@frogger

GREAT IDEA...Japan has been this way in public schools forever!

@ALL YA ALL

Why is this such an issue for you. If you came and worked for me we have a dress code and upon your first week we would order you your shirts. It would cost you about 125 dollars and you have to buy them or you can not work here. You can not were jeans except certain weather conditions...its just common practice in the business world. If you want to dress dress like someone who works on a farm then work on a farm...if you want to dress like a stripper then be a stripper...I do not get the attitude that you can demand of your employer what the dress code is...if they say your wearing plaid skirts and bobby socks to work and thats the dress code then guess what...better go shopping! This is such a stupid topic with all going on in the world and the community that it really torks me off that this much time is wasted on this subjuect. go do some volunteer work and use your time better. Really people think about it.

okay one more comment and I am done.
I was at JCP yesterday. A girl there was asking somebody if she needed help. I was confused at first. The JCP girl had on tight jeans and a gray FADED sorta tight tshirt. Then I saw this girl at the register and thought WOW no dress code here? It was pretty unprofessional looking. Not sure if she was stocking shelves or what in the back but if she was she should not have been out helping people. Just looks bad. Maybe some khakis while stocking and if a TSHIRT- JCP logo on it at least. My point- BAD image of JCP- SLOPPY!

Somebody wrote" why do we keep treating teahers like children" well you seem to keep whining like children. EVERY place I have worked has had a dress code. Why should this be any different? It still sounds quite comfortable to me!!

I still prefer the idea of uniforms for the kids and one similiar for the teacher as well. Tired of the pre teens and teens looking like little hookers. Parent say "but it is the sytle" What are you also 13- be a parent and stop letting the little girls look like tramps when they go to school. I think kids could concentrate more on studies w/o worrying what is cool or not/ cannot afford to look cool- etc. ALL on same level as far as clothes at school any way.

"thetruth724
Nov 10, 2012 at 8:40 a.m."
Well said. Just becasue you are poor doesn't mean you have to dress like a slob! or in PJ'S- anybody- no sure what this fad is all about. being EXTRA LAZY?
You can get a nice outfit(casual) at good will for under $15. If you go to other second hand places even less!!
Bought a pair of hardly used Dockers and a second hand shop in Edgerton for $2!!
I think even a teacher can afford that since you are so underpaid as you keep saying. I still think you make a nice living and will for the rest of your life when you retire. You also get a 3 month break every year not to mention all of the other days off during the year besides Sat and Sunday.

"
kidsfirst
Nov 9, 2012 at 9:56 p.m.
Suggest removal

Collars are not normally a part of my attire. Boat necks are much more flattering for me. Honestly, this is about administrators who are not able/willing to be specific. When I started teaching in J'ville, open toed shoes were considered unsafe. This year I have observed many people wearing flip flops -- why? because there were bigger "fish to fry." Teachers do not work in banks or legal offices. Go to any business in town and take a survey. . . you'll find that the dress code as defined by this draft is not upheld in 8:10 work places. For teachers working in high poverty schools, that will add one more barrier between them and the students/parents who are struggling to get to school at all. Come work with us and then make observations about what we do and why what we wear makes a difference."


So because you work at a "poor" school- cheap flip flops should be the attire. WHAT??
Khaki's and shoes and boat top- no flip flops!
No you are not lawyers but should dress DECENT and not like slobs!!
Might as well wear PJ and flip flops- this is what poor people wear. This is what poor people go to the polls wearing!

luvujvl:

Read what you just wrote and tell me how many "kids", that need good role models, spend most of the day in local banks, attorneys' offices, or accounting firms?
*
shut the front door!

If teachers truly are the professionals they claim to be when wanting a pay raise; as they so often try to compare themselves to the private sector professionals; then a dress code would be a non issue for them, as it is in the private sector.

How does this compare to the dress codes of other professional organizations? Is it more strict than the dress codes for local banks, attorneys' offices, or accounting firms? How about administrative positions at Mercy or at Dean? Does anyone here know what their written policies are?

Teachers didn't dress suggestively when I was in school, but I'm pretty sure I would have appreciated it if they had.

