In Summer 2024, I finally kicked my rear to shrink my wardrobe. Many clothing pieces have been accumulating dust from decades of no wear.
In particular, I have a total of 40 ties. Why so many? I was a teacher for 7th and 8th grade social science and Deaf Studies for seven years (1994-2001) at CSDR. I remember from my adolescence years (1970-1976) at CSDR that all faculty men wore a full suit and women a dress with high-heeled shoes. Their professional attire indicated a sense of serious business of providing educational services on campus.
Eighteen years after my graduation in 1976, I returned to campus for faculty duties, I decided to follow the example of faculty old timers for wearing a tie for the 1990s. The dress code for faculty had been greatly relaxed since the late 1970s. The relaxing of the fashion occurred not only at CSDR but also at other K-12 schools and colleges.
However, I chose to go with the older dress code from the 1950s to the 1970s. I considered my employment at CSDR as a badge of honor and set the best example including the dress code I could give to the impressionable students aged 12-15 in the middle school. As true for myself from decades ago, I saw how my fashion had an impact on student behavior in the classroom.
During my years of employment at CSDR, I counted only five men wearing a tie on campus. I was the only male teacher with a tie with four other men in administration.
After twenty years of hanging forty ties in the closet, I finally got around to reduce the wardrobe and the ties. I kept fifteen ties and donated the rest to the Salvation Army.
I donated one special tie to the CSDR museum. The tie was handcrafted by my classmate, Cathy Bartlett, in her Home Economics class which taught cooking, baking, ironing, sewing, etc. The year was 1973.
Today in 2024, I don’t know if there is any male employee wearing a tie on campus. This example is one of the many changes made during the 71 year period at CSDR.
Kevin Struxness, ‘76
Editor, CSDR Old Times
17 August 2024
Cool! Wearing ties do impact students behaviors. Do you happen to have a CSDR tie. I have a Gallaudet tie that was given by Bob Weinstock, President of GUAA, during the academic bowl.
This fall at HC weekend my class of 1974 will have a medallion ceremony. I may wear it.