‘Dear Lord, have you no boundaries?’ Teachers debate whether band T-shirts are appropriate classroom attire
An Aussie teacher asked her peers whether she should wear a hip-hop artist’s T-shirt to work, sparking a furious debate about work clothing for educators. So what do you think?
An Aussie teacher sparked intense debate this week by asking an online forum whether she should wear a BBNO$ band T-shirt to work.
BBNO$ is the stage name of Canadian rapper Alexander Gumuchian, who is known for the song Lalala, along with other hits such as Edamame and Whip a Tesla.
The lyrics from some of his songs are considered to be offensive.
“My friends recently went to a BBNO$ concert and got me a band shirt. The shirt doesn’t have anything offensive on it – it’s just a bunch of meme graphics and the singer’s face,” she wrote.
“I spoke to my staffroom on whether it would be okay for me to wear it to work. What do you think?”
Teachers were divided in their responses, with some saying band, graphic and popular nerd-culture T-shirts were a “good opening to chat” and “show a bit of personality”.
One said they were complimented on the Green Day T-shirt they wore on prac by their deputy principal.
Another said their band T-shirts or other graphic tees “are a talking point for the kids”.
“They look forward to seeing what tee I’m wearing. As long as there’s nothing offensive or controversial you should be all good!”
Another said: “At my school we all often wear band shirts. It’s good for the kids to see some of your personality. Of course we make them appropriate.”
“I’m also a music teacher and I wear band T-shirts at least twice a week. We have lots of conversations around the artists, which usually starts with something along the lines of ‘Hey, my dad likes that band!’,” another said.
In a funny nod to the Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s recent criticism of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s clothing choices, one wrote: “Guy I know wore a Joy Division T-shirt recently on his way back from a work trip and Jesus did some people go full Karen.”
Another said their work “basically has no dress code”.
“My boss will often wear a shirt that says ‘Have the day you deserve’. It’s great.”
Some teachers took more liberties on planning or casual dress days: “It was a PL day when I wore my Kenny Rogers 1983 tour T-shirt (sponsored by Jovan) to work. My principal commented, ‘Dear Lord, have you no boundaries?’”
But it doesn’t always go down well.
“I wore a tee the other day, one of my male colleagues pointed it out, I pointed at a female colleague across the staffroom who was dressed almost identically and asked him to explain the difference,” one male teacher said.
Others strongly disagreed with the casual approach, one saying they “prefer to dress more professionally”.
“The image you put out is what you get back. Go too casual and the kids don’t take you as seriously, so they misbehave,” one said.
Another noted that “professional attire is a classist, sexist holdover and should be relegated to the past”.
Another said: “No one is saying wear a bag of fruit (suit) every day. However, I’m legitimately a bit shocked by responses about workplace attire. Surely T-shirts are beyond the pale?”
And: “I love Eminem and have a lot of his merch, but I don’t need kids to know that.”
It comes as US schools are allowing teachers to dress in band T-shirts as part of mental health awareness weeks or red ribbon days in support of drug and alcohol awareness.
Australian schools take a variety of approaches.
In Victoria, it’s up to schools to formulate their own policies, with one primary school in the Yarra Valley suggesting teachers wear clothes that “represent a professional image”. Teachers can interpret this as they wish, but it’s suggested they do not wear revealing or ripped clothing and anything depicting contentious graphics or words.
Other schools outlaw T-shirts, active wear and singlets.
Many private schools stipulate smart business attire and ties for men.
In NSW, there is a dress and presentation policy that says employees must “wear clothing appropriate to the workplace, that aligns with the nature of the activity, complies with work health and safety standards and allows them to respond in an emergency”.
It notes that employees “have an obligation in the workplace to dress appropriately and in a manner that maintains respect, establishes credibility and upholds the good reputation of the department and public education”.
Private schools can ask male teachers to wear a business shirt and tie and for women to wear modest slacks or dresses that are at least to the knee.
NSW Department of Education rules from 2014 dictate that thongs, T-shirts and revealing outfits for women should not be worn.
In Queensland, teachers must adhere to personal presentation guidelines saying they have to present and conduct themselves “in a professional manner”. Inappropriate clothing includes thongs, singlets, revealing clothes or items with offensive slogans.
In South Australia, schools can set their own dress codes, with most required to present in “appropriate professional attire”.
Do you agree that teachers should wear band T-shirts to work? Leave a comment or email education@news.com.au
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Originally published as ‘Dear Lord, have you no boundaries?’ Teachers debate whether band T-shirts are appropriate classroom attire
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