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.

Is this you, Grandma?
@MichaelFabricantWig · Today 09:19
YANBU
i hate things like pyjama days. Pyjamas as outerwear looks slovenly.

YAB very U.

That was a costume - the theme was sleepwear. He probably went out and bought those clothes for this, to give himself maximum coverage.

I agree however to get through things like this and reflect positively to your kids sometimes it needs to be done.
I hope you're receiving help for your past trauma as this is a side issue to ASD and has obviously had an impact on you today. Try to find the fun in things like this and look past your own initial feelings, that's how I cope sometimes rather than full on masking.

Fancy dress is anything that is a costume. A costume is anything that is now what you would normally wear in that situation. So on a working day, in public, pyjamas definitely are fancy dress.

YABU. He’s not dressed him in PJs for you. It’s part of the festivities of the day and for the children's benefit. I bet it’s caused a few giggles and they’ll have a great day.

we have just been greeted at the school door by the headteacher in his pjs and dressing gown

didn't you say "good morning, Arthur, It's Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays!" and then ask him to come to the pub with you?

Anything else is just po faced.

If you think about it rationally then pjs are rarely that far removed from normal clothes
T-shirt or shirt and trousers

As long as everything's covered up - a bit of fun in the interest of getting everyone talking about books then I'm all for it.

YABU, I bet the kids love it and as a parent, I’d just be grateful he was there at all - most schools in my area are closed to most pupils due to teachers’ strike.

Well they’re human and they sleep. Our entire school did PJs. Partly because of sustainability too! Kids have loved planning which PJs to wear and what soft toy to take in 🥰

I went in pjs once as a member of staff. I bought a new set for the purpose, and was fully clothed underneath (underwear, leggings and t-shirt). It's not as tho he rocked up in the nightwear he'd slept in (or did he?)!

Teachers can't win, can they? An attempt to model fun is met with such suspicion. Many schools, conscious of the cost of living crisis for many, have opted for pyjamas or bring a book or dress as a word. You are being very judgemental

Depends really. If he greeted the class just in his boxers then YANBU. If he had full coverage jim jams then YABVU.

It is fancy dress though if that’s what everyone has been encouraged to wear.

I’m also not sure if what your implication is? He has complied with staff dress up in theme with an underlying motive of abusing children?

🙄 YABU. It’s world book day, he’s in his PJs for a reason he’s not just rocked up in them for nothing!

In the nicest possible way, YABU, although I am sorry that it made you feel uncomfortable due to your own experiences.

Pyjamas are now chosen by many schools as a more inclusive alternative to elaborate or expensive fancy dress costumes for World Book Day. The choice is deliberate to encourage bedtime reading, and to build upon an association between reading and cosiness and comfort. In pyjamas and dressing gown the headteacher was fully covered in two layers of clothing. There is nothing inappropriate about the outfit.

Fair play OP you've been open to listening to others and taken on board that your interpretation might not align with others.

It's fine. Literally no issue at all,

Unclench a bit OP! The kids will love it, they will laugh at the teachers and it will be a happy day.

Oh go away. Our head teacher was at the gates in a minion onesie this morning. The kids were doubled over in laughter. I’d rather a school where the teachers can have fun on special occasions, what a misery arse you sound 🙄

Same here! Also autistic, and the first thing that popped into my head was "what character is he / I can't think of an adult male character from a book who wears pj's and a dressing gown! Must look that up and find out!"

I don't think I'd bat an eyelid at HT being dressed up for WBD in pj's, just question the character! I'd possibly feel mildly uncomfortable if they were revealing the chest area or something, if it looked too revealing for school. I'm now imagining male HT with pj's unbuttoned to reveal a big hairy chest! That would be weird.

I wouldn’t like it either OP. Even as part of a fancy dress. I used to be a primary teacher but would choose a different costume to PJ’s as I don’t feel it’s appropriate even as fancy dress. Dressing up in fancy dress fine but there are limits when you are in a professional role such as a HT.
Standards in stuff like this have gone down the pan though. Smartness generally in all walks of work dress have almost gone.
whilst I’m glad we are not in the suit and high heels for a primary teacher days anymore I still do think teachers should be smart especially the head - doesn’t have to be a suit but something smart and well presented.

Can we not be twats here, please? This isn't pearl-clutching. OP has been very open that she needs a bit of explanation of how this fits with social norms as it's difficult for her to assess given her autism and past trauma, and she's had an emotional response which she is trying to rationalise.

I don't think it matters what your opinion is in this case as it's a bit of fun for the children. Our school used to have teachers in costumes for charity once a year and it was fab. The costumes were less appropriate than pyjamas! It's not like he was just wearing boxers.

I also know a paediatrician who often wears a onesie to work as they say it makes them less scary for the child patients.