Dressed to Impress (The diversion) by Cari

Dressed to Impress (The diversion) by Cari - January 2015 Scholarship Essay

It's hard to create a topic, based on giving someone advice. Especially when it comes to giving someone advice on teaching, considering that is exactly what they are highly trained to do. Personally, I believe that each individual educator has their very own teaching style. That once learned and understood, it will come in handy outside of the classroom when dealing with, and learning in the professional world.

However, there is one thing that stands out in my mind when asked what would be helpful to the learning process in the classroom. This advice can be applied to all teachers, in every classroom in America. Dress code.

When I say dress code, I am using the term in it's loosest form. As in, merely dressing in a manner that both positively reflects the school, favorably influences the students, and doesn't distract me.

Unusual mustaches, shirts or coats with rhinestones, fur trim, large jewelry; these are all serial distractors.

"Most schools uphold a dress code for students—in fact, 56 percent of public schools enforce one, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. However, appropriate apparel for teachers has yet to be defined." says Christina Oriel, journalist for Takepart.com.

The reason this hinders my attention from learning, is because I, and many other people like me, tend to over analyze things. When I am watching, listening and attempting to focus, my eyes may stray to that unusual mustache. I then start to wonder how the owner of said mustache, gets it to curl up in such a peculiar way. Do they or don't they use product to get it so rubbery looking? Does his wife like it? I bet he drinks craft beers.

It is said that what you wear can inform passersby of your type of employment, as well as your ambitions, emotions and spending habits. Therefore, it is helpful to me, as I am trying to focus, to dress very regularly, so my curiosity is not so peeked about you, that my mind begins to wander as I analyze how and why you chose to be so bold or brilliant in your attire.