Can Teachers Have Beards, Long Hair? Is It Unprofessional?
Educational institutions have multiple policies governing the appearance of their teaching and non-teaching staff. This is however dependent on each respective district and the schools.
The role of a teacher comes with the great responsibility of training the next generation, and as a result, institutions, parents, and the community have certain expectations of teachers in charge of their children.
Every aspect of a teacher’s appearance is still criticized in many communities despite some communities becoming more accommodating of individual choices.
This has led to multiple debates on various topics including teacher tattoos, teachers having facial piercings, and teachers with colored hair. Another topic also debated is whether teachers are allowed to have beards and long hair (male teachers).
Gone are the days when professors and teachers were pictured as people with overgrown beards or at the very least sporting a badass mustache. Intellectuals in our modern-day in different sexes and appearance.
That said, educational institutions have become progressively tolerant of individual choices enabling teachers to express their individuality in various ways. This article will look to answer whether teachers are allowed to have beards.
Is It Unprofessional To Have A Beard
Beards aren’t necessarily considered unprofessional but only when they’re well kept. In the field of education, districts have a responsibility to ensure that the parents of their students are comfortable leaving their children to their educational institutions.
While most people would say there are no stereotypes and assumptions around people with various types of beards, the reality is different. Beards are just like the hair on our head which can be trimmed to look professional or unprofessional.
Appearance can make a huge difference in the corporate world, especially when interacting face-to-face with a customer. When choosing a beard style to suit your personality is admirable, this may not always be acceptable in the workplace.
Imagine if a teacher with facial hair met a parent to discuss an issue concerning their child. While this may depend on the beard style, some parents or customers would have their reservations concerning the teacher or the employee.
Ever heard the phrase “customer is king”? Well, companies consider their customers to be king, and educational institutions consider parents to be king. The customer or parent’s perception of the employee or teacher is essential.
While males with facial hair are perceived to be more masculine which may be seen in a positive light in most cases. Unfortunately, they’re also stereotyped as less supportive of feminist issues. This presents a problem for employers looking to please their customers or parents in the case of educational institutions.
While this general perception is changing, most companies have strict regulations on facial hair. That said, most companies have now adopted a limited policy on facial hair. Employees depending on their role are allowed to have facial hair so long as they’re well kept. So to answer the question:
No, beards are only considered unprofessional when they’re unkempt, the beard style raises eyebrows from customers and authority figures or it goes against company policies on facial hair.
Why People Hate Beard
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Mark Of Laziness
There’s a perception that people with beards are lazy as they’re unable to take time in their day to simply shave. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth as most men make the conscious choice to maintain their beards.
Unhygienic And Untidy
While the hair on our head may be similar to our beard, they require different levels of care. In the case of the hair, some could go weeks without the need to shave their hair.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for our beard as it requires constant care to remain clean and neat. Hobos and people living in forests with unkempt hair don’t help this argument leading to the negative perception that people with beards have poor hygiene.
Intimidating
Two things about men’s appearance that can make them seem intimidating are a bald head and facial hair. Beards are seen to enhance male masculinity presenting an air of intimidation around the person. Surprisingly, the total loss of hair on the head can also have a similar effect.
Rebellion
Companies sometimes pair beard with rebelliousness. People with beards are considered difficult to control which can become a problem in the workplace.
Companies expect their employees to do as they say without questioning them. Unfortunately, having facial hair is seen as a characteristic of an individual with little respect for authority.
Schools Staff Dress Code Policy
While each district has its own policies on the dress code for its teachers, we’ll put down the policies common to most districts. These policies apply to licensed or unlicensed teachings serving as teachers in any educational institution governed by the district.
Dress Code For Female Staff
- Female staff dresses and skirts should be no less than three inches above the knee
- Dresses and skirts should not be too short or too tight around the ankle
- Dress or skirt slits must be no more than 3 inches above the knee
- Slacks and Capri pants must be longer than the knee
- Except for physical education teachers, no female staff members may wear shorts
- There should be no denim clothes of any color worn
- T-shirts, low-cut blouses, see-through apparel, and anything that exposes the midriff are not permitted
- Undergarments should be covered by sleeveless clothes
- Shoes and sandals without a backstrap, as well as flip-flops, are not permitted
- Nonphysical education instructors are not permitted to wear athletic shoes or sneakers
- Earrings are the only visible piercing allowed on ladies
- Hats are not permitted to be worn inside
- Tattoos that are derogatory, racist, vulgar, depict violent situations, are drug-related, have strong sexual imagery, are gang-related, or contain obscene slogans may not be shown
Dress Code For Male Staff
- Men are required to wear a dress shirt and tie
- Physical education instructors are permitted to wear collared sport/golf shirts
- Slacks or casual dress pants are OK
- Except for physical education teachers, no personnel may wear shorts
- Jeans or denim shirts of any color are not permitted
- T-shirts and tank tops are not permitted
- Shoes, flip-flops, and sandals without a backstrap are not permitted
- Nonphysical education instructors are not permitted to wear athletic shoes or sneakers
- Facial hair should be nice and clean
- Hair length should not interfere with vision
- Hats are not permitted inside
- Tattoos that are considered offensive, racist, vulgar, depict violent situations, are drug-related, have strong sexual imagery, are gang-related, or contain obscene slogans may be covered up
Can Teachers Have Beards
Now that we’ve taken a look at a sample dress code policy implemented by these institutions, let’s answer the question of whether teachers can have beards.
Yes. So long as it’s kept nice and clean, facial hair complies with the policies of most districts. However, a few districts have policies that prevent teachers and other faculty who work with students from having beards or mustaches.
As stated above, these policies differ depending on each district. While most districts have no reservations against teachers and their facial hair, it’s worth noting that some districts and educational institutions forbid their teachers from having facial piercings.
If you’re looking at taking up a role as a teacher in any district, it’s advisable to verify their policy on facial hair before your interview. In the event that you’re unable to confirm this, you can simply shave for the interview to avoid any problems.
You can later confirm the district’s policy during the interview or after. when you’ve successfully landed your teaching role.
Can Male Teachers Have Long Hair
One might argue, “female teachers have long hair, why can’t male teachers?”.
Yes, male teachers are allowed to have long hair in most liberal districts but some conservative areas may have policies against this. That said, it’s advisable to identify the teacher dress code policy for your district before interviewing for a teaching role.
