Teachers’ dress mode angers Chief Education Officer

Hyacinth. Photo credit: GIS

Dominican teachers have received a scolding from the country’s Chief Education Officer Steve Hyacinth concerning the way they dress.

Hyacinth, who was at the time addressing the Dominica Association of Teachers, Ministry of Education, Canadian Teachers Federation Summer Workshop at the Convent High School Auditorium this morning said he has some concerns with the manner in which some teachers are dressed in and out of work.

“The Code of Ethics says be a role model and it says speak and act in such a manner as to be role models for students. It says exhibit with higher standards to behavior, be punctual and regular in performance of your duties. Behave in a manner that is credible to the teaching profession. It also says dress in a manner consistent with the dignity and honor of the teaching profession,” he said.

Hyacinth continued, “I am personally not satisfied with the how I see some teachers are dressed for work”.

He said he would like to see teachers be more modest in their dressing.

“Every dress is not for everywhere and especially when children look to us as role models. Teachers let us be modest in our dressing,” he said.

Hyacinth also spoke to teachers about refraining from any inappropriate or illicit relationships with students.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

72 Comments

  1. Nudibranch
    July 24, 2012

    Island time is LATE.

    once children learn this is not the way the world runs, then maybe, just maybe the island will move forward. Sadly with teachers rolling in whenever they feel like… how can the youth learn this.

  2. 00000
    July 12, 2011

    Have you seen the teachers with those KIND OF A TATOO all over their bodies? Their breast outside and it has a big tatoo on it. Their leg full of tatoo. They tell the children doh put fake tatoo but they showing off the real thing on their bodies.

  3. July 12, 2011

    Manno, we live in a different time, a different era, a different world; and it is time that we shed completely the old colonial yoke, it is one thing to advised a teacher not to be over exposed while they are in a class room, but to suggest they follow a dress code of ethics, while they are on their time, not at work in the class room, is in my mind taking it too far!

    That reminds me of the colonial days, when a woman teachers became pregnant, if she was not married she automatically lost her job. You were not born when this happened, but my aunt, the nieces of your grandmother, your mother’s mother, who is also my aunt, had a teaching job, in Wesley, she became pregnant, and had to runaway to Guadeloupe, never to return to this day.

    She died in Guadeloupe, because of the stigma, of becoming pregnant while not married!

    So too my grandmother had a niece who was a teacher in Marigot her name was Octavia, she became pregnant for a teacher, the late Belgrave Robinson, they were not married, she as the woman, had to quit her job, and shield him otherwise they both would be fired by the colonial masters.

    We existed in the archaic days, I am sure you are not suggesting that we revisit or bring back those days!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • April 2, 2016

      So a female teacher got pregnant and was fired.

      This is unfortunate. But how else could the authorities tell the students that her behavior was not acceptable? Her dismissal is the only way to send the message that fornicating is not appropriate for a teacher, and they obviously don’t want it among the students.

      We are living in a different time and era. But the Word of God has not changed. What was sin in colonial days is still sin today. How can Christians bemoan the fact that premarital sex is winked at, 50% of the babies born are illegitimate, homosexuality and deviate sex is increasing in the schools, and yet in the next breath they excuse these things by saying, “Oh well, we are living in a different age. These are not the colonial days.”

      You only display what you have for sale. Males should refuse to let their eyes wonder. But it happens anyway without encouragement. Young women should avoid creating difficult situations.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  4. Temma Aubrey
    July 12, 2011

    I support every word that he said..Thats how we can bring the country forward by beinging examples

  5. TOKOLOU
    July 11, 2011

    Mr. High, pay those teachers an increase and vex with them man.
    You forgot you used to come to teach us in push-in.

  6. BIG HIM UP
    July 11, 2011

    I do not always agree with steves speeches esp. the broken record on Universal Education but 2day I have to big him up. Its time that our teachers learn the hard way. thanks for the exposure.We need more of those rebukes. congrats education officer you are on the right track.A CLOCK FOR YOU.

  7. ....................
    July 11, 2011

    TALK!!! TALK !!! TALK!!! This same hopeless and lazy officials in the Ministry of Education has to be blamed..!!! What is being done to solve this problem..

  8. D
    July 11, 2011

    Honestly I cannot believe the comments that are coming from some of you, who I assume are adults, and we wonder why our children are so out of control and have no respect. He is not telling them to dress like nuns, but a decent knows what to wear according to the event. This also goes for other people who work in offices wear for work, I mean come on!!! Some women just have to value themselves a bit more and know the time and place for some outfits. We are not Americans, we are people of color with some pride. We do not wear anything neither to work (depending on where you are working) or to church. Let us some decency and we need to be better role models to younger ones
    .

