Teachers in pjs on world book day

[AutisticLegoLover]

I'm not a fan as it is but we have just been greeted at the school door by the headteacher in his pjs and dressing gown. He usually wears a suit and looks professional. I know the children were to go in their pjs or a onesie but I did t expect staff, especially the HT, to be in nightwear. It feels over-familiar perhaps, for what if a better word. I'm not sure I'll look at him the same way again. I have a very low threshold for revulsion thanks to many, many sensory issues as part of being autistic and I don't always understand norms so I'm happy to be told I'm being unreasonable. I'd feel the same way if it was the past female HT too about the professionalism. Admittedly him being male makes a difference to my personal feelings due to trauma but from a professional point of view it doesn't sit right.

My god there are clearly so many, many people who don't seem to understand what Autism is! Cut OP some slack and be more accommodating, people!!!!

OP has quite clearly stated she has autism. I think it's you with the problem as you clearly ignored that part of OP's post

Hey OP - I don’t mind teachers wearing their pjs and nightwear to school, and I can see how children would think it’s fun. I totally get it. DD’s Brownies did it too and they loved it there as well.

….but on a personal level? My feelings are irrelevant but if you were asking me…. It makes me feel deeply uncomfortable because seeing the clothes they wear to bed feels intimate. I don’t quite know where to look 😂

I have a very personal response to it but I also know that it’s a me thing, and that there’s nothing wrong with it. I just find seeing their personal bed wear out of its appropriate context makes me feel awkward. It feels very personal and private.

And yes I’m also autistic and have ADHD - I know this is a fun thing to do and it’s just my quirks that make me feel as if I can’t interact normally if they’re wearing their pjs 😂

Everybody is different. OP feels the way she feels and that it is valid. FWIW, I understand where she was coming from in her OP. Pyjamas are not public clothes; the only people I see in pyjamas are my family or if I'm staying with close friends. People I share a personal relationship with. I would be uncomfortable with an adult, especially a man, who I didn't have that kind of relationship with wearing pyjamas in an inappropriate context. I'd find it really jarring and unpleasant. Other people may not feel that way themselves because they aren't me, haven't grown up with the same moral code and family culture (not saying mine is "better" because in most ways it absolutely isn't, only that it's the one I've had instilled in me), don't share my experiences and history etc, all of which lead me to the emotional reaction I have to a given situation. This is the case for everybody. Everyone has their own response to everything which is based on their personality and experiences. People are allowed to have feelings about things and are allowed to discuss them.

I think if you don’t understand this you never will.

I always wonder what happens if there's a serious incident in school and the Principal is talking to the police/ambulance people in PJs or with their face painted or whatever! I mean, it's not the end of the world, but I sort of feel that the Principal at least should wear something that can be quickly reverted to regular clothes if needs be!

THIS! I've dressed in so many God awful costumes over the years/ looked ridiculous in school shows/ even written the script with me/ other teachers as the butt of the joke. It's part of who we are as teachers.

I help run DofE in a secondary. Kids' relationship with you really changes when they see you in your PJs and a hoodie first thing in the morning after camping out. It's like you're slightly more human- it's amazing.

Why was everyone in nightwear?

Often schools have a ‘bedtime story’ theme for world book day instead of ‘dress as a book character’ as it reduces financial pressure on parents. Plus children love it.

Our theme is 'cosy up with a book'. I'm fighting to stay awake today

Probably not. But I'd still be intrigued to see if anyone can explain why a totally normal piece of household furniture is offensive. A messy, unmade bed maybe. But that would be the case for any room where it was untidy.

My most memorable day for me in school was red nose day fourth year juniors. We dressed up as whoever we wanted. Our teachers all dressed up as characters from that french themed comedy. I've forgot the name but the day before they told us the clue was in the school entrance window. When we investigated it said cafe Rene. We had so much fun that day seeing all our teachers dressed as the characters.

Some schools wear PJs on WBD as they do cosy reading, reading dens, etc on the day and it's all part of it.

His PJs are his costume. They're not going to be the one he wore overnight and just rocked up without a shower etc.

The children, ime, love it when staff get dressed up on days like WBD, especially ones like a headteacher who is normally always in a suit.

Why?

In this instance, the dress up costume was a pair of pyjamas.

Why would him wearing a gruffalo costume or a wizard be better?

World Book Day is a bloody nightmare as the parent of a child who struggles with various clothes for various reasons (and who ironically is currently school refusing and dressed in her Onesie every day). This is the one year she could have actually joined in and enjoyed it 😂 Teachers dressing the same is a great idea, particularly for kids like our daughter - it normalises things a bit more.

On the offchance you're genuinely asking and not being deliberately obtuse...

It's not the bed itself that is the issue. Clearly it's not uncomfortable to walk into Silent Night or M&S and see the display beds. It's about context. When I visit people at home, I don't go in their bedroom. That's their private, intimate space and I wouldn't want to be in it - and nor would they want me in there for no good reason. Likewise I wouldn't want anyone I don't live with to be in my bedroom. That would be completely intrusive as it's a very personal space. So to see a colleague sat on their bed when we're supposed to be in a work meeting would be very jarring and uncomfortable for me.

One year our Principal came to WBD dressed as Captain Underpants. I think PJs is totally fine for a dress up day.

I am genuinely asking. I don't get why someone's bedroom is particularly jarring. When someone is WFH you are going to see some of their home. Bedrooms are less often seen by visitors sure but they aren't intrinsically embarrassing. For all I know they've been shagging on the sofa they are sitting on so seeing their bed really isn't that different!

I just find it quite a childish reaction to be all "oh, beds, where people do private stuff and now I can see it"

i expect he has “ normal “ clothes hung up behind his office door.

Jees you are being very very very unreasonable

@viques thanks, that's put my mind at rest! 😁

Ah I see

I don’t think my Grandson would have been as thrilled this morning to see his nursery teacher in pjs as he was to see her in full lion costume, complete with huge furry mane, or one of the helpers as a dalmation.

It was funny seeing half a dozen little Gruffaloes traisping in to school 🤣
DGS was Cat boy but he had to hold his tail, it kept falling off!

DS had this. We looked at his tshirts and he decided the word would be 'universe' since he wanted to wear a space themed tshirt. Simple. I've very keen on minimal effort dressing up.

YABVU.
If hes wearing underwear, pyjamas and a dressing gown then he's wearing exactly the same amount of clothing as he does when he wears underwear, trousers, shirt, and jacket every other day.