Seasonal Dress Code Needed?

[teacher5]

:wowee: During the past few years, we have numerous children coming to school during the cold winter months in mesh style gym shorts. When they enter the building in the morning their exposed skin is pinkish or red. They are required to go out for recess as long as the temperature is above freezing. I have politely spoken to some of these parents about my observations and the wearing of long pants or even sweat pants. The response I get is: There are too many battles I have with my child and this one is not worth the time and energy. I have tried to take it one step further and explain how difficult it is to catch up when a student misses school, and how this might cause a problem for you as a parent if you need to live a sick child at home unattended or impose on a friend or relative to come and supervise that child. My principal has even sent home a letter outlining and suggesting appropriate dress for the winter season becuase of outdoor recess. This past Thursday, a first grade teacher of many many years approached a parent about this situation. The parent told her she had no right to dictate how her child dresses and that if the kid gets sick it is not the teacher's problem. This is a parent who can well afford to dress her children. The teacher also tried to appeal to the parent saying we all need to model and teach proper dress habits and behaviors as children go through these formative years so they will make good choices in the future. But the parent just walked away. Your reactions?

[Brit]

It sounds like you've done everything within your power. If the outerwear is actually a serious health concern, for example, frostbite is a real possibility, then I'd see about finding supervision so the kids have to stay inside (nothing fun -- just have to sit at the office or whatever), and see about making this a policy (i.e., if you`re not dressed for the weather you can`t go outside). If you`ve taught kids in class what to wear for the weather, and if you`ve followed through with parents and they`re not helping, then I`d either let the kids be cold, as that`s obviously what mom and the kid have agreed on, or involve admin in setting up a policy if there needs to be one.

If a kid goes outside and says he or she is cold, I'd send a note home saying "so and so complained of being cold outside today" and tell the kid to tell mom. If the kid has to stay in, and doesn't like it, I'd tell the kid to tell mom. Am I setting mom up for a battle with the kid? maybe. but if the parents won't listen to you, maybe they'll listen to their kid. Or maybe the kid will just start dressing warmer by his/herself.

[Boxcar]

You are responsible for the children's health at school. With young children, I can see stressing this issue. Obviously high and even middle school is when it probably just has to be let go. In elementry and younger, the students still need to be helped with staying healthy. At my center, we are required by law to put sunscreen on the kids, dress them for the cold, and supervise them to prevent heat sickness. We cannot let them outdoors even if the parent says it is okay. Our way around this is to ask for clothing donations - coats, tee shirts, sweatpants, mittens, ect. - and give the child the option of staying in or dressing weather appropriate. We can be flexible to the child's needs - i.e. a child removes a coat after playing tag - but we must protect the health of the child. Have you or the administration pointed out how you are obligated by law to keep thier child safe from the weather? Is it like that in your area?

[kingrichie]

This is really sad. You go to other countries and teachers are revered. But here in the states the parents and students treat you like you're some kind of fool. I wonder how they'd act if there were no public education?

[Brit]

do you have a collection of clothes in your room your students can wear if the weather is bad?

[JennA]

I think there should be an ENFORCED school-year round dress code, with seasonal provisions. Students should have to abide by a dress code just as the teachers do. Parents should be supportive of this, if they're not, too bad! How a student dresses directly impacts their learning and the ability of others to learn. It can also be a safety issue.

I have had girls be unable to work or concentrate because their flip-flop broke. I have also seen girls hurt at recess because of their flip-flop.

As for keeping coats in my room, I didn't. They are nothing but lice motels! Our nurse kept extra coats in her office, but after the first cold week in the fall, her supply was diminished for the fall/winter. The kids never wore the coats again and they never brought them back. Who knows what happened to them.

[Boxcar]

Fleece jackets are great substitutes for traditional coats. You can toss them in the washing machine. They are suprisingly warm and water-resistant. The children don't get to leave with them: We re-collect all outwear after each outdoor time. (Extra clothes are another story because of preschoolers and potty accidents... You can't send a child home naked.)

The shoe thing is a serious issue at our center. So many little girls in inappropriate footwear! This is one of my soapboxes. Why put a preschooler in flip-flops, heels, or slides? The child cannot ride a trike, run, jump rope, ect. Ugh.

The teachers set a bad example too! They wear the flip flops and other shoes as well. So, they cannot play or engage with the children easily. The director hates that the teachers wear these shoes, but she hasn't enforced the "no flip flops" rule yet.

[landreth2007]

We had a principal a few years ago who outlawed flip flops because of the safety issue. Our parents finally got tired of being called to bring new shoes and started sending their kids to school in appropriate footwear. We also had a rule about coats/jackets. If it was a certain temperature outside the students had to wear a coat. If they didn't have one (and we knew it wasn't an economical issue) they sat in the office during recess. They got tired of that quickly and started bringing their coat to school. If the students didn't have a coat then we contacted some local agencies to locate one. Usually one of our teachers would have one from their own children that they would donate.

[Ebeth]

I like the idea of collecting clothing. If a student is forced to change their clothing (especially if the new clothing is rather dorky) they will be embarrassed and not likely to commit the faux pax again. If the parent gets upset, restate your school's expectations and let them know that if the student does not comply, this will happen to them again. I also agree with collecting your clothing back at the end of the day.