baggie clothes underware hanging out
here at school our students think nothing of wearing their pants as low as possible and their pants baggie even though they are told to pull them up out of sight they go back down.
Hi Cecil,
This is where a standardized dress code needs to be developed that reflects the standards of the field. These students will not be able to dress this way in the work place, so they need to develop some maturity and start looking like they want to be successful in their career.
Good luck with this most important area of student development.
Gary
Hello Cecil,
This is a problem at our school that we've found to be with a very small population of "renagade" students. We know that a few students will go back to wearing their pants around their knees again as soon as you're out of view. But most of the time, their classmates put the pressure on them to conform to the dress policy of our institute by not buying into the "buck the system" mindset. If there's nobody to impress, they just simply give up and follow suit. I hope this helps.
I couldnt agree more also what happens if they are expected to move quickly and quietly in a wrokplace....... or god forbid pick something up from the floorand display to all and sundry their choice of underwear or worse......
there is a time and a place for everything
We spend a lot of time keeping the dress code up to standard. Some students don't see the benifit, however it is extremely important. First impressions, daily impressions, looking the part are a big part of getting and keeping their first jobs
This is a constant battle with students about this. When it's explained from a safety standpoint, especially in this industry, the students still think it's not a problem. Maybe a burn on the leg would solve this problem.
Send them home-It will not take long for the message to get around campus that this is not acceptable.
It is a common problem, and I teach at a creative school where self-expression is very important. I've never singled a particular student out when talking about it, rather, I 've mentioned to my class as a whole that they are indeed entitled to their individual styles, however, I too am entitled to my individual sensibilities in the classroom, and when these two areas come into conflict they may want to consider defering to the instructor much as they would defer to boss on the job. I've explained that when they are outside of the group dynamic of "the classroom" or "the job", they are free to express themselves as they see fit, but pulling their pants up for a few hours a day is a minimum imposition on their freedom. I can't say whether the students totally buy into what I'm saying, but I haven't had anymore underwear showing in my class.
Hi Brian,
Sounds like you have a plan for class management when it comes professional dress. I always think of the "Golden Rule" when I work with students about how they should dress and act. The Golden Rule says, "Those with the gold make the rules." So if you want to work there you will pull up your pants, wear the uniform required, etc. or you won't work there and will not get any of the gold. Sometimes a hard concept for students to grasp but a very important one.
Gary
I agree,students need to be reminded of school policies.Students need to step back and take a look at them self and say would this be the way to dress in a work place?Practice in school to be a professional and it will come natural out in the work world.They should be told to have pride in the way they look.
We have a standard uniform that the students must wear. The uniform must be in good repair and the shirts must tucked in. we also require them to have their I.D. badges displayed on their shirts. with this policy we have little trouble with the baggy pants problem.
It is my belief the way you look reflects in the way you handle yourself on your job and the way you feel about yourself.
We have the same rules Thomas, However even with the rule of no baggy clothes and a mandatory belt, it does not get addressed as firmly as it should. Until we as instructors and leaders hold the line, these "adult" students will do whatever they can get away with.
I have the same problem at my school. We have asdress code in place and i have trouble getting them to understand why the dress code is important.
OK, I am a heretic--but hear me out.
One of the problems with dress codes is that the fact that the students REALLY DON'T get it at all. I think it's better to wait until the end of the course to show make them conform to what is expected of them in a professional atmosphere. Remember, many of these students have little or nothing else but their self-image. They are not used to success in the way that most of us think of it. People who dress professionally are "them," the MAN.
I try to introduce business attire for for presentations. If they don't appear in the proper attire, they cannot present. It breaks the ice. The rest of the time, they can look like they want to look. They even bring their own clothes to change into so they don't have to look 'wierd' all day. But, after they make a few presentations, the resistance subsides.
When it comes time to send them out for interviews, they know the drill and they are motivated to get a job, so they are willing to compromise their appearance to reach their goals. We have a rack of clothes to loan for such purposes and I spend a lot of time discussing the whys and wherefores. Ask yourself why these dress codes exist: is it for the comfort of the students or the administration and faculty? How would you feel if you had to dress like the students to work there because somebody decided it makes a better 'atmosphere?'
My advice is to concentrate on the learning process and let the small stuff slide until it becomes relevant. Unless you are willing to impose a uniform like nursing school or culinary institutes, you're going to have a rough time getting students with little disposable income to spend their money on clothes they are embarrassed to wear.
I have been at this a long time and I have seen those same students make the transformation when they are ready; ready to assume the position of a employed person, ready for life. But the usually won't wear their work clothes in the 'hood.'
Hi Alysha,
You raise a concern about a common problem, that being professional dress. You need to have your own standard for dress as it related to the career area that you are teaching but also the backing of your school. Sometimes instructors are caught between their standards of professional dress and the school which does not back them. A unified front on professional standards is a must if the students are going to develop an understanding of what it means to be a prepared professional in their career area.
Keep up the good work.
Gary
Let's not forget to be the model. Let students know that the way you dress and maintain your prsonal experience is what has made you successful.
Role Model? It depends. If you go to any major university in the country, you will see professors dressed any which-way you can imagine. Some identify with the students, some don't. We, on the other hand, who are NOT tenured, are classified as "instructors" or "facilitatiors" rather than professors, are expected to be "role models." I suspect that students seldom look to us to be role models because of the clothes we wear, but for the effect we have on their lives. (I am a Ralph Laurnen man myself and I don't see many Polo ponies on the chosen attire in my classroom--but I get great evaluations).
The problem I have is that in the interest of rules and order we sometimes miss the real point of an education: to provide an atmosphere where students can gain the tools to change their lives in an safe and encouraging environment. When they do that, they'll change their clothes--and their attitudes.
I let my students know that to ME baggie clothes are unacceptable and to most people my age the pants hanging down and the underwear showing is unacceptable. We are training these individuals to be profesionals so what is wrong with looking like a professional while you are on campus. Every place I have worked that supplies uniforms wants you to wear them in a neat attractive way to show that the shop is PROFESSIONAL. So by having them wear professional attire and dress neat and clean we are just using a tool for their future. Once again kinda like the brain surgeon showing up with ripped pants hanging down and his boxers showing and a grungy t-shirt. sorry I have to get my operation from someone else no matter how good the record says he is. Goes back to that first impression thingy we have also discussed. Sorry for rambling but i feel that this is important as a former manager and business owner dress is important for what you convey to the public.
I teach a Career Development class and let my students know that rather than considering this a class, they should consider this as more of a job. I ask them to look at me as more of an employer rather than their teacher. I also remind them that what they do in class each day and how they conduct themselves has a huge affect on how successful they'll be in the real world. I also remind them that because I'm their Career Services department, I take everything into consideration when helping place them in the employment field.
