tichl or sheitl in class

elaela ↓

Wed, Mar 17 2010, 4:39 pm

I just started working in a jewish primary school, the school is very unorganized, the administration and collegues dont update me about important matters, there are far too few teachers employed etc. I agreed to work more hours if necessary, parents are happy with my work, and I feel that the kids like me too b´´H.

suddenly a collegue (who I am also friends with) mentioned that the headmistress asks me to wear a shaytl in school. I usually wear snoods/hats/tichls in class, because my sheitly is less comfortable, and I do many activities where I move around a lot, (lifting kids, sitting on the floor, jumping to a song etc). also I only own one sheytl which I wear on shabbos/yontev or when I attend a shiur etc. it is not intended for khol, during sports, when cooking - simply becuase I want o save it for shabbos.

most of my friends in my town wear sheitls, it is NOT a minhag hamakom, but its almost the rule here. I choose beautiful headcoverings, which are comfortable, dont worsen my vision/view (I have problems with my eyes and when the sheitl fringe gets into my face I cannot concentrate so well on reading- I know this sounds strange, but after three cornea apertures this is normal), are easy to clean...

IF THE HEADMISTRESS REALLY HAS AN ISSUE WITH MY TICHLS WHY DIDNT SHE TELL ME AND ONLY ME??? Instead, many collegues and also students talk about such a superficial topic now, and I have not even yet been informed officially about it.

The school is desperate for teachers, they all agree that I contribute a lot to the school- why am I being judged by such a detail? (btw. this school also emplys nonjewish teachers who dont wear any headcovering)

I spoke to my Rav about it just now, and he said that halakhically there is no difference between a tichl and a sheitl, if the school had a teacher's uniform/ rule than I should go by it, but noone ever mentioned anything like this to me, nor does its ay anything in the contract.

I dislike such plotkes and I am very disappointed by the reaction of my collegues/administration. I cover my hair and I wear average clean tsniusdig skirts/tops.

I am not dependent on this job, there are 3 other schools that show interest in employing me (there is an extreme lack of teachers in our region at the moment).

what would you do?

Barbara

Wed, Mar 17 2010, 4:58 pm

busydev wrote:

I would wait to hear such directly from the headmistress. If she brings it up then gently tell her that you only have one shaitel and use it for shabbos. if she still persists then maybe look for another job and be more upfront about it by the interview.

And any time you hear this gossip, I'd smile and say *really? The administration has never told ME that. The only feedback I've received is how happy they are with my work. Oh well. They know where to find me if they have something to say*

How did you cover for your interview? If you wore a sheitl, they might have thought you'd continue to do so (although people *do* dress more formally for interviews). If you wore a tichl, well, then what's the problem?

In any case, this could be a case of your *friend* expanding upon a conversation because *she* would prefer you to wear a sheitl. The *friend* might have raised the issue, and the administrator might have responded with a comment about how yes, most teachers do wear sheitls, or we *prefer* sheitls or something that really had nothing to do with you.

↑ elaela

Wed, Mar 17 2010, 5:14 pm

Quote:

How did you cover for your interview? If you wore a sheitl, they might have thought you'd continue to do so (although people *do* dress more formally for interviews). If you wore a tichl, well, then what's the problem?

you are right, I wore my sheitl at the interview, for the exactly the reason you mentioned. I agree that next time I will attend an interview, I should mention my headcovering plans . It could have prevented people from talking about me behind my back. I decided that if the headmistress will mention the topic tomorrow (I have an apointment with her becuase of something completely different) I will pretend I have never heared fo this problem, and that halakhically I dont see an issue, md it helps me to keep up my level of work. let's see how she will react. if the school will in the end sa: wear a sheitl or elave (I doubt they will be so stubbornly superficial) then I will quit.

thank you so much for your replys, it is the first time I have posted soemthing and I appreciate your answers very much. Smile