. Instead of discouraging, it can be empowering, with complete freedom of expression.
5. Students of even the youngest age understand that there is certain dress in certain professions. They see the difference between what a UPS driver, firefighter, doctor, and store clerks wear. They will dress appropriately for the job/career they choose. Additionally there has been a huge relaxation of dress in the world of business. And remember, these are children, bit working adults. They’ll have enough time for someone to tell them what to wear in the future.
6. The have and the have nots are readily separated anyway. With a dress code the haves will be wearing brand name while have nots will not. In uniforms, the haves will have a trash uniform for each day of the week, the have nots will wear the same uniform two or three times a week.
7. It disrespects the student to dehumanize them to just their clothing choice.
8. It does matter. In pursuit of excellence we must treat humans with kindness, respect, and give them autonomy. Student autonomy will empower them. Policing their clothing is a totalitarian control method to make students obey not thrive in their individuality.
Sexualising the bodies of girls is connected with the plague of pornography.
Science tells us of the the brain damage that happens to boys who have been exposed to it. It’s very sad.
It’s also an interesting proof that porn is toxic, and the effects are lifelong.
Talking about it to men, may expose some of the real deep affects suffered.
I hope you understand.
Thank you! Did NOT fall on deaf ears. Reading this reply with my daughter (she an elementary student and I a teacher). Bravo
I came here to say this, especially about the sexualization of girls’ bodies. If lesbians can control themselves around crop tops and ripped jeans, then so can boys.
We give too many allowances to boys to allow them to treat girls sexually, between comments, catcalls, and bra-snapping. In the end, it’s the girls who suffer because they are the ones who are missing class time because they’re supposedly distracting boys.
But, is this true of lesbians? I live down the street from a MS where the talk of the neighborhood , last year was how Lyn and her girls have turned the school out. Confirmed activity at neighbor assoc meeting.
With regard to freedom, I see so many boys and girls with the very same type skin tight outfits, eyes lashes and make-up that not only can you not tell boys from girls (if it matters) but one student from another. No real freedom apparent.
Well said.
I love this!
Women’s/girl’s bodies are disproportionately policed with dress codes and studies have shown that it is especially true with girls of color.
I was so disappointed with this article and so many of the comments but your comment restored my faith 🙂
“In pursuit of excellence we must treat humans with kindness, respect, and give them autonomy.” Truly a beautiful sentiment.
I understand where you are coming from but I respectfully disagree. The research is quite clear that women and minorities get called out on dress code violations far more than male and white students. Ditto for lower socioeconomic students.
So often young women are cited for wearing clothing that makes the males in the classroom uncomfortable and I am done making women responsible for the feeling of men. Time for the men to control themselves all on their own.
However, I do think that dress codes for teachers should be clearer and more enforced. We can set an example, students do notice what we do.
Being male, of course certain choices of the way women dress distracts me, and I do my best to control where my eyes go. As a teacher, of course I’m good with eye control, but young men are learning this discipline, give them the chance to do so in the classroom. Yet I agree, that young women express and celebrate themselves by the way they dress. I get it. I think consideration comes into it. Girls may not know how the male brain functions, and what happens through male eyesight. (They probably get it, I’m not a high school teacher)
And please, I’m not making excuses here, young men need to control themselves for sure. Thanks.
High expectations equals high standards for achievement. This article makes a lot of sense. We are in charge, we need to keep control. I’m not trying to be authoritarian, it’s a public institution we serve not a free for all, so, dress appropriately, I have to. 🙂
Martin
CDWDE, there is no reason other students or even staff members, teachers included, should be taught that it is their fault if they are distracted by and attracted to the bodies of “girls” (your word, not mine) who come to school wearing clothing that are deliberately designed to attract. This kind of dress will do what it is designed to do, and what the wearer wants it to do. Training others “not to be distracted” by blatantly revealing clothing isn’t much different than telling a hot and thirsty person not to to look at a tantalizing bottle of cool water. No, let the student who “feels like” coming to school inappropriately dressed be the one to teach herself not to sexualize her body, not the students whose attention she is quite deliberately trying to catch. A little intellectual honesty is in place here.
You sound exactly like the grown man who molested me when i was 12 for having purple hair and thus “trying to attract attention” and “acting like a victim when you get some”.
Disgusting mindset..
Well isn’t that a horrific view…
What a bizarre and gross comment. Are you someone who hears of sexual assault and immediately askes “well, what was she wearing?”
I think you’re both right. We’re responsible for how we act on our temptations, but staying chaste is obviously a good deal easier when there are no temptations to begin with, which is why we shouldn’t strain others by wearing sexualized clothing.
One of the way to avoid this is to assign uniforms. Here in the Caribbean, all schools whether public/private wears uniforms. It allows for everyone to work on a level, plain field. It is difficult to decipher the have’s and the have not’s. Because wears the uniform.
As a former student who went to a school with a very strict dress code I can tell you there’s a definite downside.
For one, the clothing chosen is rarely comfortable. It’s usually khakis and collared shirts, which both became an extreme sensory problem for me and many others. Having documented sensory processing issues didn’t help, nor did an IEP, because staff were under such pressure to enforce a dress code that punishing someone who was struggling for not conforming was all they could do. The supposed infractions weren’t even far outside the dress code- I was written up for wearing pants with an elastic waist band, a shirt the wrong shade of yellow, etc. It was, to make no mistake, oppressive and damaging to my ability to learn in that school. This isn’t to say all dress codes are bad, but please think twice about how much control you actually need over the clothes kids wear.
I am an art teacher and I am all about self expression, but when I see a young gentleman with his hairy ass ( sorry for my language) falling out of his PJ pants, I think it is absolutely unacceptable at school. We are all trying to teach our kids and students to be respectful to the people around them, property and themselves. The students should be comfortable to dress up accordingly to their religious believes ( for example turbans for Sigh boys, headscarves for young muslim women etc), their physical and sensory limitations ( the kids with ACD should be never reprimanded on their clothes or the headphones, because sometimes it’s the only thing that they can tolerate). I also disagree that comfortable clothes negatively impact your productivity-during Covid many people started to work from home and are not wearing business suits for the meetings. However, the students, especially in High School, already need to know the difference between “school/work” clothes and the clothes they wear to the party or to the outing with friends. You can wear comfortable, clean yoga pants and a sweatshirt ( even with a hood) -just take of your earbuds during class-this is disrespectful! I am wondering if the students who come to school with their Halloween boxers showing, will go to visit their grandparents in the same attire!
Thank you for the well written and thought out article. I am a teacher in South Africa and I know that we all can benefit by taking the spirit of this article to help us in our teaching practice. This article will be the structure and skeleton for my next parent letter to start the conversation on expanding and guarding opportunities for growth in our school which includes dress codes and attendance policies and homework policies etc.
Talking about dress code…my school has allowed hats to be worn in school, but if the teacher wants them not to wear them, we can have them take them off. I began the school year allowing them to wear hats, but not anymore. What I’ve discovered is that these students wearing baseball caps like to hide behind them. Now that I don’t allow them anymore, they are actually more involved in their learning. There definitely seems to be a correlation between wearing baseball caps in the classroom and low self esteem.