Old vet...so you never learned anything from someone wearing a Smokey the Bear hat, right ? Talk about goofy looking!

I respect those who disagree with me but I stand with my original statement. I agree that wearing nice clothes is not the entire solution but Wearing "goofy" shirts does nothing but show how goofy you may be. Wearing "goofy" dumbs down the wearer and in turn the student and the education process. SHAPE UP !

It is hard to believe that this is even an issue. Teachers might just think about what their teachers wore. It is nice to take off a necktie at the end of the day and nice to be able to work at a place that requires a tie to be worn.

SexCat70 - If you think a high school yearbook looks like child porn, you have an obvious character flaw that needs to be addressed.

"APPEARANCE (DRESS CODE)
***** is frequently recognized by visiting clients, vendors and others for the professional look and feel of the organization, facilities and associates. Our professional image is important to many of our customers; and has come to be expected.
Our “general” policy is that business casual dress is acceptable Monday through Thursday with casual on Friday. However, as time has evolved, the dress code is currently more fluid and now indicative of each manager’s discretion. Should your manager feel that “business casual” is the daily norm, than that directive needs to be respected, even if your neighbor’s manager allows “casual” attire daily.
We all enjoy the informal feel of ****’ dress code, but we need to remember we are working in a professional organization and must dress accordingly. Dressing the part is believed to result in improved productivity and morale. Regardless, the message is appropriate dress, whether traditional, business casual or casual, is just one of the many disciplines that can help make us successful as individuals as well as an organization.
In the event of a client, prospective customer, vendor or outside organization visit where “casual” attire is not appropriate, the group hosting the visitor will send out an e-mail as far in advance as feasible informing associates of the visit and requesting that “Business Casual” dress be worn for that day.
Associates considered inappropriately dressed by their manager, or other members of the management team, will be notified by their manager of the inappropriateness of the garment with the understanding that it or other similar articles of clothing will not be worn to work. If there is a second offense of the dress code, the associate will be required to change before continuing to work.
***** expects employees to maintain a neat, well groomed appearance at all times. Employees should avoid extremes in dress."

Even this is vague. I've seen people working with baggy pants, t-shirts, "hoodys", etc... Not a good way to make a good impression on customers, fellow employee's, or managament...Ironcially the most blatent offender of the dress code just got the chop...

"APPEARANCE (DRESS CODE)
***** is frequently recognized by visiting clients, vendors and others for the professional look and feel of the organization, facilities and associates. Our professional image is important to many of our customers; and has come to be expected.
Our “general” policy is that business casual dress is acceptable Monday through Thursday with casual on Friday. However, as time has evolved, the dress code is currently more fluid and now indicative of each manager’s discretion. Should your manager feel that “business casual” is the daily norm, than that directive needs to be respected, even if your neighbor’s manager allows “casual” attire daily.
We all enjoy the informal feel of ****’ dress code, but we need to remember we are working in a professional organization and must dress accordingly. Dressing the part is believed to result in improved productivity and morale. Regardless, the message is appropriate dress, whether traditional, business casual or casual, is just one of the many disciplines that can help make us successful as individuals as well as an organization.
In the event of a client, prospective customer, vendor or outside organization visit where “casual” attire is not appropriate, the group hosting the visitor will send out an e-mail as far in advance as feasible informing associates of the visit and requesting that “Business Casual” dress be worn for that day.
Associates considered inappropriately dressed by their manager, or other members of the management team, will be notified by their manager of the inappropriateness of the garment with the understanding that it or other similar articles of clothing will not be worn to work. If there is a second offense of the dress code, the associate will be required to change before continuing to work.
***** expects employees to maintain a neat, well groomed appearance at all times. Employees should avoid extremes in dress."

Even this is vague. I've seen people working with baggy pants, t-shirts, "hoodys", etc... Not a good way to make a good impression on customers, fellow employee's, or managament...Ironcially the most blatent offender of the dress code just got the chop...

" Tired of the little hooker look in school."

lol, i hear ya. The yearbook could pass as child porn.

