2008 Woodie Awards
Teacher dress code not concern to students
Neil Benjamin
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: Fuse
Originally published: 10/11/07 at 11:12 PM EST
Last update: 10/11/07 at 11:11 PM EST
- Page 1 of 1
Does Plattsburgh State have a dress code for teachers?
The schools' Web site does not have any formal indication that there is one, and many people feel that there is no need for one. Certain departments have their own dress code, but there is not one for the entire campus.
PSUC's Speech and Hearing Center is one of the departments to have their own dress code. According to their Web site, "overall appearance should be neat and clean."
It goes on to say that "T-shirts, sweatpants, jogging suits, shorts, cut-offs, baseball caps and jeans should be avoided."
Other than that, most departments do not have their own dress code. Many say they expect employees to understand their limits.
According to the Campus Handbook, a teacher "shall conduct himself/herself in a manner which will inspire trust and confidence among the public."
This means that teachers must be professional. If an instructor strolled into class wearing nothing but his or her underwear, that would go against the handbook. Even though there is not a dress code set in stone, some students feel that is completely fine. Mitchell Smith, a senior, has seen his fair share of "weirdly dressed teachers."
"I had a teacher who came into class one day dressed as a fairy with wings attached to his back," Smith said.
He feels that there is not a need for a dress code because most of his teachers dress in a completely acceptable manner.
"Everything runs fairly smoothly here - why mess up a good thing?" he said.
Smith also said that he noticed that most of the teachers here dress in a very casual way. Teachers who dress in an extreme way can be distracting in class, but he says he has not had to deal with that here. Other students feel the same way as Smith. Senior Alex Foster feels that there is no need for a dress code.
There is not one for students and therefore should not be one for teachers.
"In my high school, we weren't allowed to wear certain things, and teachers had to dress professional. Here, I can wear anything I want, so I don't see why teachers should have a dress code," Foster said.
He noted that he has had a few teachers who would wear jeans and a T-shirt to class, but he also said that they were the best teachers he has had. He said that instead of a dress code, there should be a policy stating only what teachers are not permitted to wear. Student teachers have a little more of a dress policy.
In the student teaching handbook it says, "Lack of initiative, inappropriate dress…will be viewed as grounds for withdrawing and/or failing student teaching."
Since student teachers are just learning the ropes, they are held to a higher standard.
"I have a student teacher in one of my classes and she is always dressed very professional and nice. Sometimes she shows up the teacher," Foster said.
When asked if it would be fair for students and teachers to both have dress codes, Foster said, "No way! We pay to get our education here. I should be able to wear what I want."
The schools' Web site does not have any formal indication that there is one, and many people feel that there is no need for one. Certain departments have their own dress code, but there is not one for the entire campus.
PSUC's Speech and Hearing Center is one of the departments to have their own dress code. According to their Web site, "overall appearance should be neat and clean."
It goes on to say that "T-shirts, sweatpants, jogging suits, shorts, cut-offs, baseball caps and jeans should be avoided."
Other than that, most departments do not have their own dress code. Many say they expect employees to understand their limits.
According to the Campus Handbook, a teacher "shall conduct himself/herself in a manner which will inspire trust and confidence among the public."
This means that teachers must be professional. If an instructor strolled into class wearing nothing but his or her underwear, that would go against the handbook. Even though there is not a dress code set in stone, some students feel that is completely fine. Mitchell Smith, a senior, has seen his fair share of "weirdly dressed teachers."
"I had a teacher who came into class one day dressed as a fairy with wings attached to his back," Smith said.
He feels that there is not a need for a dress code because most of his teachers dress in a completely acceptable manner.
"Everything runs fairly smoothly here - why mess up a good thing?" he said.
Smith also said that he noticed that most of the teachers here dress in a very casual way. Teachers who dress in an extreme way can be distracting in class, but he says he has not had to deal with that here. Other students feel the same way as Smith. Senior Alex Foster feels that there is no need for a dress code.
There is not one for students and therefore should not be one for teachers.
"In my high school, we weren't allowed to wear certain things, and teachers had to dress professional. Here, I can wear anything I want, so I don't see why teachers should have a dress code," Foster said.
He noted that he has had a few teachers who would wear jeans and a T-shirt to class, but he also said that they were the best teachers he has had. He said that instead of a dress code, there should be a policy stating only what teachers are not permitted to wear. Student teachers have a little more of a dress policy.
In the student teaching handbook it says, "Lack of initiative, inappropriate dress…will be viewed as grounds for withdrawing and/or failing student teaching."
Since student teachers are just learning the ropes, they are held to a higher standard.
"I have a student teacher in one of my classes and she is always dressed very professional and nice. Sometimes she shows up the teacher," Foster said.
When asked if it would be fair for students and teachers to both have dress codes, Foster said, "No way! We pay to get our education here. I should be able to wear what I want."
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