The Teacher and Student Double Standard

I am truly becoming afraid. When I first started my career as a teacher, I noticed at my initial faculty meeting a level of professionalism that made me feel uneasy. I felt self-conscious, constantly looking at the masks of seriousness that pervaded the environment. I looked at men and women alike, their preference of attire, and the calm and attentive demeanor that each and every one of them imbibed. I was considered the "new kid on the block," the one that needed to make a positive impression by reflecting their actions, sitting up front, and harping on everything that was stated at the meetings. I was almost literally in awe of the atmosphere. Indeed, we all knew that none of us made a killing in the education profession, but that would certainly not show in our level of confidence and esteem. It would never reflect in our personalities, confidence, or "get up and go" spirit.

Now, several years into my career, I see the dawning of a new day. And the scary part is that it appears infectious and irreversible. Teachers, young and old alike are starting to let down their hair, and not in a good way. Educators, perhaps in light of poor salaries and negative social strata assigned to them, are becoming a bit less professional...and by this I may be so brazen as to say a lot less professional! With the eminent beginning of a new school year, I know students will test the very boundaries of what is considered dress code violations. Yes, here in this pocket of Florida, we are fairly strict on what is allowed on a student's body. Dangling earrings? No. That can be dangerous if a student gets into an altercation. Dyed hair that is not a natural color? Nope. This is correctly assumed to be rather distracting. How about flip flops or backless sandals? No way. Falling in these is considered too easy.

Then why on Earth are teachers, both young and...um...not so young, taking advantage of their position of power by doing exactly what the student handbook claims to be taboo? The double standard causes myself, as well as students, to do little more than question the rules' importance and defy the authority that created the rules in the first place.