Should teachers wear a uniform?

Question

Teachers are often very badly dressed. Do you think wearing a uniform would give them more authority? Most other figures in authority in society wear uniforms of one sort or another (policmen, doctors, dentists......) so why not teachers?

Answer 1

Teachers do have a uniform- they have to wear one piece of tacky apple jewelry everyday:) J/K

Answer 2

I don't think teachers should wear a uniform. The children do so that there isn't any teasing about who's wearing the latest fashions, or not, and so that they're easily identifiable on school trips etc. It makes life easier for parents as well as there's no pressure to spend out on new clothes all the time for their kids.

I do think teachers need to look respectable, but a lot of being respectable is in how people behave and people with tattoos/piercings etc. can be just as well, or badly, behaved as any other person. I do think wearing revealing clothing is just as inappropriate for teachers as any other profession

Doctors only wear a uniform when working in hospital and it's not actually a uniform, just a coat over the top of their clothes for cleanliness. Dentists again wear a coat for cleanliness and this is on top of their normal clothes. Police people wear a uniform so that they can be easily identified by the public. There is no hygene or identification reason why teachers should wear a uniform any more than a GP or a solicitor.

I disagree that teachers 'are often very badly dressed.' I've been in teaching for five years and have never seen a colleague 'badly' dressed. Mayeb unfashionably dressed or luridly dressed but never unprofessionally.

Answer 3

I think that professional clothing is the uniform of teachers. It also teaches students how to dress properly for their future jobs. As far as authority I have seen very well dressed teachers with absolutely no authority or student control. I don't think authority comes from dress although if you dress more professionally students will take you more seriously simply because you take the job seriously.

Answer 4

Well, as an elementary school teacher, there is no way I could wear a business style of clothing to work. I'm on the floor with my students everyday---doing different things. I always wear breathable, easily moveable cotton pants, shirts, dresses. They are easy to clean, especially when you get smudgy marks on you from little hands that hug you all day long. :) I wear comfortable shoes--no heels. I look good enough to go to church --my Sunday best so to speak. In my district, I am beholden to follow the distirct dress code just like the students, and I completely agree with it. I dress down on Fridays--wearing jeans, but that is it. . We tried uniforms at our district, but the parents the majority of the parents hated it, and since we are a public school--we had to drop it. I do think everyone should look presentable when they are at school--students and teachesr as well.

Answer 5

Uniforms no, dress code yes: how can I justify to my daughters that they have to wear their uniform and look tidy, when some of their teachers walk around as if they are coming straight from the beach or a night club? Especially as they really don't want to know how many tattoos and/or piercings their teachers have.....

Answer 6

Hey, That's interesting!! Good idea! They should wear uniforms to have a standardization, just like the students. Each school may have its own set of uniforms for both the male and female teachers. Mmmmmmmm.......we won't have sexily dressed teachers then!!!!

Answer 7

I've heard of studies that state that students behave better when teachers are dressed more "professionally". I wonder about it.
As a teacher, I wouldn't want to wear a uniform.
We sometimes see ourselves as only there for discipline... a uniform would promote this idea.

Answer 8

Teachers should set an example to students. Maybe not a uniform but I think that a suit should be worn.

Except for lessons where this maybe unsuitable eg PE, Drama, Design and Technology.

Answer 9

The only reason I would say yes to this question is about mid-March when I am tired of finding something to wear to school and I think gee, if I wore a uniform I wouldn't have to make that decision.

Answer 10

I have always thought that all schools everwhere the students and the teachers should be in uniforms never there own clothing and school hours should never be longer than 5 hours. Thats what burns kids out .

Answer 11

I am an 8th grade public school science teacher. I wear business attire and a lab coat when working in the science lab. Professional attire is the uniform of business and teachers.