I was showing a couple students some pictures on my blog, and upon viewing this one (Mayan ruins in Cancun last summer) one of my seniors said, "You wear shorts? I don't think I've ever seen your legs."
I'm the only math teacher at my school about whom that comment can be made. I don't wear shorts to school, even when it's hot. I wear Dockers-type slacks and a collared shirt, except on Fridays when I relax a bit (jeans).
I'm not saying it's unprofessional for a man to wear shorts to work, but it's certainly not something I've yet done.
13 comments:
Interesting. I assure you that no teacher would ever wear shorts to school around here in New England (and yes it can get pretty hot here in June and September; we had a heat index of 111 a couple of summers ago).
Strange! My Patrick (age almost 16) WILL NOT wear shorts. Of course, I would have a child slightly younger that will not wear long pants even in February. Guess we're the Jack Sprat family or something. :]
PS the pic looks like a hot, hot day out. *whew*
It was Cancun in August--so much humidity the sweat wouldn't even evaporate. And I walked over 7 miles in those water shoes that day--talk about tight calves the next day!
Why not?
I don't consider it appropriate work attire.
Teachers where shorts to school? Perhaps its because I've taught in private schools but that does not set a professional tone in the classroom.
I agree with you, Darren. Shorts are not appropriate attire for teachers at work. If you teach PE, that's different. But in the classroom, no shorts, ever.
We get into this at Althouse from time to time, since she shares my feelings (probably an age thing), but to me, shorts are kids clothes, and grown men don't wear them outside the house.
I never do. No matter how hot it gets. It would be like wearing nothing but underwear outside.
My school district actually has it in our Board Policies that unless you teach 1/2 or more PE, you are not supposed to wear shorts.
I am much younger than you (I'm 35), and I dress very similarly. Khakis or slacks and a collared "Golf Shirt" most days, jeans and a collared shirt on Friday. Shorts are for summer on the golf course, not in the classroom.
Over the last sixteen years I have taught in public K-12, part-time at the California State University, and full-time at the community college level. I wear shorts to work every day. If I feel like it, I even wear Birkenstocks sometimes. I'm not a hippy or a leftist; in actuality I am a hardcore conservative. I drive an SUV and I am an NRA member. I smoke cigars and make home-brewed beer. And I thank God I live in a free country where I can still dress as I please, without having to worry about self-appointed fashion police telling me what to do for no particular reason. If I wanted to dress in business attire, I would get a 9-5 office job. If someone else wants to dress in business attire, more power to them, but my greatest fear is that someone would mistake me for an administrator, the very thought of which makes me shudder.
At the university, I wore business dress casual (loafers, slacks, shirt and tie, sport coat) except on Fridays, when I wore a suit as sort of a statement about how I feel about "casual Fridays."
In the summer, short sleeves sometimes, if it was hot and muggy.
At 39, I guess I fall into the "old school" here (who woulda thunk?) but this is one of my pet peeves. I'm a stay-at-home mom now and no one is going to mistake me for a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination... but imho, clothes are a way we show (or don't show) respect for the people around us. When we look professional for a church service or a wedding, a symphony concert or our job, we're communicating that the people around us are important to us. An attitude of "my comfort is the only thing that matters" is basically selfish... it tells people they aren't worth the effort.
Off my soapbox now. :-)
Damned Darren, you’re even uglier than I remember at the Reagan Ranch last year! :)
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