As the Joplin R-8 Board of Education discussed a policy on staff conduct, including dress code, that Landis thought was opening the door for- horror of horrors- bluejeans, steam was coming out of his miniature ears.
Board member Lynda Banwart, who is on the board's Policy Committee, was open to leaving it up to building principals to decide if teachers, who are currently allowed to wear bluejeans on so-called Eagle Pride days (the Friday closest to payday) could wear them on Fridays. Board member Debbie Fort had expressed a similar opinion at a recent meeting, noting that her employer, Missouri Southern State University, allowed bluejeans on Fridays.
That was not good for the senior board member Landis, who has been on the Joplin R-8 Board since students were brought to school on covered wagons.
In a voice even higher-pitched than usual, Landis squeaked, "I will not vote for that!"
In a lecture similar to the one given by Board President Annie Sharp at a recent meeting, Landis indicated there was no place for blue jeans in the Joplin Schools, at least not as far as teachers are concerned.
Landis noted that the school district was one of the largest employers in Joplin and the teachers needed to show professionalism.
Superintendent C. J. Huff expertly interjected, "A vast majority of our teaching staff wants to come to work every day looking professional."
Banwart noted that if the Joplin Schools want to be the "employer of choice" that things like that, which may not seem important to some, could be a factor.
Huff pointed out that parents also play a role in that, leaving unfinished what appeared to be a statement that parents do not want teachers wearing bluejeans.
The board unanimously adopted the policy, which does not specify anything about bluejeans, but the Policy Committee will go over the procedures that will be used to implement the policy and set guidelines on when bluejeans can be worn.
In the meantime, Joplin teachers will continue to wear pants, if nothing else to cover up their tattoos.
We definitely don't want to get that one started again.
The most important thing to the two longest-serving board members, Sharp and Landis, seems to be that no matter how close to financial ruin they may have steered the district, at least the teachers will be dressed for success.
(Photo: C. J. Huff makes a point, as board member Mike Landis wonders what the teachers would look like without pants.)
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22 comments:
But there isn't any difference in how a kindergarten teacher is supposed to dress and a high school business teacher is supposed to dress?
Jeans are just SO important.
I would much rather see the teachers in jeans than some of the other things I've seen.
My favorite "professional" outfit of the year? JD in a tight tank top and short skirt, with flesh hanging over her knees, chest sagging out of the top, and upper arms flapping in the wind. Jeans would have been a vast improvement. Weight loss is admirable, but your underpaid, overworked, stressed out staff does not need a lecture from Tina Smith about what is appropriate to wear on opening day only to see JD in that outfit, complete with loose skin. Neither did we wish to see Anne Sharp in short skirt on stage. So, Joplin Board and Admin, why don't YOU follow YOUR own standards? Gosh darn it, because it's just so uncomfortable, isn't it?
And they wonder why the teachers hate them so.
I hope Sharp and Landis never say how much they appreciate teachers again in my presence. It will be my last day on the job. I will campaign against them for all I'm worth. They are hateful, selfish, greedy people.
Their superintendent is the laughing stock of the community, as well as the surrounding area, and the only issue that concerns them is what the teachers wear. I wonder what that rat bastard has on them to keep them so in line? Or maybe they really are that dumb. That could be the problem.
Way to think of your wife, Mike, and your somebody special person, Anne. Keep your loved ones in line, now.
Jeans aren't professional attire. Unless you're working in a trade or mining for gold, they really ought not to be standard attire. That said, the occasional casual day won't hurt anybody.
As far as the argument that income prohibits the purchase of professional attire, slacks can be purchased at the same price-point as jeans. Therefore, that notion is without merit.
On CJ's facebook page, he just announced from noon-1pm tomorrow he will be on Facebook to talk with anyone who has questions or wants to discuss their school. At least we will know what he'll be doing at that time tomorrow. I have some questions for him, to bad he can't find an honest bone in his body.
8:40
The problem with vague and arbitrary rules is that they can be argued endlessly. For instance, you claim that jeans cost as much as pants. Perhaps, if one can afford designer jeans. But for that matter, I could buy a million dollar diamond studded bra from Victoria's Secret. That hardly makes it more efficient than a ten dollar bra from Walmart, and I still have to cover it up. I can wear a denim skirt any day and be okay because there is no crotch seam in it. I can wear pants any day and be okay if they are not made of denim. That makes no sense. Is it the seam, or is it the fabric?
I've seen at workshops a TLC who always has her cleavage on display. But she isn't wearing jeans and her boss seems to favor her, so I'm sure she's a professional. At another school there is a TLC with hair in multiple artificial colors to "disguise" her aging appearance, and her clothes are often way more revealing than anyone wants them to be. But, then again, so long as it's not denim, she's bound to become an administrator, because her appearance certainly is appropriate and professional by R8 standards . And as for those administrators? Some of them need man bras under those knit polos (careful CJ, you're in this group), but if they're not wearing denim, they're professional by R8's rules. And the ladies? The comment earlier about one this summer is dead on-tank top and short skirt made the professional that day, no doubt. Or the curriculum director's dresses that are too short and look like sixth grade dresses she used to wear to parties. But so long as they are not made of denim, she's safe.
