I’m in the education profession for the hair, the shoes, and the fashions. Cozy sweaters and cardigans? Yes, please. Functional footwear? I’ll take five pairs. Need a tutorial on how to put your hair in a bun with a pencil? Happy to help – I taught myself how to do that in elementary school.
Once, a student wrote on my instructor evaluation that I gave “Miss Frizzle vibes with my hair and outfits,” and this is one of my all time favorite compliments.
As a self-proclaimed artistic person, I use fashion as a means for self-expression and also for connection with students. I want my students to embrace who they are and share their unique identities with the world. How can I ask them to do that, if I can’t do it myself? For me, fashion has always been one of the ways that I communicate who I am.
I also think that teacher and librarian fashion is particularly fun because there are practical parameters that one needs to consider. Teachers are on their feet. They climb up and down step stools, sit on the floor, and raise their arms above their head. The classroom is both hot and cold. And above all, teachers need to look “professional” – a constantly moving target with conflicting rules and opinions.
On one hand, I appreciate the creativity that can emerge from boundaries. What can I wear that looks professional, allows me to express myself, is comfortable, and enables me to move without restriction? Not all clothes can do that, and I love the victory of finding the right pieces and outfits.
Conversely, teacher dress codes are laden with controversy. In the Education Week article, What Does It Mean for Teachers to Dress ‘Professionally’?, author Elizabeth Heubeck outlines the evolution of teacher wardrobes over the years, noting that the topic has always been somewhat contentious, with teachers fearing reprimands for dress code violations. Heubeck quoted Harvard education professor, Susan Moore Johnson, who remembered when one of her colleagues “dared” to wear a pantsuit during the 1960s when skirts were the norm.
While the education profession is not the only one that must adhere to a dress code, the public appears more invested in teacher attire than they do in other career clothing. It makes sense that people have stronger opinions about what their child’s teacher wears than their neighborhood barista. Teachers are role models for young people and their clothing needs to reflect that important responsibility they uphold. That being said, I am a believer that students need to see their future selves in their teachers. And that self may just have a tattoo, wear a crop top, or twirl their hair into a pencil bun. “Professional” takes many different forms.
The views and opinions expressed on Teacher Talk are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of South Dakota.
