KEY POINTS:
A secondary school has ordered teachers to smarten up, banning jeans and sports shoes - and prompting the secondary teachers' union to suggest other schools should follow suit.
Mount Hutt College in Methven has imposed "office-standard dress" with collared shirts and no sports shoes or denim to school.
Principal Don McLeod - former New Zealand Secondary Principals Council chairman - said the rule was introduced because some teachers dressed too casually and in at least one case that was "detrimental to a young teacher's ability to manage students".
However, it was a decision made "by consensus not decree", he said.
Teachers set an example for children in several areas, and the standard of dress was one.
The Post Primary Teachers Association has addressed the "touchy subject" in an article in its newsletter this month, quoting a UK principal's view that a formal dress code establishes an "ethos and attitude to learning".
PPTA president Robin Duff said teachers were expected to dress neatly as professionals.
But teachers are rejecting any call for a nationwide dress code and say they want to use their professional judgment. In some quarters, teachers have a reputation for off-beat attire.
Former teacher John Minto admitted he'd come across a couple of colleagues fond of corduroy trousers and "the odd cardigan" while working at schools in Auckland.
"Teachers are not renowned for their fashion sense but they are renowned for their good sense and that's the main thing."
He always wore "clean and tidy and respectable" dress to class and said teachers should wear what they were comfortable in.
National MP Gerry Brownlee was expected to wear a collar and tie when he worked as a woodwork teacher in Christchurch in the 90s.
The dress code in Parliament was more strict, said Mr Brownlee, but schools were increasingly conscious of their public image.
"If a dress code is part of that then that's the school's choice."
But common sense had to be used.
"If you're in a laboratory, a tie may well be potentially quite disastrous," he said. "It could catch fire."
Mr Duff never wore jeans to class but said the line became blurred with expensive designer brands.
Western Springs College principal Ken Havill said teachers' effectiveness was more important than looks.
Independent Schools of New Zealand executive director Joy Quigley said the topic was discussed at a recent meeting with principals but details were up to the individual schools.
A Ministry of Education spokesman said policy about staff dress were the responsibility of boards of trustees.
Rookies left to make it up as they go
New teachers are starting work without being shown their school's emergency procedures or how it disciplines students, a new report says.
The New Zealand Teachers Council study, examining the induction of teachers, showed some Auckland secondary schools missed "basic orientation practices", such as issuing teachers keys to their classroom or running through fire drill procedures.
One school gave a 15-minute orientation on a new teacher's first day. At another, new teachers did not meet until they had been in the job for a month.
Council director Peter Lind said a newly qualified teacher's introduction to the profession played a significant role in shaping his or her future success.
It could also influence whether they remained in the profession.
Dr Lind said the report highlighted areas for improvement but most schools had effective programmes in place.
"While many other countries are only just waking up to the importance of induction for newly qualified teachers, New Zealand has had a history of more than 22 years of providing such programmes," he said.
