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What Teachers Should Never (Ever!) Wear

Kayla Baxter, Anna Hennings, and Alice Handley | Monster

We hate to admit it, because we personally feel that clothes shouldn’t matter. In a perfect world, a person would be judged at their workplace based solely on the caliber of their work. Unfortunately, that’s not how the world works.

How you choose to dress each morning reflects how you feel about your job – that you take your position seriously, that you are ready to work and that you pay attention to detail and know what you expect to encounter that day. You wouldn’t go to a construction site in your favorite four-inch stilettos, right? Of course not, you’d go in a hard hat, because it’s appropriate for the situation. Appearances matter!

We’ve all been there, though. The days you wake up feeling sick, but still have to make it into the office, so you throw on any old thing that’s (kind of ) clean.

Regardless of the excuses, there are some things that professionals should just never wear. Ever.

We’ll show you what these things are, why they’re a terrible wardrobe choice and if you’re guilty of having one in your closet – or (gasp!) in your daily rotation – we’ll give you a much better alternative.

And for your men out there who are teachers: this article is geared towards women since we know you probably don’t care as much about fashion as females do!


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    kimtaylor

    9 days ago

    258 comments

    Teacher’s attire plays a BIG role in how successful you are in teaching your children. Think about it, it you wear the clothes that you wear at home to lounge around in, how productive are you. I am not saying that you must wear a suit everyday but educators should treat their job just like if they were going to an office everyday. You can still be casual and look nice without the skirts & heels....

    printer cartridges

  • Prof_max50

    arkerckhoff

    2 months ago

    2 comments

    A lot of people--specifically teachers commenting on this article--need to check their grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The mistakes are embarrassing to the profession.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    snickerfer

    2 months ago

    2 comments

    There is a teacher at my daughter's middle school that wears shoes that mimic stripper/platform shoes. It is absolutely horrid! I find it very distracting and VERY unprofessional.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    RainbowButterfly

    2 months ago

    10 comments

    This must be an example of a "dumbed down" curriculum for teacher professional development. lol

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    carolmouse

    2 months ago

    2 comments

    Okay could not watch all the slides are you kidding me. I think this is a very bad joke.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    MdTracy

    2 months ago

    2 comments

    Really right now? If there is a teacher out there who needs someone like this to tell them how to dress, then God help us all!! I have never seen a teacher that dresses like this no matter what the day!! Honestly, give educators some credit and respect!

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    sabfair

    3 months ago

    2 comments

    This is a joke! Put something more useful on this site. What a waste of my time.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    busy_valerie

    3 months ago

    2 comments

    Something else that looks utterly ridiculous are capris with ankle socks and dirty tennis shoes or sneakers. Sloppy no matter what age you teach, bad examples for children to see. Just give it some effort, otherwise stay home, quit your job, and watch tv all day.

  • 29380099_max50

    nbrown33

    3 months ago

    2 comments

    So funny, So true! LOL

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    sgoldstein2

    3 months ago

    2 comments

    Hilarious, but definitely true!

  • Ww26-102-1_max50

    chekae

    3 months ago

    308 comments

    Definitely, it will determine what kind of person you are also. ^^

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    jduffy

    4 months ago

    8 comments

    People, wake up! If you go to school and any teacher has nails like this-grab your child and run!
    I've seen Kindergarten teachers with nails like this, teaching in urban "at risk" schools. How can administrators believe their students will make "adequate yearly progress" when their "role model" can't even hold a pencil or pair of scissors properly! And let's not even discuss sanitation issues-ICK!

  • David_avitar_max50

    qirklin

    4 months ago

    10 comments

    miki7628...you hit the nail on the head. The way you dress should reflect the environment you work in and/or trying to establish.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Account Removed

    4 months ago

    While the article is a balance of tongue-in-cheek and common sense, the author fails to acknowledge the fact that school climates vary depending on where the teacher lives. If I showed up to work in an Ann Taylor suit, I would be completely unapproachable to my students. Likewise, if I didn't dress up for spirit week days, students would view me as just another teacher who doesn't care about the climate of unity in our school.

  • Sunset_max50

    ITeachtheabcs

    4 months ago

    118 comments

    It's a sad day when the teachers of America need an article expressing what is and isn't accpetable to wear to school.

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