Over at the English Companion Ning, there is a conversation ongoing about what to wear on the first day of school. There are a lot of people planning on wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Proudly, in fact. After reading a few pages, it would seem that those who aren’t allowed to wear this type of outfit are down right loosin’ out. According to this discussion, wearing colors with a high contrast project authority, pastels project friendliness and bright colors are “fun”.
Remember Dr. Kylie Johnson from MadTV? The premise is a Dr. who acts like an airhead-party-girl. She enters the room wearing spandex hot pink leopard print pants with a belly shirt. She’s holding a clipboard with cutesy stickers all over it and speaks in a high-pitched sing-songy voice, where every sentence is spoken like a question. Needless to say the patient is uncomfortable with this doctor. And that’s what makes the sketch funny. Now picture this character as a teacher? Can you see the classroom? What kind of learning is going on? And that’s what makes it funny – at least in the abstract. The thought actually makes me feel anxiety at the level of chaos in the room.
After watching several interactions between students and colleagues, I try to dress as professionally as I can, without being completely uncomfortable. It just makes my room feel more serious, more organized and students take the content of the course more seriously. A t-shirt and jeans may be more comfortable, but it’s just too much for me to overcome – that’s what it feels like I have to do, overcome the lowered expectations.
I haven’t decided what to wear yet, but it will be professional.
P.S. Dying of heat? Take a vacation to the Washington State coast. It hasn’t gone above 70 in weeks. We’re having an extended spring quickly moving into fall.
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