Donnaw- your the one who broughr up the fact that you employ school staff, I'm just pointing out how stupid that is duh!

donnaw- from what I hear it's a ridiculous and picayune proposal and completely non essential. A slap in the face of dedicated professionals. I know you don't like teachers, having been one yourself though, I would think you'd know that this is not necessary. You stated so yourself when referring to your teaching days.

If they do then the dress code won't be a big deal to them.

And donnaw- maybe just maybe since you were a teacher, school staff still have enough common sense to dress prefessionally.

bryn....so I guess if govt employees are self employed we don't have to pay taxes anymore? Especially school taxes? Let the schools run on the property taxes paid by teachers. And when I was a teacher we had enough common sense to dress professionally....we didn't need a dress code.

missmarysushine-a friend shared the written proposal with me, this is a big deal, the school board is way out of line with the language in it. If you haven't seen how absured it is you really can't make an educated comment on it.

Wow. Who would have thought that something as basic as a dress code would result in this much over reaction.... geez people, nobody is attacking you. They are just trying to set a handbook policy. You might have enough sense to not be told what to wear - but they are also setting precedent for new hires. What's the big deal ???

donnaw- and anyone else who like to claim they pay teacher wages with property tax payments. Guess what, most school district employees are also property owners, so by your belief system they would be in essence, self-employed. Therefore the School Board really should have NO say in what they decide is appropriate for their job. When was the last time you worked in a school building with today's youth?

Why_think....big difference, you can choose not to go to Best Buy, Texas Roadhouse, etc. you cannot choose to not pay your taxes. You vote for restaurants, etc by either going to them or not. We vote for a school board to manage our schools. We vote for representatives to manage our govt affairs. If we don't like the decisions they make we have the option to elect someone else. The servers at Texas Roadhouse dress in the manner the people who are paying them, the managers, tell them to. If the servers don't like it they can go work somewhere else. If the teachers had all been dressing in a manner that didn't draw attention to themselves, ie flip flops, tank tops, etc. there would be no need to establish dress codes. There are always a few people who want to ruin if for the others, therefore the need for rules. If we all paid the taxes we were supposed to we wouldn't need the IRS auditors. But, like it or not, there some basic rules to follow in life. It's really not that difficult.

donnaw
"""fear...got news for you...we elected the school board to establish school policies. WE ARE the employers of the teachers...WE Pay their salaries. If they don't like the policies then they are free to teach somewhere else where they agree with the policies."""
.
First, your comments make me wonder about YOUR self-esteem... you do not OWN public employees.
.
Second, I don't employ a single teacher and I don't want to. I allow the professionals hired to make employement decisions.
.
Third, we pay EVERYONE's salary. I don't employ Texas Roadhouse employees yet I paid a bill their yesterday, Best Buy, Walmart, Fagan, etc... Your belief that because you pay taxes gives you the knowledge to "employ a teacher" is laughable, arrogant and ignorant.
.
Finally, the find somewhere else to live, GUESS WHAT, I live in Janesville and I want the quality teachers to stay. If the School Board puts in place a *** up dress code and that leads to quality educators leaving I DISAGREE WITH THE DRESS CODE.
.
This board is wasting time with stupid ideas. Let the administrators DO THEIR JOBS regarding the dress code. If they aren't willing to say something know; why would a more detailed dress code give them the courage to say something in the future? Hold the administrators accountable instead of insulting the teachers.
.
This entire topic is insulting to the profession. I hope that teachers in this community and the are know that I respect the great work they do and what they do for my kids, my family and myself. They are amazing and should be treated better than this.
.
BTW, before they worry about a teacher missing a collared shirt or wearing jeans they need to bring everyone together and enfore the student dress code. I realize they don't want kids missing school because of their outfit but if what someone is wearing in school is an issue... start with the students. Get everyone on the same page regarding that FIRST. When visiting schools I have noticed that and it is an issue.

Teachers are a model for a diverse student body and the school is a microcosm of the "real world." Therefore, I hope somewhere in this document attention is given to how people with transgendered gender identities will meet the standards of professionalism. If a woman acts and dresses like a man or viceversa, lets hope they are not dealt a career-stunting blow. How will we address men wearing skirts of appropriate length and pumps or women wearing ties? Do we want our transgendered students, to whom we pay plenty of lip-service, to see their teachers penalized for failing to conform to the gender stereotypes associated with their gender? If even one employee feels discriminated against by being forced to conform to male and female gender stereotypes this could and SHOULD become a legal issue.