I think at a minimum there needs to be a district wide definition of "appropriate." That's just common sense. When I write an employee handbook, unemployment law requires me to define things like "absent" and "tardy" in order for the policy to be enforceable.

Is there a need for a dress code? It seems to me that should be a question the school board asks the school administrators that are actually there everyday, and know what's going on. The administrators are paid to deal with these situations. I would hope that the board has enough faith in the individuals they're allowing to run our schools to trust their judgement. The board's job in this matter is to make sure the administrators have the tools they need to solve problems, not create more.

No more sweaters that are older than you are ;).
It seems it does need to be spelled out if there are issues.
oldvet- come on now. You are showing your age ;)
I don't think a neck tie is needed nor a sport coat. A nice dress shirt(oxford) is fine or nice polo with khaki. No pants for ladies- this is silly. Lets put you in a dress when it is 20 degrees out.
I am for the dress code of students. khakis and polo. Tired of the little hooker look in school.

Oldvet, while I respect where your coming from, I have to disagree.Walk a mile in my shoes that I have walked in and you may think differently.I was a HS teacher that wore the goofiest shirts, more appropriate for grade school than HS but the kids loved it. They never knew what I would wear next, and it always brought a smile to their face. I was still strict, probably the most in the building,but was pretty much respected by all.You don't need to wear a tie and white shirt for your heart to show through .Professionalism comes from within.Then again, you don't have to dress like a bum ! SALUTE.

At my work place (public) we had casual Friday. We could wear blue jeans if we gave $1 which at that time I think went to the Boy's & Girls's Club. Another work place I was at the employees wore a name tag that explained were the donation went. I guess looking appropriate is more important than setting a good example of citizenship by our actions.

There needs to be a little more to it. If you leave it the Principal's discretion you will have different policies at every school. But it doesn't need to be nearly as extreme as oldvet is suggesting.

Why a dress code? So we can show how more fake everything is to kids? People wonder why kids are more and more messed up and why the education system is going down and down...We lie to kids, hide reality, and make everything look like what it isnt. Now to frantically try and improve the education system we think its what the teachers wear? HAHAHA! Ive never seen an inapropriately dressed teacher, I actually felt more at ease around them the more casual they dressed... A teacher in a suit made an uptight atmosphere versus jeans and polo shirt. Is Janesville really this dumb? (I already know the answer..lol.).

I believe that any dress code should be specific. Male Teachers should dress with at least a necktie. A suit coat would be even better. Females should NOT be allowed to dress in slacks. Students should also have a dress code. Students would take teachers more seriously, there would be more respect and the whole school environment would improve and hopefully grades would improve along with it.

I think an attempt at "regulation" might by more trouble than leaving it alone.
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If nothing is done, there is the possibility that a teacher might dress improperly, a Principal might give them counsel and the teacher could reject advice, and just keep wearing mini-skirts or unbuttoning his shirt to his navel... No policy to stop them.
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But the atmosphere created by addressing this situation "now" with all the other issues at stake seems foolish in my opinion.
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If there is not a real problem along these lines today.. Table the issue.

I think only those who spend day to day activities in the schools can answer this one, and I do not fit into that category. IMO there should be more detail than just "appropriate". I do feel however, that there should be a strict student dress code. My son's school in Rockford has one and I like it. There is enough peer pressure in today's world without having to worry about your apparel.

Not needed - if a problem exists - the building Principal can speak with the staff member. More written rules are not necessary especially now with Walker as Governor.

"Scott Walker's War On Teachers"

http://host.madison.com/news/opinion/edi...

http://scottwalkerwatch.com/2012/04/26/w...

I agree with Junegirl. I really don't think attire needs to be spelled out because like said,"They are professionals and should be treated as such." But on the other hand, they should be monitored by other staff, and superiors because of the fact that teachers are one of the biggest influences in our children's lives. One would expect that if a person cares enough to become a teacher that he/she would be responsible enough to dress appropriately no matter what the situation calls for on the job.

No!
They are professionals and should be treated as such. If an individual dresses inappropriately, he or she should be spoken with on an individual basis!