  9. Roseau MAN!
    July 11, 2011

    POLICE TAKE NOTE IS NOT ALL U ALONE THEY GIVING BLOWS.HAPPY FOR THE CHANGE OF FOCUS LETS HOPE IT STAYS THERE.

  10. Confused
    July 11, 2011

    Though, Mr. Hyacinth cautioning is merited; there are bigger problems that the ministry has to deal with like shifting a particular principal with an alleged strong sexual appetite for young boys to different school within the school system; even though, they are aware of it.

  11. July 11, 2011

    mr. steve is totally correct and that’s his job as chief no body else had to,teachers esp. the young ones need to know school is not canival a call for uniforms for them with a particular length.style and colour for every school, just as students represent thier school its time that sexy dressing stop teachers in love with students and thats alright with ministry they does not care about children nor thier education all they concern about is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

    • Roseau MAN!
      July 11, 2011

      Why they have to rob the cradle? Teachers those who are guilty of Having affairs with student. Please I need some extra classes both night and day, pick on your own size seek people who will make you whole and also make you happy and teach you some tricks in the process come to daddy please, The officer is right on point and I aplaude him to have the nuts to voice his displeasure on the matter I hope those concern take hid.

    • possi
      July 11, 2011

      what money.you know what money we get for the work we do. shut the ……up

  12. hmmph
    July 11, 2011

    This makes me remember when I was in 2nd form and particular teacher was dressed so inappropriately to work daily. One time she took it too far and they sent her home. Yes, it still happens. Her butt was shaking so much when she writing on the board I was even shame. She maybe wasn’t; but I certainly was.

  13. concern TEACHER
    July 11, 2011

    what about the allowances for teacher Mr H. consirder looking at more important issues than this trivial matter. wat for u to talk about is when teachers have their concern and you are never present to address it and when you never visists a school to even say hi to the kids so that they will be able to recognise you as the CEO.

  14. July 11, 2011

    i totally agree with dressing properly as a teacher, however the ministry does not give uniforms or money for working clothes, so people wear what they have, tell them to help teachers buy clothes or pay to make it and then they can make demands on dress code

    • Nonesense
      July 11, 2011

      Nonesence…the ministry does not give money to buy clothes but the truth is teachers are professionals and they go to the seamstresss or store to get clothes. They just need to choose modest styles that represent the profession or else find another profession where less is best.

    • July 11, 2011

      ministry does not help parents to buy uniforms yet they demand that it is worn and dessently too so that was inconsiderate thinking

    • Roseau MAN!
      July 11, 2011

      Sort eu sort” sit down!

    • Jalousie
      July 11, 2011

      You are being ridiculous. The ministry does not have to give you mney to buy uniform.
      Just a little bit of pride in yourself and you will dress properly. There is a dress code and it needs to be adhered to.Principals should be empowered to ask teachers to return home to dress appropriately for class. The children are looking at us.

    • goodluck
      July 12, 2011

      i agree full heartedly,all other professionals are give uniform or uniform allowance while they are paid more than teachers.as i always said ,when government will start giving me an allowance for uniform i will dress to suit them.until then i will buy with my with my donation what makes me happy and comfortable.i know my boundaries.these people ask for too much from teachers and yet treat us like the bottom of the food chain.

      • confused
        July 12, 2011

        so a clothes in which revealing you tat tat and a tight shirk that shows your saggy bottom and a pants that reveal the shape of your promise land…make you feel comfortable, so that what you would buy to stand up in front of people’s children….no wonder our students can’t learn at school; they are being taught by idoits

  15. civil servant
    July 11, 2011

    While he is complaining about teachers dress code, is he appropriatelt dress as an example, open neck shirt on GIS, come on sir, ure complaint is of no substance at this point

    • July 11, 2011

      what do think he is human like you dominica is not england he did not go bare back or with a vest be real dominicans dont lash out on each other because of prefrence you would not go with jacket and tie would you

  16. Straight Wood
    July 11, 2011

    i loved when my female teachers wore g- strings and a short tight skirt..

    • sandy
      July 11, 2011

      who cares when u stare at that and dont learn? the teacher already has the lesson and how to do it in her head that is why she is able to teach it to you. so go right ahead a get lost on her g string, without realizing that you are such a fool to be doing that..LOL..some smart student you are! keep it up.