Define - "skirts of modest length"

My question is, who gets the job of measuring the inseam of the shorts of the maintenance staff to makes sure they are not shorter than 5 inches?

donnow - For someone that constantly posts about government intrusion into our lives, you certainly seem eager to order other people what to do. You actually seem to relish it.

fear...got news for you...we elected the school board to establish school policies. WE ARE the employers of the teachers...WE Pay their salaries. If they don't like the policies then they are free to teach somewhere else where they agree with the policies.

Lets just call it what it is, this is the School board trying to assert power against the teachers in any way they can. And by School Board I mean certain members of course, members that believe that they are the "employers" of the teachers. This has NOTHING to do with educating kids, NOTHING. This does NOTHING to solve fical problems , make no mistake this about people that have been waiting to insult teachers at any cjance they get.
There is no widespread evidence of teachers dressing like slobs, or innappropriately. The administrators in each building can already have the authority to enforce these things. This is meaningless fodder put forth by certain members of the board to address a problem that does not exist. Plain and simple, this is about people with egos, this is an insult to educators based on nothing more than an effort to assert power by a board the believes they are employers of the district. They are NOT.
I have been sayinng this now for some time, this city needs to change how school board members are elected. The only way to truly know what a persons motivation for being elected to these posts are one vs one elections, so we are not stuck with the likes of these people that are simply on the board to assert their own political beliefs, while getting less than a majority of the vote. Lets save our schools from these people, its the only way to avoid this type of ridiculousness that solves problems that simply do not exist. Beloit has one vone board elections why cant we?

@ redder,
There are PLENTY of "business casual" shirts that do not include a collar.
.
The believe the devil is in the details. I believe the current policy of "appropriate dress" with administrators enforcing the policy is more than enough for the professional educators of the School District of Janesville.

we need wiselady input, on this matter.

Yes, missymarysunshine, "shoved" -- because not one non-administrative employee was included in the writing; because the handbook does not need the extensive detail; because as employees, whether para-professionals, clerical, food service, custodian/maintainance, or teacher, we feel insulted at the insinuation that this level of detail is needed.

I just have to say people, you really shouldn't be commenting one way or the other on here UNLESS you have READ the proposed dress code. No intelligent school district employee objects to a REASONABLE dress code. YOU should read the 3 page document and see if you don't see things a bit differently and understand some of the objections.

I think a business casual dress code is very appropriate for our schools. That's how all of the JSD teachers I've interacted with over the years dressed before this official dress code was even proposed.
.
I fully support the concept of making business casual the official dress code but it seems silly to think that any organization (school district, private business, or otherwise) would really need three pages of explicit instructions to define 'business casual'. I haven't read the proposed dress code but, judging by the way other posters have described it, it sure does sound like overkill. The average adult will understand a clear and concise set of guidelines perfectly fine.

Just Hire Hitler and you all can salute him What the he;ll is wrong with people To force people to do as you say is DICTATORSHIP!!! It never ends keep belittling and forcing your dress code on teachers And soon you will have NO ONE HERE.. Cut their wages, benefits. and demean them and destroy their morals then maybe you can all look for a private school as that is where you simple minded dress codes belong. This is public schooling and the PUBLIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THEIR CLOTHING. so sad that the ones that support this do not get that THOSE DAYS OF THIS TYPE ARE GONE GONE GONE.. I picture the 1950's Librarian Look, with her Bun hairdoo and leotards under her below the knee plaid ruffled dress with pointed toe shoes. Please !!!!!!!

Whatever style of attire they wore when they interviewed for the job should be the attire they should wear while working.

"""School district workers are now asked to wear “appropriate attire,” but there are no specific rules. Principals and other supervisors have discretion to decide what is appropriate. """
.
So why is more detailed needed. Are the administrators not capable of have a discussion with an employed not wearing "appropriate attire"? Why else would this be needed?
.
I have been in multiple schools in this district and this IS NOT AN ISSUE! If it is, administrators are FAILING to do their job.
.
This school board is WASTING TIME! While teachers are working hard to ensure every student learns the school board is concerned about details of a dress code. Sad!
.
If there is a problem, address it, if not let teachers remain TRUSTED professionals. Don't insult them with "no blue jeans". UGH!

