So, I really wanted to go with the trendy teacher, but alas, it was taken so edgy educator it is! But truly, I am an educator, (I teach 9th grade English) and as for the edginess-- I guess I can be rather edgy. I've been blogless for awhile now, and I was waiting until I truly found a unique idea to pursue my blogging career. Maybe you remember me from, "The Many Things I Hate," a blog designated to exactly that. While there are always things to hate on, I felt the negativity was weighing me down, so hopefully this will be (slightly) more positive. Anyway, back to trendy teaching and edgy education, in my mind, both sort of oxymorons.
Fashion and teaching. They just can't seem to coexist and this is a big problem for me because I really love both. Unfortunately this predicament almost cost me my career in my first year of teaching. There I am, Spring of 2011, pastel palettes abounding, skinny jeans skimming the runways. So, I'm working in a Catholic school (I'm Jewish- but that's another story), and I get a curious email from the principal wanting to see me in her office. There had been a smattering of teacher dress code violations as of late, but looking down at my crochet top, cardigan and pale blue pants, I could see no issue at hand. My coworker had been called out earlier in the week for her "too-short" skirt. Apparently it was a distraction to the young Catholic school girls. Her pasty, unshaven legs were making the ladies hot. Back to my story, I saunter down the hall casually checking out my adorable tunic in the mirror as I pass. Crochet was all the rage back that season. Today that top sits in a salvation army bin in the city, as it was just so 2011. Clearly, Principal (we'll call her C) does not read In Style. She gave me one look up and down and shook her finger. "Oh no no no, we can't have that!"
At this point I knew she meant my outfit, but I was unsure of which part.
"What?!" I asked, shocked and red in the face.
She didn't seem to know what exactly she was looking at, so she replied, "Your dress, it's too short!"
Dress? WTF Principal C? It was a tunic from Anthropologie. Tunics had been around since the dawn of time. Her main man Jesus Christ even rocked the tunic.
"Dr. C, surely you are mistaken. This is a tunic! See, I'm wearing pants." I did a little twirl. She was unimpressed.
"Okay, well then, your top. It's inappropriate. It's see-through. There's holes!"
Again, it was a tunic and yes, it was crocheted, hence the white camisole underneath. There wasn't an inch of skin for these apparently hot and bothered Catholic girls to catch a glimpse.
At this point, I was on the verge of tears.
"I only see two options here. You can put on a school uniform or go home for the day."
School uniform?! These girls wore the classic plaid skirts and polos, knee socks and sweaters. How on earth a plaid mini skirt would be a better option baffled me. At the same time, it was a beautiful Spring day, and I felt like a shopping spree might be just what I needed. I was out.
"Dr. C, I think I am going to call it a day."
Later, I received an email from Dr. C informing me that it wasn't her doing to dismiss me for the day, it was one of the Sisters who had complained. A Sister? How could a Sister judge fashion. The antithesis of fashion, the "habit", hadn't changed since the days of yore. Couldn't the Pope, or whoever the nuns report to, allow for a shorter hemline over the years? Maybe jazz it up with some color? I mean no disrespect, I'm truly amazed that there are still women in the world that are willing to give up their lives for God and religion, however, I don't judge you for your penguin-like get up, so let's agree to disagree here.
Looking back, I so should have put on that Catholic school girl uniform. Show 'em some leg.
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