Given all the cutbacks and challenges that teachers face, it’s a bit petty to complain about how some teachers dress. But now that Wichita principals and other administrators have developed dress guidelines, it naturally prompts the question of whether there should be standards for teachers, too. Teacher contracts dictate that teachers “will project a positive professional image while dressing in an appropriate manner,” but it leaves it up to individual teachers to determine what that means. The vast majority of teachers dress appropriately. And some teachers need to dress more casually than others depending on their job duties, which could include kneeling on the floor with kindergartners or supervising recess. Still, some teachers clearly miss the mark and could use some accountability.
The Environmental Protection Agency has thoroughly debunked the notion that it’s going to crack down on farm dust. But that didn’t stop the U.S. House, including Kansas’ delegation, from passing the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 last week. Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, took credit for shepherding the bill through committee, saying in a statement: “I’m proud to say that today House Republicans provided a win for farmers in Kansas and across the nation — the EPA’s regulations on ‘farm dust’ are nothing now but dust in the wind.” Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, said: “It’s not just current regulations that present problems for our farmers and ranchers. It’s also the proposed or even just discussed regulations that have them concerned.” In any case, President Obama opposes the bill, which stands no chance of passing the Senate.
It defies common sense that the Kansas Open Records Act doesn’t apply to an organization as reliant on public dollars as the Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau. In any case, the city was right to have second thoughts about initially burying its 2012 contract renewal with Go Wichita among the routine items on the consent agenda of today’s City Council meeting. Go Wichita plays an outstanding role in the community, and had a special economic impact this year when Wichita hosted the NCAA women’s basketball tournament and USATF National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships. But the contract, which calls Go Wichita to receive nearly $2.2 million next year from the city’s 6 percent guest tax on hotel and motel rooms, merits a place on the council’s regular agenda.
Given all the cutbacks and challenges that teachers face, it’s a bit petty to complain about how some teachers dress. But now that Wichita principals and other administrators have developed dress guidelines, it naturally prompts the question of whether there should be standards for teachers, too. Teacher contracts dictate that teachers “will project a positive professional image while dressing in an appropriate manner,” but it leaves it up to individual teachers to determine what that means. The vast majority of teachers dress appropriately. And some teachers need to dress more casually than others depending on their job duties, which could include kneeling on the floor with kindergartners or supervising recess. Still, some teachers clearly miss the mark and could use some accountability.
