If you had walked into my classroom 10 years ago, you would have seen me in front of the class, wearing a pencil skirt, high heels, and my hair in a tight bun. My students were probably sitting in straight rows while I was lecturing.
But walk into my classroom now, and you’ll see
something entirely different. Tables in groups, students on the floor with
Chromebooks in their laps. The students are talking, collaborating, moving
around. And I’m right there with them, sitting criss-cross (applesauce) … in
jeans.
I donated the pencil skirt long ago, and I opt
for jeans nearly every single day. Now I know there’s a lot of controversy
about whether teachers should even be allowed to wear jeans on a regular
basis. But I think jeans should absolutely be a part of the
teacher dress code, and here’s why.
1. Jeans say I’m dressed to work,
not just for work.
It’s hard to sit down on the carpet and read
a book with your kids while you’re wearing a skirt. You constantly have to
check to make sure everything is covered. I can’t lean over a desk to help a
student in a classroom full of teenagers if I’m concerned about where my skirt
ends up when I’m bent over.
I also don’t want to worry about creasing my
dry-clean-only dress pants. (And who has time or money for dry cleaning?) Jeans
solve these problems. No fear of embarrassing pictures on Snapchat or a spam
Instagram account or expensive dry cleaning bills. Plus, I can work in
jeans: I can move, sit, stand, or kneel without worry.
2. Jeans allow you to blend in while walking in
the hallways.
I look pretty young (according to my students). I
also carry a backpack because it’s way better on my back and I am out of my
classroom for over half of the day. So when I’m trudging through the halls in
my jeans and backpack, the kids don’t even notice I’m there. Imagine all of the
inside information I learn during these adventures!
The best is when a kid in front of me cusses and
I say “language!” They turn to retaliate, realize I’m a teacher, and say,
“Sorry, ma’am.” Or when a kid waves to me, and their friend asks who I am, and
the kid replies, “My English teacher.” Constant entertainment.
3. Wearing jeans helps build relationships.
What is the key to being an excellent teacher?
Great relationships with your students. Dress clothes say I am your
boss, but jeans say I’m with you. In my classroom, I am a
facilitator, a coach, and a mentor. Jeans allow me to fill those roles more
easily (and comfortably).
4. Jeans can look just as professional as other
looks.
Most of the arguments against wearing jeans claim
that if teachers want to be treated like professionals, they should look like
professionals, but I’d argue that there is no longer a blanket look for
professionals. Plus, there are unprofessional looks that pop up, whether you
allow jeans or not.
5. Teachers who wear jeans are just happier.
“Happy wife, happy life” is a saying we often
hear when someone gets married. Well, the same goes for the classroom. “Happy
teacher, happy class” seems like a good saying. After all, the teacher’s mood
usually sets the tone for the day.
When you’re comfortable, you’re happy. When
you’re happy, you’re a better teacher. And when you’re a better teacher, your
students learn more. Who isn’t happy when they’re wearing their favorite pair
of comfy jeans?
6. Jeans allow teachers to be more mobile and
hands-on.
Teachers today don’t just stand up in front and
lecture anymore. Being comfortable means being able to move, bend down to help
students, and sit on the floor to help a kid organize their backpack full of
papers. Jeans help teachers do their jobs at the highest possible level.
7. Jeans allow us to be treated like adults.
I work in a school where the teacher dress code
is not strictly enforced. Teachers wear jeans pretty regularly, but we don’t
look like a slovenly group of people, nor are our students suffering because of
our casual attire. Our admin trusts us when it comes to choosing attire, and we
definitely appreciate it.
We, as teachers, want to be treated like adults, without a bunch of extra rules. Giving us the freedom to wear what we choose is a small but important step in this direction. It’s the same type of lesson we teach our students, so let’s enforce it in the teacher dress code, too.
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