Teacher tests school's strict dress code policy, claims 'sore feet' to be able to wear whatever he wants: 'There were a solid 10 of us that were [...] in blatant disregard of the dress code'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 16, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

Some dress code policies make sense but only within reason. If you work in a high school, it's a good idea to never wear clothing that has writing on it that could potentially alienate or offend someone. Even if you think one of your favorite shirts wouldn't bother someone your age, it's always best to err on the side of caution under these circumstances. Remember that you're dealing with a whole other generation (not to mention, kids tell their parents things and their parents will inform the administrators if necessary). 

Having attended two different schools growing up with vastly different dress code policies, I can attest that both schools had major flaws in their handbooks that related to what students and teachers can and should wear. In my middle school, everyone had to wear a jacket and tie at all times, so no one felt free. In high school, the rules were more nebulous, and students cited for inappropriate attire were judged on a case-by-case basis. This inevitably would lead to its own set of problems, as more beloved students tended to get out of trouble even though their outfits were just as bold as those of more troublesome kids. 

Like the teacher who authored this story, instructors were judged harshly as well. However, if you look at the strict wording of the policies as written in the handbook, you can almost always find a loophole.

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    Cheezburger Image 10529905920
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images_

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This teacher decided to wear sneakers one day because his feet were sore, and those were the only comfortable shoes that fit him at the time. He was hoping none of the strict administrators would notice, but alas, they came by his classroom at the most inopportune moment. Still, in order to combat being unfairly reprimanded, the teacher decided to follow the handbook a little too closely in order to prove his point. To make matters even better for him, he also had the union on his side.

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    ""Male staff must wear dress shoes or boots."

    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 ExeTheHero
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    Not even business casual was okay for him. Faculty wearing sneakers or blue jeans was a legitimate cause for termination under our contract.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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
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    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,
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    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.
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    Nobody said anything to me, but I did receive a nasty email from the assistant principal (with CC to the principal and
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    superintendent) reminding me of the expectations set forth in the teacher dress code. No note in my file or anything, just a warning.
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    Fair enough, I suppose, but it Ime 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.
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    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
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    on their website. I'm talking black leather with 3-in platforms, chains, studs, zippers, and straps galore.
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    Mill! ATOMY of ter intestine een
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    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
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    few of my co-workers took it upon themselves to give me a stern warning, and some others gave me a high five.
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    After 4 days of wearing these boots with no incident, the principal ended up behind me in the hallway. Rather quickly, he
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    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.
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    That afternoon, I received an email from him stating that I was intentionally being unprofessional and this would be documented
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    in my record and further dress code offenses could lead to disciplinary action or suspension. I immediately got in touch with my union.
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    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
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    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.
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    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.
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    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
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    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 ExeTheHero
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    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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 ExeTheHero

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workplace-stories dress code school work stories toxic-workplace job malicious compliance work teacher employees toxic-boss high school workplace malicious compliance toxic-work-environment
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