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Date:         Sat, 22 Aug 1992 11:15:02 LCL
              <EDPOLYAN@ASUACAD.BITNET>
From:         Kevin@LEMOORE.ATI.COM
Subject:      Re: Law and Shorts
X-To:         EDPOLYAN@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU, EDAD-L@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU
X-cc:         WHITMAN@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU

In Regards to your letter <9208221402.AA27819@apple.com>:
Can you prove that the teacher are disrupting the educational environment
by wearing shorts?  Does the fact they are wearing shorts have a negative
impact on children learning?  If not, you're better off to let them wear the
shorts, and get on with education.

*******

1. Dress is only one factor that influences the educational environment
of the school. It, in itself, does not necessarily disrupt the educational
environment, but, on a larger scale, it certainly benefits. Can you
imagine what a school campus would look like if all teachers were
wearing shorts? It would portray the school environment as one that
was very lax and unprofessional. We as educators desire to be considered
professionals and desire the salary, prestige, and respect that goes along with
it. However, if the public perceives us differently then we will hurt
and hinder the attainment of this. Would you go to a hospital where
everyone was wearing shorts? How would you feel if you got on an airplane
and the pilots walk in wearing flowery shorts? I agree, that the wearing
of shorts does not indicate how good we perform our job. But, it does
hinder the way students and parents view us and the way they will
respond to us. I have worked with several teachers who would put on
a tie at various times of the year when students tend to be a bit
more disruptive. They did so because they saw a direct relationship
between their dress and behavior (respect) of their students.

2. I believe that there are times when a more leisure dress (ie shorts)
can be appropriate (field days, special field trips, etc.)
However (and I am thinking of three actual expceriences
I have had during the last three weeks in which one teacher was wearing
a pair of old flower shorts that looked very poorly, and another teacher
-- somewhat overweight -- who was wearing a pair of short shorts),
if I only request of my staff that they do not wear shorts, many will
do so, and inevitably there are going to be a couple who show very
poor taste (this is true of administrators, and others in other professions
as well -- I'm not just picking on teachers). I can talk with them
about the situation, but unless I have a policy or guideline written
down somewhere, there is really nothing that I can do about it.  As
in many instances, the few often create havoc for the rest of us.
I can put out fires regularly by not creating a policy which I think
the majority of employees would heartily agree to, and struggle with
the few who refuse to use common sense. Or, I can simply set the
standard, and not have to worry about it again.

3. As an administrator I have to oversee the entire school program.
It is my job to not only make sure the educational program is top notch
but also to make sure that the school is well perceived by the community.
The more professional the school staff looks, the greater esteemed the school
will be in the communities eyes. The greater esteem a community has
for its schools, the more they will become involved in supporting
the school.


Kevin Kurtz
Assistant Principal
Lemoore Elementary School
100 Vine St.
Lemoore, CA 93245
(209) 924 -1224    (voice)
(209) 924 - 2274    (data/fax -- on when requested)
Kevin@lemoore.ati.com
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU