The Washington Post is reporting about an area school district that is instituting "Expectations for Professional Attire" for the current year.  This document gives specific details about how employees of the school system are expected to dress.  In addition, it gives recommendations for covering various types of tattoos and removing body piercings. Some people might have a problem with this.  They may claim that these types of "expectations" violate their rights, freedom of expression and others.  I, for one, think it is commendable that this school system is taking a stand for what is, or at least should be, right.  It is not appropriate for high school teachers to wear revealing clothes or to sport multiple body piercings.  It is not appropriate for elementary school teachers to wear shorts and flip-flops.  It is not appropriate for middle school teachers to wear clothes with vulgar, derogatory, or suggestive language.  To me, these choices demonstrate a poor judgement and it makes me very uncomfortable to think of someone with poor judgement trying to educate vulnerable, impressionable children. In the business world, it would never be appropriate to approach a prospective client without the expected attire.  Likewise, I believe it is never appropriate to approach a student when you are inappropriately dressed.  Even on the weekends, our students are watching.  By the adult influences in their lives, students form ideas about what is right and wrong, what is acceptable and unacceptable.  Of course, this will be a battle.  Parents begin dressing their little girls like teenagers by age 3 and their little boys look like NFL stars by age 5.  It will be increasingly necessary to provide a specific, detailed list of good and bad for employees.  But this a fight worth pursuing.