The internet is a place of endless debate and recently, the latest online firestorm has centered on a teacher.
Known widely as “Teacher Bae,” Ms. Williams, a self-described educator and fashion influencer, has once again sparked a conversation that pits professionalism against personal style. Her classroom videos, featuring her in stylish yet undeniably form-fitting outfits, have gone viral, reigniting a debate about whether a teacher’s wardrobe is anyone else’s business.
On one side, supporters argue that the criticism is nothing more than body-shaming, an unfair attack on a woman for simply existing in her own skin. They point out that a woman with a different body type wearing the same clothes would likely not face the same scrutiny. This is a valid point that speaks to a larger, uncomfortable truth about the hypersexualization of women, particularly Black women with natural curves and the double standards they face.
However, while important, this argument misses the core issue at hand. This isn’t a conversation about a woman’s body; it’s a debate about professional responsibility and the unique environment of a classroom. While I’m for body positivity and personal expression, we must also acknowledge that some settings demand a specific type of decorum. For teachers, the classroom is one of those places.
A teacher’s primary role is to create a safe, focused, distraction-free learning environment. Every decision made within that space should benefit the students. When a teacher’s attire becomes the main topic of conversation, whether online or, more critically, in the students’ minds, it inevitably shifts the focus from the lesson to the look.
I was watching a clip of The Shade Room Great Debate discussing this very topic and one of the co-hosts of the program agreed that there should be a dress code, but didn’t see anything wrong and he means that in her attractiveness. Now this is a grown man saying this. If a mature adult thinks this, what impact does it have on a teenager whose brain is still developing and whose attention is already difficult to capture?
It’s not about shaming Ms. Williams or her body; it’s about acknowledging human nature. A teacher’s role is to educate, not to be a source of distraction or worse, an object of desire.
Professional dress codes have been a standard in nearly every career field for decades and for good reason. They are not designed to police individual bodies but to establish a uniform standard of respect and seriousness for the work being done. Doctors, lawyers, and corporate executives all adhere to a certain level of dress that reflects the gravity of their profession. Why should educators, who are entrusted with the intellectual and moral development of our children, be any different?
A quick look at the employee handbooks of nearby school districts shows that these are not new or surprising ideas. For instance, Alief ISD’s Dress and Grooming Policy is highly specific. It prohibits “sweatpants, wind pants, warm-ups, leggings, jeggings, yoga pants, spandex,” as well as “halter tops, exposed midriffs, strapless and/or low-cut tops” and “see-through clothing.” The policy is clear in its purpose, stating that “Inappropriate attire or grooming is any factor that causes a distraction to other employees/students.”
Similarly, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) employee handbook, while more general, has a strong professional tone. It requires that the dress and grooming of all employees be “appropriate for their assignments” and that “all district employees are role models and should dress accordingly to reflect good judgment and the high standards of the community.” The policy also explicitly forbids any “apparel or grooming that has or may have an adverse impact on the educational process.”
These are not arbitrary rules; they are common-sense guidelines designed to maintain a professional, focused and respectful environment for students. Alief and HISD’s policies directly address the problem we see with “Teacher Bae.”
The argument that a woman’s professional attire is defined by her body type is dangerous and unproductive. It places the burden of a dress code on an individual’s shape rather than on a universal standard of professionalism. A school should have clear guidelines that apply equally to everyone, regardless of their background. This would free teachers to focus on their craft and ensure the environment remains student-centered.
It’s troubling that schools that remain silent on these issues likely do so out of a fear of public backlash. By failing to enforce clear, common-sense dress codes, they are abdicating their responsibility to their staff and students. The absence of a clear policy leaves the debate to social media and turns a professional issue into a personal attack.
The classroom is a place of learning and growth; the focus should remain on that purpose, free from distractions. A teacher’s responsibility extends beyond their lesson plan; it includes fostering an environment where all students feel respected and can concentrate on their education. Dress to educate, not to distract—that’s a principle we should all agree on.