    • Mocap
      July 11, 2011

      We would stand behind the teacher and ask a friend to push us from behind so we would have an excuse to fall on the teacher and rub on her.

      The ‘G string’ that make us do that!

      • Gaza
        July 12, 2011

        muslim is a punk you dont see is skirt muslim wearing… i do very well at school i just like to see my female teacher look good and i tell it to them in private how sexy their butt is..and everything that comes with it.

    • Muslim_Always
      July 11, 2011

      Only an illiterate fool would give thumbs up to this comment. Only a young man without any ethics and morals would support the idea of his teacher being dressed like a prostitute.

  17. marcus
    July 11, 2011

    police getting plain clothes allowance why don t teachers get plain clothes allowance to…DTA next salary increase negotiate for that

    • Malatete
      July 11, 2011

      They already getting a day off every month for doing nothing. One colonial relic no one complains about!

  18. Tombay
    July 11, 2011

    I agree, Sir, job well done and keep them in check, some of them are out of hand. they have no class and respect.
    continue yoyr good work.
    Regards Tombay

  19. Glad
    July 11, 2011

    Oh yes mr steve good job put the brakes on them from now so next school year they will know what time it is or send them home

    • Irv
      July 11, 2011

      Who say the ministry sends teachers home. The ministry only shift the problem teachers from school to school. Mr. Hyacinth is now suffering from a problem the ministry creates. The ministry has lower the bar in everything and expect teachers to raise the bar in their conduct, dress etc.

      If you know the fiasco that happened this school year…it’s like there was universal promotion in accordance with universal education. Some students, and parents alike, were even surprised they were promoted with their 30’s and 40’s yearly averages- then, we try to blame society for the poor students the school system pours out to it. Social promotion is cause havoc in the school system because the ministry thinks it is wasting resources schooling repeated students. So, their new policy is up and out….leave the school system and go into society acting like Denise the menace.

      • ?????
        July 11, 2011

        ??????????????? your point? The article is about dress code! comment on this and not other things not relating to the topic on hand!

  20. 00000
    July 11, 2011

    so you are telling me because they not getting a decent salary they should dress half naked infront of the class. Nonesense. No wonder some of them falling in love with their students. Their salary reaching all the latest outfit for parties and sewo but cannot buy desent outfit for work.

    • July 11, 2011

      learn to spell and stop checking what is not important, who ever say teachers have to dress half naked, go back to school and learn something, idiot

  21. DominicaFirst
    July 11, 2011

    Of all the problems we have, is under Paid Teacher your main concern? Persons wanna Be someone and say something like they are saying something important. I think that dressing should be addressed by the Head Principal Not CEO. Your job is not to tell teachers how to dress but to….. oh you get paid for doing nothing.

    • Roseau MAN!
      July 11, 2011

      What if the head have no balls to adress the problem? R.s.v.p.

  22. very good
    July 11, 2011

    i fully agree with u sir, & wish to recommend that d ministry provide teachers with uniforms, because when a teacher gets so little money for d hard task that he/she does, & have to use that same money to provide d materials need to teach d students, its not easy. ministry doesnt know how to provide teachers with materials to do his/her job effectively.provide us with d uniforms & we will wear it while we use our salaries to provide our classrooms with materials to ensure our students do well.u dont xpect us to do it all on our own.sometime to get d little salary is beg we must beg. when we dont get d money, how can we buy proper clothes to go to school.

  23. Conscience
    July 11, 2011

    Some teachers may not be able to afford clothes for school. It may be some hand me down since some of them are teaching for almost 30 years & cannot receive a salary of $3,000 for all the hard work they are doing. Furthermore some are adequately qualified. Please have a conscience.

    • Reader
      July 11, 2011

      You are saying that they don’t have enough money to buy a full yard of cloth so they have to settle for half yard? Rubbish!!
      As a nation, we too like to make excuses for mediocrity!

      • Irv
        July 11, 2011

        Teachers can dress well because a piece of cloth to make a decent outfit cost less than the show-me-all, body-hugging outfits they spend a lot on money on to tantalize young boys at our schools. It’s very hard for our young boys to concentrate amidst the reveal-my-beast-size-and-voluptuous-buttocks outfits teachers wear in today’s classroom.