I have worked as an aide in JSD and started out making about $10,000 a year. I know the pay has gone up, but not by much. Also aides, custodial and food sevice workers do NOT have the benefit package that teachers do. That being said, I still know many people working for JSD in all areas. When I started I dressed in bussiness casual as I had come from an office/retail setting, however as my duties changed so did my attire. I never considered myself unprofessional but I did wear jeans most days. My jeans were well fitting and decent quality. I also wore nice tops, sweaters etc. My job duties included, but were not limited to doing art projects, working with paint, clay etc. I also had to help with class projects including making volcanoes for Science and dioramas for Social Studies using whatever materials we could find, many times I personally provided the supplies for my students. I have had to be outside in the rain and snow to supervise during lunch, before, and after school. I have loaded wheelchair students on buses, changed diapers of those that are in chairs and worked with feeding tubes. I, like all other district employees working with students did this because I wanted to help make a child's world a little better. Many of the children I worked with came from home that didn't have much and they were more comforatable with me in jeans and casual pants than they were when I dressed up more. So the point I am trying to make to Janesville is give these people a break, stop this attitude that teachers, aides, food service, custodial etc are not professional, because they are. Shame on the Board for suggesting otherwise, if someone is not dressing appropriately let his or her principal deal with it, after all they are the ones working with the staff and students every day. My principal had clear expectations and there were never any problems. Also I think sveral Board Members should have a makeover before they set standards for anyone else, just because your shirt has a collar doesn't mean you look professional, take a good long look in the mirror before you point fingers. I would think there are more important things to worry about than dictating what someone should be wearing. Leave it at Appropriate Attire and call it a day.

So many of you apparently don't read the posts that others write. Teachers already ARE dressing appropriately. Teachers and other staff are not saying they shouldn't dress appropriately- they are saying that they already do!

Stuby your 100% correct...until a union gets involved. Business cashual should be enough said....and a shoe type...to much into this

Look collared shirts mean a polo for Christ sake...get over it...teachers don't need low cut tops...or sweat shirts and jeans dress appropriately...its not that tough kids. Your crying about what you should have been doing all along. Nobody asked you to put on jackets and ties. Females, need to dress appropriate as well flip flops are not it. Not one person said you need to wear stilletos (no sure on that one) but a nice dress shoe is good, and they have nice flip flops if you have to. I am in the schools all the time, most teachers look great, but quite a few look like pigs. How are the teachers going to get respect from the kids when they simply don't respect themselves....as for the coach thing...really...you change into gym cloths like you make the students do...duh...plus I dont know a coach that doesnt already dress nice 95% of the time. Every team we played sure did...As did our coaches (Milton) they look good and dress accordingly. So stop crying in your beer and dress the part...if you wanted to dress like a construction worker you should have become a carpenter.

Really - a three page dress code? Clearly somebody is obsessed with control. A paragraph should suffice for any decent manager.

In a lab coat...which would be over a dress shirt and Kahkis...is it that tough

VNVET7071: What you say is true but the fact still remains that most people are judged on appearance. After all, not everybody gets to know everybody for whats inside them. You judge first based on what you see on the outside.

Typical "pretending there is a problem to solve when there is no problem existed". This has nothing to do with making schools better which I thought that's their job?? They just want to show who has power,period. The teachers/staffs dress professionally anyways. They should do their work instead of wasting their time for something like this. Which teacher thinks "skull tattoo" is propitiate anyways? Why do they have to mention something like this when all the teachers know that? Insulting.

Having seen the document from a few friends who are teachers, and having listened to their concerns, one of the biggest ones is the "collared shirts" issue. I dress in business casual everyday, and as female, I do not need to wear a "collared shirt" to look appropriate, modest, and professional. In fact, if you go to any decent department store, the women's business section is filled with collarless tops that are meant to go under blazers and sweaters. There is no place in the document that actually states "business casual" which would actually encompass the above stated example. It is also very poorly written as it states that women may not wear exceediningly short dresses (which I agree with), but it does not actually mention that women may wear dresses under appropriate attire directives -- only skirts and dress pants. Seems to me that the document needs a thorough proof-reading and someone who knows how to communicate in the written language more effectively.

