Professional Attire
I agree with the text that professional attire is one aspect of teaching that is important as an instructor. It conveys a sense of dedication and respect for your profession and separates you from 'being a friend' or 'babysitter' like the text mentions.
It is important too look professional but not so out of touch from the current trends that students think I am out of touch with reality. I think students respond to people who are not so distanced from them, so wearing the appropriate clothes to be professional while being approachable is important.
Hi Kathryn,
This form of professionalism helps to develop the students into professionals as well. By seeing how professionals in the culinary field dress and conduct themselves gives them a mark to shoot for as they progress through their program.
Gary
We really must be careful how we set the example for our students. I agree with Kathryn in that we set the bar that should be adhered to by our students. In today's times, we cannot leave it up to the students, as many of them have no clue what it is like to BE appropriate, let along DRESS appriately.
Of course it depends on the profession and the career area, but being a professional includes wearing the appropriate attire and being clean and neat. As a culinary educator, I believe and strive in living by example to my students on how important it is to dress appropriately in the culinary industry. First impressionsa are lasting impressions!
Hi Editha,
Good point about professional dress. The key thing is mentioned in your last sentence. You need to look professional, clean and neat. This reflects on how you see the field. If you are a slob and dirty then the students are not going to be able to respect you no matter what you say. Crisp, clean and neat in appropriate dress which maybe scrubs shows you value your field and your appearance.
Gary
I agree, the choice of professional attire should fit the place of work; ie. for example, you could not wear heeled shoes when you have to take the students around in a clinical hospital rotation. What is important is to look professional, wear the appropriate attire clean and neat!
Great comments on this subject, everyone! I personally enjoy being dressed in a suit and tie in professional settings even though it is becoming less and less common. I am currently teaching a web design class, and I struggled to pick an appropriate type of attire given the varied ways someone could be employed in my field. I decided on business casual, khakis and a polo or button-down, so that I would appear neat and presentable without possibly appearing too stuffy to my younger students. That said, I believe whatever attire one chooses will rub off on students and colleagues.
Jared
Hi William,
I am "old school" as well when it comes to appropriate dress for the work place. We have to show our students what is appropriate for the setting in which they will be working. Your student in the pajamas probably didn't think a thing about that form of dress because he was not connecting the dots between appropriate dress and career success. As we both know they are connected. Keep up the good work.
Gary
The subject of professional attire is an interesting one. Just last week, I had a student sitting in front of me (freshman on the first day of class) in his pajamas. I politely let him know that wearing such items, along with wearing hats in my classroom and snapping gum, were not allowed in my classroom. I've had minimum pushback, as I explain to students that I am "old school" and that some parts of mainstream wreak of disrespect. That being said, if my standards of them are that strict, I hold myself to similar standards. I do not wear a suit and tie often in the classroom, as I tend to wear that on the weekends, but nice slacks, a button-down shirt and a sweater or sports coat is business casual in my setting and very appropriate. We are truly a huge example to our students and need to exemplify the standards of our school policies appropriately.
Hi Dorothy,
That is correct. An instructor should reflect the professional dress of the career area, whether it be business, scrubs, or a uniform. This way the students see and learn what is expected of them in terms of how they present themselves professionally.
Gary
It totaly depends on where you work as to the attire for that place
I agree professional attire defines the instructor from the student, and shows the appearance of professionalism
Hi Dr. Meers,
I appreciate your comments on professional appearance. You said:"Different dress works in relation to the career area. For some it may be a suit, others scrubs, and for other a specific uniform, no matter the dress should be clean, neat and appropriate"
I also think that is important to keep in mind that wearing a specific attire as required by the career field help us fulling the role of a "Model" for our students. I work at a school in which scrubs are the attire for the jobs we are preparing our students, so by school policy the students also need to wear scrubs to school so they can begin getting used to this type of attire.
Great comment Dr. Meers!
Ruth
Hi Bret,
I have taught business courses for over two decades. I have always dressed professionally in a business suit and a tie when I teach.
To me, it simulates part of the business environment (the business attire part) in a class room setting.
In one university, the business professors did not wear professional attire when I joined. By the time I left the university after a three year stint, almost all of them wore suits and ties. I guess it rubbed off on them.
Love this topic as I teach it in one of my fashion design classes. I always try to wear interesting jewelry that I make to get them interested in the accessory field. Also, when giving presentations to the class, my expectations are to dress as though you are speaking to a client, professionally, which affect your being hired for that job.
Hi Bret,
You are right about professional appearance. Different dress works in relation to the career area. For some it may be a suit, others scrubs, and for other a specific uniform, no matter the dress should be clean, neat and appropriate. Also, your quote is most appropriate with application to educational settings.
Gary
I agree. I think there is most certainly a subjective element to this. I often times wonder if it is warranted to have a professor in business, for example, be required to wear a tie, and in another discipline, such as English, not. I also wonder how 18-22 yer olds would feel relating to someone in a tie as they sit in an English literature class.
This is not to say instructors should be running around in "chucks" and cutoffs, but I am reminded of the great philosopher David Hume, who said, "Be a philosopher, but be still a man."
As professors, I believe that when we enter the classroom, there is a level of professionalism in our attire that needs to be exemplified in our attire. Surely it would not be appropriate to wear flip flops and pajamas to the classroom. There is an "unspoken" expectation that our students and administrators expect of us when we come to work. That "unspoken" expectation is what allows our students to respect us, our colleagues to respect us, and keep the field of education one of dignity.
Hi Charity,
My rule is to dress appropriately and professionally for my field. Keeping in mind as I move from field to field that profession is teaching, rather than my technical field, so I often am in business attire because it works in all settings when I am interacting with other career professionals at meetings.
Gary
