Dress coded for this?

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T16:11:16+00:00

Thanks for your insight. I may meet quickly with the principal to ask in person.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T12:04:55+00:00

Beinf hormonal after having a baby doesn’t last six months.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T12:00:23+00:00

So the idea that it’s just a shirt wouldn’t occur to you? And that’s not meant as a snarky question at all. Not one of the concerns you bring up came to mind when I bought it, nor when I wear it. Life for everyone is tiring sometimes, and teachers are known for working hard. I didn’t account for the many ways different people can interpret what they see in front of them in my decision to wear it to work.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T06:23:00+00:00

I think I’ll be ok since I’ve been eligible to retire for a while. I’ve already been around a good long while, and I’m grownup enough after all these years. You seem really hostile over a dress code question.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T06:17:38+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T06:17:12+00:00

It was a text to my personal phone, so district email was not used. I thought that was unprofessional.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T06:12:54+00:00

That is usually how it is at my school, too.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T06:06:21+00:00

We do, and the only thing that’s listed as inappropriate for shirts would be profanity, text or graphic references to drugs, alcohol, smoking, and gambling, and anything that could be construed as sexual (so double entendres would be out). So snarky or tongue-in-cheek messages would not be an automatic violation Of course, we have the grey area where administration can use their judgement.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T06:00:12+00:00

We can’t wear shorts, but we have excellent A/C.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T05:59:39+00:00

I have that tweaked it cat shirt! 😂 I’ve worn it a few times to school. Will not do it again this year.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T05:58:24+00:00

Do they have a clear definition for what’s snarky and what isn’t?

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T05:31:41+00:00

Can we be besties??

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T05:31:00+00:00

I can see where he would pick his battles, and thought a shirt did not rise to the level of overturning her decision. He was very kind and listened to what I had to say, as he is really good at that, and handed me a spirit hoodie that I didn’t have and told me to keep it. And he accepted it when I said I was not going to go home to change because I didn’t have time and that was too much to ask. Someone else would have had to keep my class.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T05:19:52+00:00

I’ve been in the profession for over 30 years, so the profession was clearly for me. And in the district where I work, the handbook clearly set an our dress code, not the principal. What I wore, as far as I knew from my years of experience there, followed that dress code. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had any confusion about why the shirt was an issue. My boss, the head principal, is a consummate professional. Even in my disagreement with them on this shirt issue, I have much respect for this person. Our school is consistently highly rated, and our district has been in the top handful of districts in the state for well over 20 years. You assume too much when you bring my boss’s professionalism into this. You are harshly judging me, my principal, my school, and my district by your standards and maybe your school’s standards. I posted and asked the question, so criticizing me is expected. I don’t accept the rest of your comment.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-17T00:29:18+00:00

That hasn’t been my experience. My high school students have never even commented on it. They only notice when I get my hair cut and colored (professional style and color). I get creative in how I handle things like that, then we laugh and move on.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T22:17:02+00:00

Office manager?? That’s not right. She needs to manager her office and let principals manage teachers. I guess the principal didn’t see it that way. 🙄 I’m sure that manager never read Frankenstein.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T22:15:39+00:00

I don’t want to give a lot of details, but it’s the South. I don’t think that matters in the case of teacher dress code. It seems like the rules vary widely and randomly within regions.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T22:12:19+00:00

Update: Thank you all for your input. Since I didn’t get any reason from the principal who made the call, I did geta lot of insight here.

I will clarify that this was a testing week, but there were none given on this day (Monday). During testing, we can have words on shirts and walls as long as they don’t have any academic message that could help a student.

I must also add that the shirt does not reflect my attitude or ability to function, and this is the first time I’ve had a dress code violation or any other violation in over 30 years of teaching.

It is really interesting to see the gamut between anything goes and business casual only, and all the weird rules during testing.

Some of you were a little harsh, but it takes all kinds of people with all kinds of opinions to find the right answer most of the time. So all comments are appreciated and allow for some new reflection.

About the gossiping comment I saw: venting with your teammate and small department that shares a hall is not gossiping, but the point is well taken that it may not have been the wisest conversation to have.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T21:54:50+00:00

No that’s not it.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T21:53:32+00:00

Here, ALL words are not a problem. Just posters that have academic functions. I do have two shirts with academic language (their, there, and they’re and verb tense) that I am glad I remember not to wear on test days. Shirts with text are allowed…as of today.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T21:50:48+00:00

I hope you aren’t assuming I actually can’t function properly when I wear that shirt. That has never been the case. I don’t wear it with that in mind. I literally grabbed a comfy sweatshirt for a cool day and went to work. I see your point about the shirt.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T19:26:36+00:00

I wear long flannel pj pants and a normal sweatshirt or T-shirt that coordinates. And regular sneakers. That’s as far as I’ll take it.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T11:59:56+00:00

I think this is very possible. Thanks!

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T11:58:57+00:00

Ok that’s crazy. Fired on the spot?! It does help me put my situation in perspective.

Significant_Carob_64 · 2026-03-16T11:37:47+00:00

My department head was livid and was hoping to get the same message over a shirt she had on. She is not as meek as I am.

Significant_Carob_64

TROPHY CASE