You've got to be kidding me - someone is trying to play the race card on "business casual" ?? Really ?? That's ridiculous !

Kidsfirst - So what you are saying is the eauropean white man has force their cultures on places like China, Japan and Russia? If I'm not mistaken I think all of their business people dress in suits etc... So my ancestors must have conquered them too? If people are dressing based on what the white man forced on everyone then why isn't everyone in the US still wearing pilgram's gear? It gets tiresome listening to people continue to blame people from hundreds of years ago for what is going on today! If you think you are being forced to conform to the "White Man" then pick a country they haven't conquered yet and move there to enjoy a free culture!

"shoved on you" ??? The administration is putting together a handbook for the first time. It must include a section on dress code. All employee handbooks address this. It has to say SOMETHING. Maybe, just maybe, they aren't trying to insult or offend you...maybe they are just doing their job.

My employer did not seek my opinion or ask for my input in any way when putting together our employee handbook (including dress code). It is part of management's responsibility - they can't possibly ask for input from each individual.

Laborparty I don't think anyone objects to appropriate dress, but the specificity and detail of this code that is being shoved on us without our professional input is offensive and smacks of power plays -- top down management. more of the same story, very bad for positive employee relations. BTW every aspect of new employee handbook is being handled this way. Not exactly engaging -- which is the opposite of how we are expected to teach. Build relationships with your students & their parents. Let them know that you care about them as humans, they are more than faces in classroom. Taylor your instruction to match learning styles. The SDJ needs to read their own book on how to treat others with respect.

@Irish- You are so right. It seems to me that the school district is making an issue of a non-issue. Teachers already DO dress appropriately. Just showing some muscle SDofJ?

I don't understand. Teachers I have had over the last 15 years have never been inappropriately dressed. Gym coaches were dressed in appropriate athletic clothing, classroom instructors ranged between modest business casual to sportcoat and tie with very modest hemlines and coverage, and my instructors in college are all about the business attire. What are these teachers wearing that is so inappropriate? When did this begin? Maybe the difference is the age of the instructors?

Best Comment So far ???
"Let's just go back to the 50's and have married people sleep in seperate beds"
Bahahaha.......you gotta be kidding me...the election Untruths are over .... LMAO.....

redder how would you dress to teach biology (think slimy experiments) and end your day coaching an athletic team?

Have you not noticed most of our society has gone way casual . . .

With the low pay and benefit package all school workers receive they should be able to dress how they want. Leave the appropriate dressing to the highly paid professionals. Does everyone always have to pick on the people that raise our children? Give them some respect.

Its way over due....They should look like the role they fill. Why they would even complain about a business casual dress code is beyond me. Give it a break, you want to make the money, you want the perks, look the part the sweat shirt and jeans thing is for the weekends. I wish I could not wear suites everyday too but I have to. Its what is expected.

I propose we do away with electricity and go back to class by lantern light.

I think this will just be one more barrier between the teachers and the parents of the student who need to have the most interaction with the teacher. Some of these parents already are uncomfortable with the school environment, They don't need to feel under dressed when meeting with teachers. I wore a coat and tie for part of my working career and don't think I performed one bit better because of it. There was a time men wore buckle shoes and tricorner hats or they weren't properly dressed. Now they would look silly. Why do some people love to impose their will on other people.

donnaw, I am not sure khakis are allowed. I know that custodians have restrictions against light-colors.
. . . . . .
There are many teachers who dress professionally every day. There are a few who get a little "too casual" for my taste occasionally, and there are some in every level, elementary -- high school, who do not seem to have ever considered the impact of what they wear, and they have been dressing inappropriately for their whole careers (IMO). Although administrators have always had the right to set standards of expectation for appearance, these teachers have not been corrected.
. . . . . .
The district expects teachers to use instructional strategies that have met scientific research criteria for effectiveness. Yet this dress code appears to be based on opinion and impressions. There are studies which can be referenced. I believe that the dress of the teachers has minimal impact as compared to how the entire student body dresses when it comes to student achievement.
. . . . .
About 2 years ago the SDJ hired a consultant to lead a seminar on how to take schools from good to great. I was so encouraged, because he stated that the most effective way to do it is to get the educators involved in examining and critiquing research. Tweaking practices to best suit their students. The most important piece I took away from that training is that the best changes come from the bottom up. SDJ likes to make appearances of best practice, but once again they are shoving ideas top down.

