Job Discussion Forums

[Sutherland]

I'm interested to know if this is a common thing or just my school. A co-worker and I were rather severely reprimanded for wearing shorts and tank tops outside of school. It wasn't Pattaya-girl style, not short-shorts or anything. Anyways, we were told to dress like teachers in and out of school. We're girls. Is this normal?

[laconic]

No.

Unless you signed a contract containing a clause permitting your employer to control your attire outside of work, I would tell them exactly what you think of their "directive" or whatever it is.

There are plenty of jobs out there where no one cares what you do before or after work and what you wear is your business and no one else's.

[NigerianWhisper]

[Pauleddy]

I used to live near the Assumption School behind St Louis Hospital. The Assumption schools and unis are christian and overseen by christian monks (except you don't see them much, the monks).

Many of the pupils lived locally. Parents were shopping in the soi all day, collecting kids and so on.

Some of the young female teachers lived in my apartment block (about 500m away) or even closer.

It doesn't cost me a great leap of imagination to figure that stuffy school managers and well-to-do Thai mums could well frown upon pretty young teachers with short skirts and thin tops, if seen locally.

Thailand is in many ways ultra-conservative, despite the booze and hooker thing. Thais never go nude, and are even discreet in the bedroom. Most Thais wear t-shirts and shorts (or more) when swimming in the sea.
Thais are modest, shy and quite old-fashioned.

I guess that the same frowns could be seen in a small town, especially in rural areas.

The OP comment doesn't really surprise me. I think that Laconic's "to hell with them" comment is a bit sweeping. Teachers are teachers, and the profession is fairly exalted (less so these days, I admit)...teachers are held up as models of goodness and sobriety (or were). You would never see a lady doctor or lawyer in skimpy clothes unless she was on vacation and far away from the job (and even then only some).

If you don't believe me, the facts speak for themselves. The girl/s in question have actually received the comments/reprimand. It doesn't surprise me.
Eddy

[laconic]

The question asked was whether or not it is "normal" or a "common thing" for schools in Thailand to control the attire of teachers outside of the place of employment?

The answer is a resounding "no," as this a non-issue for most teachers and most schools.

Can it happen?

Yes.

Does the fact that it happened to the OP and her colleague make it "normal" or a "common thing" impacting the majority of teachers in Thailand?

No.

Does the exception make the rule?

No.

[Pauleddy]

Splitting hairs.

It may not be "normal", but it is not unheard of...especially in a small town or small district which is not on the "holiday and beach" routes.

I knew a female teacher in Khon Khen (a small city). In some places up around there, there are very few foreigners. People gawp at westerners, even if fully dressed, and she would get gawped at. Younger white females in skimpy clothes may cause a stir in rural areas. Knowing Thais as I do, it would only take 20 minutes for the whole district to know a bit of "scandal".

The situation may be compounded by monks being around. Monks are not allowed to touch women (and vice-versa) It is not considered "polite" for monks to catch sight of female flesh. Some older folk would be upset if a younger female, even accidently, wore scanty clothes within 200 yards of a monk or a temple.

Within a day, the head teacher may need to 'save face' for the school, whatever the reason.

As an ultra-liberal polygamous gay naturist, I hate our normal freedoms to be compromised, and I don't agree with the reprimand, but I don't find it unusual. I would hate to be somewhere where sharia law made things worse still. I hope that the teachers in question will not work in rural Malaysia or Saudi.

The bottom line is "put up or shut up". The head teacher has complained. There is no court of appeal or human rights watch group. The Thais run their schools their way, and if you don't obey, they will always find a reason to boot you out or not renew contracts.

It may not be 'common' or normal, but there it is. Wear slacks or find another school. You can't appeal to God or to reason. TIT.

MOD EDIT

Eddy

[Sutherland]

Thanks for the info. I'm actually in a pretty big city, Korat, but it's as one of you said-- I'm at a Catholic school and live near it and constantly run into students and parents. My main complaints are 1) the school has threatened not to renew a teacher's contract if she moves off campus and 2) we were never told about this until it was too late and our jobs were threatened. Also, we never wore short skirts, just occassionally loose shorts, and never tank tops but fairly conservative sleeveless shirts. And I mean the male teachers are at fekking brothels on the weekend. We wore things similar to things we've seen on parents who bring the kids to school. I just wanted to know if this could be chalked up to Thai culture or if it had more to do with the confluence of our location/Christianity and maybe the school angling not to give us raises they'd promised. Good to know, though, good to know.

[Gypsy King]

As you are living in a big city Korat you should be free to dress as you feel outside of work. No school and I repeat NO SCHOOL in the should control your life or how you dress outside of the school premises. I suggest you leave that Catholic School and find a better Thai school to work for in Thailand...plenty of Buddhist schools around... Good luck!