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.

😅😅😅 and the world wonders why teachers are leaving the profession in droves!! He’s a human being. Having some fun on a fun day.

And yes the idea is as someone mentioned above - bed time story! Everyone (as year groups) gets a chance to chill and hear mass stories.

I recall a Headteacher in an Army school dressing up as a punk rocker for Karnival, shaved head, chains, bovver boot etc., when the hew Colonel and his wife came to register their children they had a bit of a shock!

I think you’re not being unreasonable. I’m not autistic & I find it strange, even if it is World book day! I think it’s because, usually we only see family or partners in pyjamas not random people! Plus my brain associates pyjamas with bed & sleeping not being at school learning or anything else .. tbh I find any type of adult dressing up for any reason very strange.. i always avoid it myself at all costs lol.. definitely for me it’s not fun at all! Actually the opposite. Don’t worry about other’s opinions & reactions of them thinking you are being unreasonable about this. Let them carry on & have the time of their lives in their stupid outfits 😂& no child/adult is going to gain any relevant skills from taking part in dressing up! 🤦‍♀️

Thank god DS's special school didn't request PJs on WBD (though they have come up with some fairly daft ideas, given their student body)! DS would absolutely have refused to wear his bedtime clothing to school. It can be hard enough to put him in civvies for bloody Pudsey Day, RND, etc. He's not particularly fond of his boring school uniform but has very rigid ideas about what gets worn when.

He's at a special school, as I said, but I know there are a lot of children in MS education who really struggle with dress-up days. I'm not saying that therefore they should be discontinued - a teacher friend once said that for many children, this is THE only chance or time they get to wear something wacky or fancy-dress - but it can be a strain for a lot of pupils. And some adults, as per the OP's post. Please don't call her a joy sponge, or tell her to loosen up. Try some compassion, it's not hard.

I bet the kids love it,which is the main thing,and I'm sure none of the teachers wear anything flimsy and are perfectly decent.Day and night clothes are blurred these days,it's just body covering.

A male teacher friend of mine went in his pyjamas. He says it was because they’re currently doing a “story time” theme so I guess it fitted in with that, bed time stories, etc. I’m sure he wore clean ones and underwear 😁

I bet the kids loved it though. I find WBD annoying as a parent but my kid loved dressing up. Made the school day different and less

Its for the kids OP

It would give me an ick if the any of the teachers wouldn't take part.

It’s great for the children to see management/teachers doing daft things. I remember a WBD several years ago when our headmistress was dressed up as Prof McGonegal and Ofsted turned up. Just brilliant

It’s world book day. He was probably James from “the snowman” or some other pyjama wearing book character…

Arthur Dent

I’m autistic and I don’t get what autism has got to do with any of this ? You’re being massively unreasonable and a bit of a drama queen.

“I have a very low threshold for revulsion “

YANBU just for this phrase which is great and also describes me perfectly too!

Yes I agree. That's what I meant. Sorry that wasn't clear.

When did Children in Need turn into ‘Pudsey Day’?

You are being massively unreasonable. He's getting involved and leading by example and also being part of activities, not them I'm too important for this' stance that so many others may have taken. He is no less professional than when he wears a suit as it's a costume for a purpose, not his daily attire.

What this thread is illustrating (apart from the fact that adults seem to not understand that children enjoy things that adults don't) is that it's really difficult to adapt anything with autism in mind.

The autistic posters who've contributed to this thread (and/or have expressed what their autistic children experience on WBD, which is of course more important) each have very different responses. Some finding it hideous, some finding it fine, some finding it particularly enjoyable.

Consequently schools simply can't provide for a positive experience for all children or their parents. I feel for those who find it a difficult day, but cancelling it (apart from being unfair for the majority of children) would actually be negative for some autistic children too.

OP, you said in your post that you were prepared to be told that you are being unreasonable, and yes, I'm afraid you are.

Yabu our infant school did a cosy book day eg pjs/snoodies etc. so that parents didn’t feel the need to have to go out and buy and outfit. The teachers and head and the school dog. All took part just like they do the Christmas jumper day and all the other days they dress for.

@LoveQuinnOhDearyMe You have made me feel a bit better by saying that people are probably wearing proper clothes underneath. I appreciate that I am being completely ridiculous in my loathing of nightwear-as-daywear (I even curl up at the idea of "loungewear"), but you have helped me to see it as dressing up, rather than wearing the things in which one sleeps, but during the day (which is all wrong).

@saraclara I think the best thing is for schools to do what they do, and for people who (for whatever reason) feel odd about it to just get on with feeling odd. It's only one day!

I think your autism is playing a big part in this, I appreciate other people with ASD may have no issues with it but I understand... even as a child I couldn't cope with the teachers dressing up.. it just made me feel so uncomfortable. I remember being taken out of assembly crying age 6 as the teachers were dressed up 😳... I still hate seeing people out of their normal wear... Xmas jumper day at work when they go OTT and come as in a full elf outfit etc..its definitely my autism at play ! I still remember being really uncomfortable seeing my kids headmaster in shorts ffs... rationally I know its fine... but my internal compass of 'normal' was screaming 😱

Midnight Gang maybe??

when my son was at high school the kids couldn’t dress up but the teachers did, now that was what I found strange!

That’s because a lot of parents feel pressure to get their child a costume which a costume.

Mine was the opposite.
The children were strongly encouraged to take part and it meant if they didn’t they’d be the only one not dressed up.
It was a lot of money to find every year.

Some teachers go all out for things like this and I think it’s good as it’s purely for the children’s entertainment. I’m a teacher and usually dread these things as I can’t think of anything worse than going to work in my pyjamas 🙈 even when it’s fancy dress I feel like as a teacher you have to be so PG that it’s very limiting what you can actually wear without there being any possibility of someone being scared or a parent just not thinking it was appropriate