PECentralArticle:WhatisconsideredappropriatedressforPETeachers8/27/10

PECentral<pecentral.org>,pec@pecentral.org,540‐953‐10431995SMain,Ste.902,Blacksburg,VA24060

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ArticleByCharlesSilbermanwithcontributionsbyErikGeslakandKennedraTucker.EmailCharlesatcharles.silberman@pgcps.orgtoaskadditionalquestions.PublishedonPECentral:8­27­10.

Question:WhatIsConsideredAppropriateDressForMaleAndFemalePhysicalEducationTeachers?–Curious

Answer:

DearCurious,

Thisisagreatquestion!Asteachers,wehavesomanythingstoconsiderthatwesometimesforgettopayattentiontothemostsimplisticandpowerfulissuesthatareliterallyrightunderournoses.Howwedressisacriticalconcernbecauseitsaysalotaboutwhoweare,anditaffectsourstudents’andcolleagues’perceptionsofus.Becausepeoplegenerallymakelastingjudgmentswithinthefirstfewsecondsofmeetingus,especiallybasedonourdress,itisveryimportantthatourclothingisprofessionallyappropriate.

BeforeIexplainspecificelementsofhowtodress,Iwanttoexplaintheunderlyingimportanceofprofessionalattire.Researchshowsthat70‐80%ofcommunicationisnon‐verbal.Thatmeansthatwhatwedooftenmattersmorethanwhatwesay,andourwardrobeisanextensionofourselves;clothesserveasasecondskin.Clothescanhelpuscommunicateouremotions,stateofmind,orthoughts.Thismeansthatoursstudentsandpeerswilldrawmeaningfromourclothing,includingassumptionsofwhoweare,ourinnerthoughtsandattitudesaboutthem,andevenourownperceivedselfefficacy.Theseperceptionswillultimatelyaffecthowouryouthandco‐workersinteractwithus.Thiscantranslateallthewaydowntohowstudentsbehavewhileinourcareandhowtheytalktous.Therefore,howwedressholdssignificance.

Inadditiontothesignificancedressholdsasitrelatestoourinnerstateofbeingandsubsequentinteractionwithothers,italsosetsastandardforourstudentstomodel.Asteachers,oneofourrolesisthatofarolemodel.Learnerslookuptousandwanttoemulateus.Therefore,weneedtoconsidercarefully,thatasrolemodels,itisuptoustoshowstudentstheimportanceprofessionalandappropriateattirehasinlifeandtheworkplace.

IremembermyMiddleSchoolphysicaleducationteacher.Hehadamustache,worebodyhuggingshortsthatseemedtorideuptohischest,andsocksthatreacheduptohiskneeswiththosetwocoloredstripesaroundthetop.YouknowtheonesIamtalkingaboutthatyourgrandparentswore.Also,heworeawhistlearoundhisneckandawhitepoloshirtthatseemedtobetuckedintootight.Idon’tremembermuchofwhatIlearnedinMiddleSchoolP.E.class.But,hisdressleftanimpressiononallofmyclassmates,whichisalwaysatopicofconversationwheneverImentionIthatIteachP.E.andwereminisceaboutchildhoodmemoriesofP.E.class.Weareallprofessionals,andthewaywedresscariesgreatweight,aswellasalastingimpression,solet’sdresslikeprofessionals.

Lookingattheappropriatedressthroughthelensesofitsimportanceasanon‐verbalcommunicationtoolthatcanaffectourteachingandasafunctionofteachersastherolemodel,belowaresomespecificguidelinesforhowaphysicaleducatorshoulddress.Ihavealsoincludedsomepicturesasareferencepoint.Keepinmindthatthesearegeneralandyouremployermayhavehisorherownsetofdo’sanddon’ts.

PECentralArticle:WhatisconsideredappropriatedressforPETeachers8/27/10

PECentral<pecentral.org>,pec@pecentral.org,540‐953‐10431995SMain,Ste.902,Blacksburg,VA24060

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Head • Wellkepthair

• Hairnotexcessivelylong(circacollarlengthformenandshoulderlengthforwomen)

• Cleanshavenface

• Groomedfacialhair

• Moderatemake‐upthatisnaturalinappearance

• Moderatejewelryandaccessories(sunglasses,hairbands,earrings,etc.)thatarecomplimentarytotheattire

UpperBody • Collaredshirtwithcleanandplainundershirtunderneath

• Shirttuckedin

• Cleanandneatouterwear(fleeces,jackets,gloves,hats,etc.)

• Noseethroughmaterial

• Keepmidriffareacoveredwithoutunderwearshowing

LowerBody • Shortsshouldnotgohigherthantheknees(Trythefingertiptest.Thefingertiptestrequiresthatthelengthofclothingbeatorbelowfingertipswhenarmsaplacedatone’ssides.)

• Pantsandshortsatorcloselyaroundwaistlevel

• Nocutoffortornbottomshorts

• Clean,closedtoedshoescomplimentarytotheattire

OverallConsiderations

• Noinappropriatelogos,patches,orsayingsonclothing(beerlogos,dirtysayings,etc.)

• Noclotheswithvisiblestainsorholesinthem

• Becarefulaboutwearingbodypiercings(nose,lip,etc.)andvisibletattoos(cansendthewrongmessagetostudents)

• Clothingdoesnothugyourbodylikeskinnorhangfromyourbodyinabaggyfashion

• Dressupforspecialoccasion(graduations,honorrollassembly,parentvisitsdays,etc.)

• Mixupoutfits(Studentsseeus182daysayear,somakesuretheyarenotlookingatthesameoutfiteveryday.)

PECentralArticle:WhatisconsideredappropriatedressforPETeachers8/27/10

PECentral<pecentral.org>,pec@pecentral.org,540‐953‐10431995SMain,Ste.902,Blacksburg,VA24060

3

Mr.ErikGeslakPrinceGeorge’sCountyPublic

Schools

Ms.KennedraTuckerPrinceGeorge’sCountyPublic

Schools

ArticleByCharlesSilbermanwithcontributionsbyErikGeslakandKennedraTucker.EmailCharlesatcharles.silberman@pgcps.orgtoaskadditionalquestions.PublishedonPECentral:8­27­10.

PECentralArticle:WhatisconsideredappropriatedressforPETeachers8/27/10

PECentral<pecentral.org>,pec@pecentral.org,540‐953‐10431995SMain,Ste.902,Blacksburg,VA24060

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