Would a teacher dress code help curb violence in public schools?

Hardly a day goes by that some tragic incident at a public school isn’t reported in the news. Violent behavior has caused some schools to resemble prisons, with violent acts against teachers on the rise.

Many children don’t respect order and authority at home, and they bring the same bad attitude to school. In some cases, the line has blurred between teacher and student to the degree that some pupils regard their instructors as peers rather than as authority figures.

Could part of the problem be that too many teachers look too much like students? It’s not just the fresh-out-of-college teachers who in some cases look as young as their students. Many veteran teachers dress so casually that their appearance doesn’t command respect or project authority.

More than ever, teachers need every tool at their disposal to deal with an increasingly troubled and troublesome student body. Children who have little or no accountability, boundaries and rules at home are acting at school as if they’ve lost their minds. Some effective tools are a no-nonsense demeanor among faculty, a zero-tolerance policy against violence, and a vigilant and proactive administration.

Another tool that has been overlooked is fashion. Male teachers wearing suits, sport coats and ties sends a more authoritative message than polo shirts and wash-and-wear khakis. Female teachers in suits and dresses are likely to be perceived differently by students than those in capris and sleeveless tops.

Casual may be comfortable, but it sends a message that the occasion for which one is dressing isn’t very important. There’s some evidence that school uniforms promote better behavior among students. Maybe the educational environment would be a little safer if all educators projected a professional image with more serious fashion choices for the classroom.