freedomfighter -- good point about the cost. I say if the community leaders are behind improving achievement in Janesville public schools, they should share some research and then grant funds to provide uniforms to all. Families chip in what they can afford, used uniforms be recycled to provide an exchange closet as children grow. There are fabrics that shed spills, making stains very rare. An American clothing manufacturer bids the job, providing discounts for quantity. Teachers could be given 2 sets of clothes and have the option to purchase more. A grant from our community leaders could make this switch affordable for everyone.

What about those staff members who cannot afford to purchase appropriate attire, ie: aides (special ed) and support staff? Contrary to populist belief in the community, they do not make the same or about the same amount as teachers, they make far less then what teachers make. Maybe the district should offer a stipend to make the purchase. As for the student uniform debate, there are parents who cannot afford to buy clothes or even to buy a uniform for their kids. Us taxpayers will be required to provide the uniforms for them.

Why have a dress code for anybody? In today's society, anything goes as far as dress. Some girls dress like ladies of the night, tight tight shorts with body parts hanging out, tank tops that cover nothing, etc. Some guys wear their pants so low their undershorts show. Let the teacher wear holy jeans , flip flops, ragged tee shirts, who cares when society as whole doesn't care what we look like. Wear your pj's to teach in or a bathing suit. So you have playground duty or have to sit on the floor with your young students. I guess a nice pair of khakis and a sweater along with dock type shoes is too much trouble for clothing.

I teach in another state, and we DO have a dress code for students AND teachers. Teachers are expected to dress in a professional manner. On Fridays, we are allowed to wear jeans as long as our shirt (collared or not collared) has the name of our school on it. Our PTO bought all the teachers shirts this year which I thought was a generous gift for the 100+ staff members at my school.

Let's just go back to the 50's and have married people sleep in seperate beds. This is a joke. Who is to say what is "professional"? I have visible tattoos and I work in a "professional" enviroment and have never ever had anyone say anything negative about them or me. In case people didn't know this is the 2000's not the 50's.

I can remember back to school and remember feeling more tension between me and the teacher when they were dressed all up. I remember a teacher wearing jeans one day and it made for a more relaxed environment. We need to get with the times. Students dont wear dresses or dress up why should teachers? And also.... the no hat rule. Why? I was once told it was for respect? If anyone thinks that not wearing a hat shows respect they need their head examined. Why do we still abide by rules from the 1920's in schools when no where else does?

The point is- Teachers ALREADY dress professionally. Why the dress code except to show who's boss?

usaret..." how would you judge that person based upon his appearance" ? Never judge a book by its cover, you'll miss out on a lot of good reading.

Sounds like both sides have some good points. I don't suppose some sort of compromise could be worked out with input from both sides, could it?

Billnewbie-- apparently you do not realize the administrators have always had the right to expect appropriate attire. How teachers are dressing has "devolved" over the past two decades with hiring young teachers and no one laying ou the expectations. Open-toed shoes were not allowed in 1989. That was not in our contract,but in the expectation expressed by my administrator when I was hired. Sometime over the years, expectations on how to dress have not been addressed. The objectional parts of the proposed include the explicit detail (color of shorts for custodians, collars on shirts, +) and the manner in which it was handled. It is a power play to remind employees -- all employees - that any one working for SDJ is expected to look & work like professionals in business, but do not expect to be trusted to think or get paid like professionals. Reminds me of an old song, "Saint Peter don't ya call me, I can't go. Iowe my soul to the company store."

Billy ..... It's too bad you had to conclude rare, but generally enlightened comments with a blow directed below the union belt. If you were king, teachers would have no representation and would be making five bucks an hour.

