Most people would agree that how a teacher dresses should not have much to do with his or her effectiveness as a teacher. Yet two studies suggest that the clothes womn by teachers make a difference in how students see and respond to them.
In one study, the researchers wanted to know if teachers would be viewed differently depending on the clothes they wore. They had teachers dress in three different styles: professional, casual professional, or casual. It was found that students' judgment of the teachers' expertise (专门知识) decreased as clothes became more casual. On the other hand,the teachers who dressed casually were seen as more interesting, out-going (开朗的) and friendly.
In another study, the researchers asked students to complete surveys about their teachers' clothing. The students also answered questions about their views of their teachers, what they leamed from their courses and their own classroom behavior. The results showed a close link between teachers' clothing and the ratings students gave them. Students also reported that they behaved better and leamed more when the teachers dressed formally.
The results suggest some clothing strategies for teachers. If the goal is to appear capable and maintain order, it is a good idea to dress formally. If the goal is to be viewed as out-going and friendly, casual clothing might be a better choice. The best approach might be to match clothes with the educational goals of the class.
It is suggested that teachers' dressing style should ______.