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.

There are 22 children in my daughter’s class so not sure why they’d be doing it with hundreds of people?
What, exactly, is ‘overstepping’ about reading books on a beanbag with a cup of hot chocolate? They don’t brush their teeth and put them into bed in rows!

And respect, too. I couldn’t see my children’s teachers the same way again after seeing them in their sleeping gear. The image upthread of the overweight middle aged HT in his pjs at the school gate - who really wants to see that?
Where’s his dignity?

It's clothing. It's just clothing. It's equivalent to a long sleeved tee shirt and joggers. What on earth is your mind doing?

I honestly worry about comments like this.

Yep. Mine took blankets and teddies as well and they all had hot chocolate with the lights dimmed whilst the teacher read them pages out of everyone's favourite book that they had taken in

Get a grip

Completely off topic really utterly we buried DH in brand new "smart" PJs that had been bought specially for his hospital visits. He looked lovely, not at all like he would have I what he normally slept in at home.

No teacher I know has ever worn what they actually sleep in for PJ day. Possibly a onesie or lounge wear they do wear at home, rather than buying something special, but not what they sleep in.

@FrancescaContini I guess your children won't be doing any of those overnight events at a museum or a school residential where it's lots of kids in sleeping bags doing lots of giggling and farting before eventually falling asleep.
In nursery/reception class playing "putting the babies to bed" is a very popular game. My daughter was usually the baby because she's small. She got to be covered in blankets while the others would pat her head and say "sleepy time now" etc. It's pretend. It's essentially acting - which is what costumes are on WBD. Do your children not do drama at school?
Being in pyjamas at school and pretending it's night time is just like being in a sort of play - everyone is acting.

As a PP said, it feels too familial/familiar. It blurs boundaries between the private and the public.

@FrancescaContini so you don't allow your children to do any school plays then?
Because they will be pretending then.
Dressing in jammies at school is just pretended. It's play-acting.
A lot of the teachers will dress in an over the top version of 'bedtime' (old fashioned curlers in their hair etc) and not what they actually wear.

It is a way of ensuring that everyone gets to participate, and it doesn’t cost any money.
costumes take time and/or cost money

Yes I do.

And don't get me started on how inaccurate the story is.

I know it is a story and not meant to be taken as fact but it doesn't have great research.

I think you need to unclench being this uptight about the world is not going to do your kids or your stress levels any good.

You are making an issue where none exists, if you are uncomfortable about this then it says something about you rather than the situation being weird.

Primary school is a safe space to explore the world of imagination and play - whether that's imaginary bedtime stories or playing shops / astronauts / builders / fairies
Dignity in this context is an imaginary line that you have made between formal clothes and less formal clothes

FrancescaContini · Today 07:26
“Pretend bedtime” at school?
What?!

Really weird. Totally overstepping the mark.“

No it isn’t. No idea what’s in your head.

@sashh I hated the book 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'. My daughter's class read it in Year 6 and I decided to read it too. I was so angry about how stupid the book was I went into a bit of a rambling rant with a group of the class during a volunteer reading session. My daughter had to pat me on the arm and say "Chill Mum.... it's just a book".
Anyway..... the dressing up is meant to be about favourite books or characters. I really don't think that would be appropriate for declaring it's a child's "favourite". It's the sort of book you read once... and never want to read again.

Strongly agree with you there. It is universally loathed by Holocaust campaign groups and has an unfathomable grip on UK primary schools, pushing out more accurate narratives including those by Holocaust survivors and victims.

I think you’re (maybe deliberately?) not understanding me.

There’s a world of difference between imaginative play/acting/role playing/pretend scenarios, and everyone at school including the head walking around all day in the clothes they usually only wear around those closest to them.

I don’t find it funny; it makes me feel uncomfortable. There’s a level of familiarity that isn’t appropriate in a school context.

And no, my head isn’t “going anywhere” - I am not sure what PPs are implying.

It’s ok, you know, to say something makes you feel uncomfortable. It’s okay to be clear what your boundaries are wrt public/private behaviour, clothing etc. That’s all.

@FrancescaContini maybe I just see pyjamas as comfortable clothing mostly worn at home - not really 'intimate' clothing.
90% of my clothes could be described as 'pyjamas' - ie loungewear bottoms and t-shirts. It's what I wear pretty much all the time because it's comfortable.

Ok, @Needmorelego That’s you. But it’s not just about you and what you wear, is it? No point saying what I wear as it’s not about me, either.

I don’t think you understand what I was trying to say.

@FrancescaContini I will be honest - I don't understand what you are saying.
The idea of everyone at school coming in dressed in their pyjamas for WBD is meant to be fun and a bit silly.
It's just pretending it's 'bedtime' the same as Roman Day is pretending to be a Roman or whatever.

Do you cope with things like cub camp @FrancescaContini where children will sit around in their onesies etc in the evening/morning together with other children and adults?

The sportsteacher at my grandsons's school was in a cute ladybird onesie. He's a very tall man and his onesie was a bit tight. He went on the street like that taking children to the swimmingpool 😂 I told him he looked cute 🤣

What about school residentials? My 7 year old is going on an overnight trip with school in a couple of weeks and her teacher will be in their dorm in her pyjamas.

@Needmorelego Your DD sounds sweet.

@MotherOfHouseplants It what is now year 6 I was reading things like, "when Hitler stole Pink rabbit", "I am David" and "the silver sword".

I hate lazy or no research both in books and on TV.

The last time I stayed at my dad's he was watching an old, 'Touch of Frost', one of the 'clues' the police had was some writing they thought was Chinese, it turned out to be Vietnamese.

Vietnamese is written in the same alphabet as English, you would never mistake it for Chinese, Japanese or Korean.

It did have a form using Chinese characters but that hasn't been used for a couple of centuries.

They are just clothes! It’s all part of the fun!! 🙄

We wore PJs and brought in our favourite book. Actually it was to support students with SPD so they didn't need to wear scratchy costumes. It also meant that it didn't become a have and have nots battle of costumes. Some parents did buy their kids new PJs but they can be reworn and used, rather than discarded after one day. I used to iron my PJs carefully to ensure I still looked smart and chose a very traditional style with a proper PJ jacket and trousers. I suspect the HT wore similar when the poor guy probably sleeps in boxers and a t-shirt!

This thread is one of the best yet 😂😂😂

the teachers are wearing pyjamas not budgy smugglers around your children