Your appearance says alot about you and it isn't always what you think it says. What would your reaction be if you saw your outfit on somebody else? How would you judge (and everybody does regardless) that person based on appearance?

Brown shirts might be nice.

Perhaps Mr. Schultz and the Gazette should print a copy of the poorly written dress code and what it entails so that people can be truly informed before they comment on it. I believe then, they will understand that it just goes too far.

Sorry, my last comment was in response to thetruth724, not truth teller.

Truth teller -- it is racial, because every time white Europeans conquered another culture they demanded conformity to their ideas - including what success looks like. Just accept that other cultures who have not been pressured to conform have other ways of displaying success.
. . .

The second part is about demanding that teachers dress for success in the business community. Many of us sit on the floor with our students, supervise playground activities, use a variety of materials to engage the whole child in learning, et , that makes always wearing business attire inappropriate. I have no objections to uniforms for students & staff -- at least that would eliminate
some of the barriers formed by who can / can't afford what. It would eliminate problems of students or teachers wearing less than appropriate attire.

Milton17 I totally agree!

Dress says a lot about the person.
It is a statement of values and even
what the person thinks of others.
We are attracted and repelled by
another persons attire.
Interesting?

Id like to thank all my former teachers from Franklin middle school and Parker high school for their dedication to their profession. Dealing with jerks, class clown etcs. Very underpaid

kidsfirst - Why does looking professional have to be about the white man? I find that comment a little offensive and a pure racist comment. Where I work, we have to wear dress pants and a colloard shirt with dress shoes Monday thru Thursday and allowed to wear a collard shirt with jeans and dress shoes on Friday. What is wrong with looking professional? That also doesn't mean the current draft of dress code doesn't need some tweaking but never the less a professional look doesn't put up a barrier between kids of poverty. It teaches kids that in the real world in order to be sucessful, you must look the part also! I don't think I've ever seen a company president wearing their jeans down below their crack so we could see their boxers!
As a teacher, you should be teaching your students that first impressions are everything in the real world. If you look like a slob, most likely the person looking to hire them thinks the same thing and they will get passed over. I'm guessing this is what you consider conforming to the white man's world. If I'm a business owner and I'm hiring someone to do a job and or work with the public, they are also going to be presentable as they have the potential of scaring away my customers and my revenue! If someone is not willing to risk everything they have on a chance at the American Dream then they are going to live in the middle class and work for someone who did take that risk. With that said if they want more money they in turn have to make that so called rich person more money to get their piece of the pie. That's how business in the real world works and yes the statement "Image is everything" is 100% correct!

This is a good idea.
Teachers are professionals, and need to be responsible in looking like it also..
I had to in my job carrier, and see no problem with it.

I think this can be a good move with some changes. One's appearance sets a tone in the workplace, whether working with customers, students or peers. Of course, one's attitude needs to match one's appearance. Based on some of the comments, it sounds like a few people, although not all, think teachers should not have to dress like a professional. Teaching is a profession and teachers should dress the part. Unfortunately, my daughter has a teacher who shows up in a hoodie (not a City of Janesville school), which even she thinks is ridiculous.

All employers have the right to have employees conform to the dress code they want to project to the public. When even dept stores clerks in the Mall expect employees to follow their dress code ,I feel the teachers should also follow the dress code set by the administration. Students should be aware that when they are adults in the real world their jobs will dictate what they are able to wear. Teachers can express themself on their own time.

Hopefully an upcoming article will be titled "Dress code for Janesville school employees rejected".

Like it or not, school personnel are role models. The way teachers dress has an effect on the students' attitudes as does the teachers' conduct. If the teachers feel that their right to express themselves through their choice of wardrobe is more important than the message that might send their students, then perhaps they should find a more rewarding. less demanding career. The school board has every right to control that message. The school system exists for the benefit of the kids, you know. Not for the benefit of its employees. Mr. Parr and his union seem to ignore that most of the time.

What's funny is that no one wants to treat the teachers as professionals or pay them as professionals, but now they want them to dress like professionals!!

No I don't think kids should wear anything they want- that's ridiculous. Some if the young girls look like ladies of the night. Not all parents can afford to dress their kids in designer cloths. This makes divisions by class that we don't want in school. We want kids to concentrate on school it self and not on it being a social event. Just think of all the money we could save by not buying these kids all these cloths, makeup and shoes and designer handbags.