So, obviously, it's not what you wear, but how you wear it and for whom you wear it that makes the professional. I've seen teachers in jeans and school tees that look far better than most of the "professionally" dressed staff. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. There seems to be no explaining it, otherwise. Just don't wear denim with a crotch seam on any day but Eagle Pride day, and you will be fine, no matter what else you are wearing.
I demand that CJ lose 75 lbs! He is a disgrace, not to mention a bad influence on our kids believing that overweight and unhealthy is okay.
A useful inference comes from C.J.'s recent and noticeable weight gain: he copes with stress by eating.
He must be very stressed! I wonder what's eating him?
I work for Eaglepicher Technologies and we are one of the largest employers in Joplin as well and we have to option to wear blue jeans on Fridays, their are strict guidelines on the look and condition of the jeans, but none the less they are jeans. Maybe they need a fresh set of people on the board or some kind of board member limits so that the same people are destroying our school system for more than a decade.
This has nothing to do with "jeans" and everything to do with the fact that a few people (Huff, Landis, Sharp and others) whose contribution to the world intellectually and otherwise is nil so their only way to make themselves feel relevant is to exert absolute control over some aspect of another's life. I see nothing wrong is wearing jeans, as long as they are neat and clean. It costs the district nothing and goes a little way toward improving morale. If, however, professional dress attire is soooo very important to those individuals, it must be applied to them as well. Never should CJ Huff appear in a polo shirt. As the face of Joplin Schools, he must at all times wear a suit and tie. If he's distraught over the loss of the eagles logo on his polo shirts, a small lapel pin could be allowed. Mr. Landis should never appear in public as a representative of the "professionalism" of "Joplin Schools" without a suit and tie. Ms. Sharp must give up the inappropriate short skirts and no longer appear in polo shirts. She and Landis may be allowed to wear a small "eagle's logo" lapel pins as well. With the district in the shape its in and the teachers and staff at a low morale point, this idiotic argument about wearing jeans is beyond comprehension.
Suzanne probably learned in her education classes that jeans are bad and suits are good, and that's the one thing about schools she remembers. Apparently, from what she has allowed to happen to her district, nothing of importance remains with her. She is walking proof that a little bit of education can be dangerous.
Morale is at an all time low for sure, and there is no relief in sight unless CJ leaves or until Landis and Sharp are removed from the board. I can assure you that neither of them gives a rip about how many teachers leave. It's the buildings and projects that matter to them. They have had too much Koolaid, or some-such, from CJ. Ignorance is bliss, so they say, so while staff morale is plunging, those two are happier than ever.
I am confused - are the teachers not allowed to wear jeans now? I am in the high school occasionally (varying days of the week)and always see adults in Joplin t-shirts and jeans. I've also seen hoodies and sweatshirts. I can't believe the Board is still having this discussion. Many workplaces have a casual Friday - what's the big deal?
6:52--
Anne and Mike are worried that the children will forget who the adults are if the adults are comfortably dressed one day a week. Having made sure that teacher income and benefits have been competitive and generous all these years, they want payback in the form of professional wear every day. Ha! I amuse myself.
6:52
It depends on who decides to enforce what and when. HS has frequently done whatever they want and then the elementary schools are pounded.
Since they can't really get the teachers to teach well, they can tell them what to wear. It's really about control for so many of them.
8:12 PM Who's JD? Oh, and Randy: "steam coming out of his tiny ears. . ." hahahaaaa! Funny blog!
I have seen the wife of Landis wearing "dress" jeans on more than one occasion when it is NOT an Eagle Pride Day. Does that mean she left the house after he did and returned beforehe did so he was unaware of her attire? Shame shame!
I wish I could like these comments. I love reading this blog and learning so much about the people that are making decisions for my kids and tax dollars.....jeans schmeans. Who cares? As long as my kids are learning what they need to be learning (which they are not always) who flipping cares. And what's a tlc
Kelsey Norman will have to be monitored much more closely if Mrs. Mike is getting away with something all others are being punished for, tsk tsk!! Maybe Mike should wear the skirt, no?
7:19,
A TLC is a teaching and learning coach. They changed the name to continuous learning coach. Kind of like changing Common Core State Standards to Missouri Learning Standards. Still the same thing, different label. In the case of TLCs, they're still suck ups and spies for admin. The ones that wouldn't do that aren't coaches any more. The ones that did an outstanding job of that are now directors and other kinds of admin positions.
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