Male teacher urges girls to dress modestly for summer fun — and the internet is divided: 'This is so...'

A male teacher’s short video about how young girls should dress and behave during the warmer months has stirred up conversation across social media. The one-minute clip, originally posted to his personal TikTok account, @mrjonjon_, was directed at both parents and students. In the video, the teacher begins by addressing parents directly. He says, “Parents, please teach your kids these things. It’s getting hotter outside, and the clothing is gonna be different.”

He goes on to focus specifically on what he considers appropriate behavior for girls wearing skirts or dresses on school playgrounds. He states, “If you are wearing a skirt or a dress, and you are out in the playground, there are certain things that are not appropriate for you to do. You are wearing a dress; you cannot be doing cartwheels, or hang upside down, doing the splits, handstands, it’s not appropriate.” A text overlay on the video also read: “Parents clearly don’t care about this stuff anymore, but as an educator, I will teach these young women and men how to be proper human beings.”

The teacher’s video quickly went viral, stirring much debate on modesty, gender-specific behavior, and the role of educators in shaping students’ understanding of appropriate conduct in public spaces. While some supported his call for modesty, others criticized his approach. Those who disagreed pointed out how the message was only addressed to girls. A netizen @lizziemcrib reasoned, “Let’s make sure to address the boys too.” Similarly, @Earseverafter slammed, “How come it’s never ‘teaching’ boys about modesty? This is so not appropriate for a teacher to be singling out the girl. This is a topic for their grown-ups.”

Chiming in, @Shae.Nicole agreed with the concern in principle but pointed to a practical issue. She said, “Wholeheartedly agree BUT an email needs to be sent to parents because kids aren’t going to remember and aren’t dressing themselves.” Others also expressed support for the teacher’s message, stressing that modesty is an important value that needs to be taught more actively. @Eva commented, “Thanks for mentioning this!!! Modesty is necessary!! A lot of people don't teach things nowadays! Girls need to be taught to be mindful, especially when wearing skirts or dresses. That's why back then, skorts were a thing.”

Some also noted the difficult position male teachers are often in when it comes to these topics. @Marianature said, “Male teachers already have to be especially careful with how they interact with students. Let’s not put them in uncomfortable or inappropriate positions by making them the dress code enforcers.” Another individual, @MsMkay, praised the tone of the original video, writing, “There should be zero negative feedback on this. Well worded, no shaming, just setting expectations.” Following the response, the teacher posted a second video. In it, he clarified that his aim was to guide students toward appropriate behavior during school activities and that his message came from his perspective as a classroom educator who observes student interactions daily.