Teacher maliciously complies with strict school dress code, wears ridiculous boots to work to prove a point: 'I am in compliance with the dress code'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 2, 2024 2:00 PM EDT

Teachers already have to put up with so much nonsense at school. Giving them a hard time about what shoes they can wear is certainly crossing a boundary.

This school's superintendent decided that the most important aspect of his job was enforcing the student and faculty dress code policy. For the faculty, that meant only dress shoes and boots unless there was a proven medical emergency. This teacher decided enough was enough and used some feet pain as his "medical emergency" and justification for wearing sneakers to work. Unfortunately, the superintendent caught the teacher red-handed and gave them a serious warning. 

That was the last straw for the teacher, who decided to wear a ridiculous pair of oversized boots to prove a point. After that, he and several other students and faculty members rebelled against the dress code policies as well. Strength in numbers, people!

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from folks in the comments section. For more, check out this post about workplace mistakes.

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  • 01
    "Male staff must wear dress shoes or boots."
    via Jeffrey Hamilton
  • 02
    The superintendent of my old school was comically rigid in his views and seemed to have his mindset stuck in the 1960s. He told us without a hint of irony that the only way students would respect us is if we were dressed professionally.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 03
    Not even business casual was okay for him. Faculty wearing sneakers or blue jeans was a legitimate cause for termination under our contract.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 04
    The male staff dress code demanded that we wear a long sleeve button-up shirt with a tie, dress pants with a belt, and dress shoes or boots every day.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 05
    There was, however, a note in our contract stating that the dress code could be "reasonably relaxed" if not possible due to a medical condition. No details were provided beyond that.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 06
    Well, my wife and I moved apartments one weekend, and my feet hurt, so I made the executive decision that that was a medical condition and wore my sneakers to school on Monday. I figured I could just lay low and keep my feet hidden from any pesky
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 07
    administrators, and I knew that my students wouldn't care. (My students, and fact, thought it was awesome that part of my appearance was that of a real person lol.) Wouldn't you know it,
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 08
    that was the day the superintendent and building administrators were coming around room by room to give the school board members a building tour! So of course I had to get up and greet them. Nobody said anything to me, but I did receive a nasty email from the assistant principal (with CC to the principal and
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 09
    superintendent) reminding me of the expectations set forth in the teacher dress code. No note in my file or anything, just a warning.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 10
    Fair enough, I suppose, but it I me off that they didn't even ask why I decided to wear sneakers and just sent me a warning with no chance to defend myself.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 11
    So... cue the malicious compliance. If you noticed from my post title, the dress code just said dress shoes and "boots." Well, are you familiar with Demonia boots? I went ahead and bought the most over the top, bombastic pair of boots on their website. I'm talking black leather with 3-in platforms, chains, studs, zippers, and straps galore.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 12
    They came about halfway up my shins, and of course I tucked my pants into them. My students thought they were amazing and there are pictures of my feet all over various social media sites. A few of my co-workers took it upon themselves to give me a stern warning, and some others gave me a high five.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 13
    After 4 days of wearing these boots with no incident, the principal ended up behind me in the hallway. Rather quickly, he asked, "What the are those?" So I told him they were "boots to ensure that I am in compliance with the dress code" and kept walking.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 14
    That afternoon, I received an email from him stating that I was intentionally being unprofessional and this would be documented in my record and further dress code offenses could lead to disciplinary action or suspension. I immediately got in touch with my union
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 15
    who quickly dealt with that in my favor, since they were indeed boots. I also explained to the union that I only did this because of the nasty email I received for wearing sneakers with my sore feet. The union rep
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 16
    immediately smirked, told me she was unfamiliar with that rule, and told me to go ahead and wear whatever footwear I wanted and that if anybody had a problem, I could just claim I had sore feet.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 17
    Long story short, I ended up wearing my sneakers every single day for the entire rest of the school year and never had another problem.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 18
    My favorite part of this is that I inspired a few other rebels, and by the time I left that school, there were a solid 10 of us that were just routinely wearing sneakers
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 19
    or other non-dress code compliant footwear in blatant disregard of the dress code every single day. Good times! Definitely a legacy that I left behind in that school :)
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 20
    Odd-Artist-2595. 16 hr. ago I managed IT in a factory where steel-toes were a requirement for anyone going into any of the manufacturing areas. I was also the first woman this factory had ever hired into a management position, and not everybody was okay with that. I got a lot of scrutiny.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 21
    I did have to go into those areas, but I also like comfortable, at least somewhat flexible, shoes. I discovered that there was a steel-toed sneaker available. Nobody ever said it had to be a work boot, so I bought the sneakers.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 22
    First time I wore them the Production Manager braced me in the hallway for being out of compliance. I told him that they were steel-toes and he just scoffed. Said that, if I was telling the truth, I wouldn't mind if he stood on my feet.
    via u/ExeTheHero
  • 23
    I'll never forget the look on his face when he stepped up and I just stared at him without flinching. I told him, "I don't lie. Don't ever accuse me of it again." Never had another issue with him. He became one of my chief supporters after that.
    via u/ExeTheHero

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