    • Oh Brother
      July 11, 2011

      Are you saying that they cannot afford to dress modestly? Please – stop blaming everything on poverty. For most of us, our grandparents had nothing and they dressed properly to go town, to church to everywhere. Even bo-man clothes was decent.

      Poverty is an economic state. It’s not an excuse for everything.

    • TeteMorne I from...
      July 11, 2011

      I don’t think you get it. He was NOT referring to them dressing modestly, in fact, I think he prefers they do. He was saying they dressing to SEXY and REVEALING.

      I believe teachers can dress howevr they want OUTSIDE of the classroom but cover your legs, cookoolooks, tolie, no chest hairs showing and leave your stillettos (sp) athome! :lol:

    • Harris
      July 11, 2011

      So this means that they should dress like strippers.I agree with Mr. Hyacinth, clean up their self.be roll models.and have respect so the students can have respect for them

    • STupess
      July 11, 2011

      SHUT UP!!! IDIOT!!!

      In life you have to make sacrifices! I am living the U.S. where i work in a school and I have only one pair of jeans going to work and a few shirts. I make it look decent and classy even if its a JEAN PANTS or just a Black pant!

      BE CREATIVE AND DO IT WITH CLASS, all you too like to dress like is Clubbing all you going!!!

    • July 11, 2011

      if a teacher teaching for 30 years and cannot afford to buy clothes best they leave its not how much they get is how it is spent live according to your means cut your cloak according to your cloth many of us dominicans too greedy and like to live as parasites gov’t does not have money its our tax money dont put your eggs in one basket

  24. Oh Brother
    July 11, 2011

    Hats off to those teachers who always dress properly and are great role models for their students.

    As usual, there are the opposites. I support the call for more modest dressing. I sometimes have been very embarassed at some of the outfits that I have seen in front of the students. I remember a female teacher in a spandex-like long pants – everything showing – and she is climbing the steps leading her class. The boys directly behind her were getting an eyeful and you should have seen their faces – totally delighted.

    Speak up parents. We are responsible for dressing our children decently. The teachers are responsible for showing them that dressing decently matters.

  25. Sparrow
    July 11, 2011

    Provide them with UNIFORMS…
    Problem solve…..

    • Reader
      July 11, 2011

      Then what, uniforms from every single government employee? Good grief!!!
      Your problem solving skills leaves much to be desired!

    • seasoning pepper
      July 11, 2011

      the teachers of before could dress appropriately without ant uniform beeing involved why can’t they do the same.

      because we have too many young teachers who want to be in all sexy Glamorous styles.

    • 8-o Phillip Timothy
      July 11, 2011

      good solution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Anonymous
      July 11, 2011

      who provides them with bb and those sexy dressings somebody think right nuh

  26. sad
    July 11, 2011

    This is so true Mr. H. Some teachers love and want the respect but the way they behave, Alas! A teacher is writing on the board wearing a sleeveless. All the meat and her under her arm showing. It is true that parents should be role models too. But I find that students look up so much to their teachers. More often than not is what the teacher says that goes. “Is not that Miss/Sir”. This happens a lot especially in the Primary School.

  27. Anonymous
    July 11, 2011

    It was time to draw some attention to that matter. The way some teachers dress for work is indeed shameful to say the least. I look much more presentabe than some of them when I go and feed my animals.

  28. No Name No Warrant
    July 11, 2011

    Anyway is not teacher alone that is role model…teachers can model all they want, but when some children go home their parents erasing eveything the teacher teach. Drunk parents, alternating fathers every month, partying every weekend but no money for school fee…ALL OF US IS ROLE MODEL

    • Oh Brother
      July 11, 2011

      That is true – but those who know better and are in a position to pass on that knowledge should actually speak better, dress better, behave better and be a better role model.

    • Reader
      July 11, 2011

      True! But “let things be done decently and in order”! It includes the way you, as a teacher, conduct yourself. Not because family standards are low, it means the school’s should be as well. Then we are left with a society without any moral or ethical standards!

    • 8-o Phillip Timothy
      July 11, 2011

      i sooooooooooooooooooooooooo agreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee with youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  29. jobe
    July 11, 2011

    very good it not a week ago i spoke about that and am happy my steve bravo bravo

  30. Anonymous
    July 11, 2011

    AMEN ENFORCE A PROPER CODE SIR , THEIR BEHAVIOR IN AND OUT OF THE CLASS ROOMS NEEDS A CHECK UP TOO THE FEMALE NEED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES PROPERLY TOO OUR CHILDREN ARE LOOKING , THE MALES DOUBLE CHECKUP. WE HAVE TEACHER NAKED WALKING UP N DOWN THE STREE SIR PLEASE DO A CHECK IN MARIGOT WID ALL THOSE UNQUALIFIED GROOPES DAT CALL DEMSELVES TEACHER, AND CAN SHOW NO EXAMPLE PLEASE SIR I BEG U. ALWAYS DRUNK AND LOUD THEY KNOW THEMSELVES VERY SHAMEFUL.

