Tyrannical School District Bans Teachers From Wearing Sneakers or Tennis Shoes

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Jul 18, 2023 12:30 PM EDT

I never understood why teachers have such strict dress codes. They have physical jobs that involve standing all day, getting messy, and moving in ways most sedentary office workers never do. If they need to wear a dress to do that, then I don't think the person who is making the dress code understands the teacher's job. 

There's this idea that kids will respect teachers more if they look a certain way, which I don't understand at all. Kids will disrespect teachers left, right, and center no matter what they look like. If you have minimal flaws, kids will find a way to find one. That's why I find it so silly when schools ban teachers from wearing jeans. If anything, jeans will make teachers better, because they'll be more comfortable! One school took it even further, banning sneakers and tennis shoes altogether. Imagine having to teach for 6 hours a day while wearing ballet flats? Absolute torture. 

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  • 01
    Font - r/Teachers u/zebra-eds-... 1d 2nd Grade | South... ● District has lost it Professional Dress & Wardrobe We now need a doctor's note to wear sneakers or 'comfy' shoes!!! This is ridiculous. Luckily, my doctor was willing to write me a note (ankle issues). But, I have to have a formal meeting with HR to make it an accomodation. Ugh
    via u/zebra-eds-warrior
  • 02
    Font - Edit to add: this really blew up. I'm going to answer common questions I have seen. Shoes for women: flats, wedges, or formal shoes. Shoes for men: dress shoes or loafers. I work in the south and we do not have a union in the district. There is a state union I pay to be part of, but they handle very little. I am not going to say what district or where I live. That's internet 101.
    via u/zebra-eds-warrior
  • 03
    Font - Embarrassed-Type- . 1d This is insulting. Micromanagement is a huge reason why people are leaving. My school was so happy to have us there, jeans became the standard, without protest from admin. ... Reply 1.9k
    via u/Embarrassed-Type
  • 04
    Font - zebra-eds-warrior OP. 1d 2nd Grade | South Carolina I wish. District cracked down hard. Now sneakers, not Tshirt looking shirts, no rompers (even formal appropriate ones), no capris (only pants or skirts. Skirts have to be below the knees), and more. It's another example of someone in the district who made a bad choice and now the rest of us have to suffer ... 677
    via u/zebra-eds-warrior
  • 05
    Font - Puzzleheaded-Phase70 • 1d 2 Awards Time for everyone to show up in ballgowns and tuxes and anything else TOTALLY formal. ... 792
    via u/Puzzleheaded-Phase70
  • 06
    Font - shakeweight4life . 1d 1 Award This reminds me of the time one of our third grade teachers showed up to school in a t shirt and jeans, because they class was doing some sort of project (art or science, I can't remember, but it was messy). Our district admin was doing walk throughs that day, and our principal decided it was a good day to go even more overboard with her bullshit. Not 10 minutes into the school day Principal Bitch Face, came busting through the door and told the teacher she n
    via u/shakeweight4life
  • 07
    Font - I had recess duty with this particular teacher right before lunch, and I hadn't seen her since she went to change. The next thing I know, she walked out the recess door with her class, and Holy Crap on a cracker, if she didn't have on what appeared to be a sparkling black ball gown, high heels, and her hair done. It was a glorious case of malicious compliance. ... ✩ 941 941
    via u/shakeweight4life
  • 08
    Handwriting - watermelonlollies. 1d Middle School Science | AZ, USA My admin wants us to pay $20 for the 'privilege' of wearing jeans on fridays. Yeah no thanks 65
    via u/watermelonlollies
  • 09
    Font - Funwithfun14 • 1d I can't get over that crap. I work in Finance at a Fortune 500 and I wear jeans when not meeting outside entities. Briefing the CFO, we are often both in jeans. Asking for $20 from a teacher? Dude Admin needs to focus on other shit. 70凸 ...
    via u/Funwithfun14
  • 10
    Font - big_nothing_burger. 1d Surely this is the policy that will finally fix education! Reply 363 ...
    via u/big_nothing_burger
  • 11
    Font - Whelmed 29. 1d HS Math Teacher | USA Wouldn't most doctors recommend comfy shoes for everybody? I'm confused. ... Reply 581
    via u/Whelmed29
  • 12
    Rectangle - jason_sation • 1d 1 Award Yes, his name is Dr Scholl ... 518
    via u/jason_sation
  • 13
    Font - zebra-eds-warrior OP • 1d 2nd Grade I South Carolina District is forcing it to become an accomodation. You need a formal doctor's note stating that for XYZ reasons you need to wear sneakers. Then you need to bring that note to Hr and have an official accommodations meeting. Very few are willing to go through the process of all that. ... 159
    via u/zebra-eds-warrior
  • 14
    Font - JessieDaMess • 1d Don't do note or letter, takes too much time. Just have the Dr. jot a little scribble saying Jane Joe Doe can wear tennis shoes, hiking shoes, whatever on an RX pad. If HR objects saying this isn't detailed enough, mention it's a prescription, are you refusing to follow this and I'm not comfortable discussing my confidential medical issues with you. ... 213
    via u/JessieDaMess
  • 15
    Font - AHOY Sea_Page6653 - 1d If they told me that as a special Ed teacher, I'd be so mad. I don't need a doctor to make that an accommodation, I sometimes have to run after kids that are not emotionally regulated. ↑ 27 ...
    via u/Sea_Page6653
  • 16
    Font - zebra-eds-warrior OP 1d 2nd Grade I South Carolina ● Same. I work with young kids. In the past I have had runners that don't have a 1-to-1. Sometimes at recess that means I'm running after a kid. I need to be able to do that 14 ↓ ...
    via u/zebra-eds-warrior
  • 17
    Font - PikPekachu • 1d How do they even define this? I seriously would like to know what districts think we do all day. Like, you expect me to stand at all times. In dress shoes. And dress clothes. In a room of chaos. A few years ago in my old district we had a surprise board visit, and one of the trustees commented that my pants didn't look 'pressed' and had a stain on them. The stain was from paint a kid had spilled on me that day. The wrinkles were because IT IS MY LITERAL JOB to be constantl
    via u/PikPekachu
  • 18
    Font - BeagleButler. 1d I'm pretty sure your doctor will laugh at your boss and write the note. It's just ridiculous that you have to do through this in the first place. Then again my school thinks jeans are unprofessional for teachers unless it's for a fundraiser. ... Reply 73
    via u/BeagleButler
  • 19
    Font - zebra-eds-warrior OP 1d 2nd Grade I South Carolina ● My doctor was pissed on my behalf. I have MAJOR medical issues and already have some minor accommodations at work. She asked if they were stupid. I have an accomodation to have a doctor's stool that I can sit on at any time and roll around the room. They couldn't connect the dots that making me wear formal shoes (flats, wedges, or 'formal shoes') is a bad idea. She honestly called them stupid 95
    via u/zebra-eds-warrior
  • 20
    Rectangle - Spiral Center 1d ● Uhh, what the what?! Does someone think that comfortable shoes make you a less effective teacher? Are uniforms coming in next? ... Reply 11 ↓
    via u/SpiralCenter
  • 21
    Font - PhysicsTeach Mom . 1d physics teacher | a high school Ridiculous. I moved from a district like that in Arizona to one in Massachusetts with no dress code - for students or staff. Want to wear biker shorts, jeans, crocs, go for it. Couldn't even wear shorts in Arizona. Funny the students are way more respectful despite me not dressing up. Reply 17 ↓ ...
    via u/PhysicsTeachMom

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