I think students and faculty should be allowed to wear anything they wish to wear, but the clothes and shoes must be made in The United States. A lot of problems would be solved but it might be chilly for awhile.

School uniforms for the students is what we need!!!

W A S P - I would agree with you on the power issue. Also - more time should be spent on improving student scores and less on things like this.

As someone who was a manager in a large corporation I always felt that when dress codes were brought up, it was usually more about control and power than anything really tangible.

Positively insulting to all of the professionals who have been dressing appropriately for years. Quit treating the district staff like school children.This is another attempt to undermine them and ... No, I don't teach.

I wore a "twin set" and dress pants to work today. However, according to the dress code, I was not appropriately attired as my top did not have a collar. I guess I should have left the class of twenty-seven alone while I went home to change my clothes. Doesn't the school board and the superintendent have more important things to do to improve education than police my wardrobe?

All the objections to a dress code is very....ummm, interesting, to say the least.

The real insult here is that of all the items that could be worked on for the handbook, SDJ chose the dress code.

Teachers should definitely dress professionally. They should also be compensated and treated like professionals by the district and community.

Teachers and support staff, i would think your appearance and character would
consists of appropriate attire.

Certainly you must believe a professional
appearance would promote an environment the students would respect. For the most part.

Remember, your there for the kids. Not your union.

Collars are not normally a part of my attire. Boat necks are much more flattering for me. Honestly, this is about administrators who are not able/willing to be specific. When I started teaching in J'ville, open toed shoes were considered unsafe. This year I have observed many people wearing flip flops -- why? because there were bigger "fish to fry." Teachers do not work in banks or legal offices. Go to any business in town and take a survey. . . you'll find that the dress code as defined by this draft is not upheld in 8:10 work places. For teachers working in high poverty schools, that will add one more barrier between them and the students/parents who are struggling to get to school at all. Come work with us and then make observations about what we do and why what we wear makes a difference.

Welcome to the 1800's.... next we'll have rotary phones back in schools along with slide rules. Why do we make the world look fake to kids? We call teachers Mr. & Mrs. and no other place in society does that. Its so primitive and fake.... makes for a lousy learning environment.

I'm shocked that this has not already been addressed.

The past few years school staff and students have been allowed to dress inappropriately in the education system. A dress code would hopefully help improve this situation but there has to be administrators who will follow through and enfore the code. Janesville isn't the only district that needs a dress code, Milton needs one too.

The dress code matches a white man's definition of success. I guess the SDJ has forgotten that they want us to embrace cultural diversity, bridge the gaps that result from poverty, and display racial sensitivity. I am not saying that dressing in revealing clothing or flip flops are necessary, but any administrator does not need a dress code to direct individuals to come to work more appropriately attired. They have had that responsibility all along. The stated dress code is an insult to the majority of teachers.

About time the adults dress like professionals not oversized children

I wonder who decides if a tattoo is "offensive" and what the employee is supposed to do about it?

The proposed code goes way too far and is way too specific in some areas (tops - must be collared) and not specific enough in others (skirts of appropriate length). I know that I myself have plenty of school/professional appropriate tops and sweaters that do not necessarily have collars and I also know that as far as skirt-length goes what is appropriate to some is totally inappropriate to others. There is much more work to be done on this dress code.

What the article doesn't mention is the exceptions that the technical education (or more accurately technology education) teachers get is for wearing jeans instead of dress clothing. However, there is many brands of dressier clothing manufacturers out there that still make very durable clothing for similar lines of work. Example: Duluth Trading company, Dickies, etc... Bottom line: to be taken seriously you have to not just act the part but also dress the part.

Teachers are professionals and should dress accordingly. They should have no problem with that. Unfortunately there seems to be a problem with that.

Vestis virum reddit

Good point. Let me change that...

"The code bans employees wearing suggestive and offensive clothing and offensive tattoos. It contains exceptions for those who work in maintenance, technical education and other jobs that do not lend themselves to the business-casual tone of the rest of the document."

So those in maintenance and technical education can wear suggestive and offensive clothing and offensive tattoos?