    • 8-o Phillip Timothy
      July 11, 2011

      rubbish!!!!!! after working hours the line is drawn, there are always exceptional cases to help u prove ur point but a god damn line must be drawn somewhere. what allu children doing out of allu home at late hours?? attending adult affairs. children should have curfews enforced and responsible parents. and let big people that have to put up with all ur comments have a chance to drink and enjoy the liberties that they are working for….. damnit

  31. 00000
    July 11, 2011

    Mr Hyacinth, I commend you for these concerns. It is something I have been saying for a very long time now. The teachers wants our children to dress properly to come to school – uniform. The say the girls skirt should be on the knee, However the teachers come to school with extra short skirts, skirts that hugging their body, there panty line is showing throught the skirt, so much clevage is shouing that the boys admire their bobies. the male student cannot have respect for the female teachers. Yet the teachers send home students when they are not dressed properly for school. Teachers walk to school after the hour without any excuse and some principals say nothing, when students are late they are either sent home for a written excuse of given a few strokes. this is double standard. Ministry offical you’ve got to visit this Government owned Primary Scholl in Portsmouth. Teachers travell and return to school four day, five days even a week after school reopens and some Principal says nothing. Visist this school. Lots of incidents happen and the mininstry knows nothing about them, no one reports it. This is why the results of the GSAT exams was so great and encourgaing at that particular school, out of 37students there was only 1 scholarship while, the st johns school school had musch more to shout about. Something got is happening at that school. CONGRATULATIONS

    • Karmen
      July 11, 2011

      last year when they did the best in the north and even got the third island scholar where were you to give applause? I suspect you have a grudge from last year so you were waitin in the shadows to pounce on them go head papa.

    • Ehdi
      July 11, 2011

      That sounds like a disgruntled ex-headteacher who couldn’t get her way.

  32. ACN
    July 11, 2011

    Well said Mr H!

  33. Jah
    July 11, 2011

    I don’t know who they trying to impress with their short skirts, tight tops and high heels…hmmmphfff, epecially them young teachers….teenagers teaching teenagers, what u expect?

    • 8-o Phillip Timothy
      July 12, 2011

      SO IF U KNOW THE PROBLEM WHY NOT SOLVE IT?? ALLU GLAD TO HAVE TEENAGERS COMING BACK TO TEACH BECAUSE THESE “TEENAGERS” ARE EASY TO CONTROL AND MANIPULATE AND BLAME. WHEN THE PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY ARE PREPARED TO PAY QUALIFIED TEACHERS A SALARY THAT COMMENSURABLE TO THE LEVEL OF QUALIFICATION THAT PERSON POSSESS THEN U WILL GET BETTER QUALITY. WHEN THOSE IN AUTHORITY ARE NO LONGER THREATENED BY INDEPENDENT THINKERS AND PEOPLE WITH NEW IDEAS U WILL GET BETTER QUALITY, TILL THEN TAKE WHAT ALLU GET

  34. 8-o Phillip Timothy
    July 11, 2011

    while this may be warranted,WE ALWAYS HAVE STRENGTH TO CHASTISE THOSE BENEATH BUT NEVER HAVE THE FORTITUDE TO DO THE SAME FOR THOSE ABOVE US… The Code of ETHICS says be a role model and it says speak and act in such a manner as to be role models for your people. It says exhibit with higher standards to behaviors, be JUST and ACCOUNTABLE in performance of your duties. Behave in a manner that is credible to the MINISTERIAL profession. It also says act in a manner consistent with the dignity, responsibility and honor of the position ENTRUSTED TO YOU BY YOUR PEOPLE….

  35. Mutya
    July 11, 2011

    Thank you so much Mr Hyacinth for pointing out these concerns. It was about time that someone speak out about the manner in which some teachers dress for school.Sometimes i wonder whether they are students. They really need to be more professional especially knowing that the children look up at them as role models. Ensure that they follow rules and regulations. Than you so much.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available