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.

It's really inappropriate IMO. I may be shallow but I'd lose respect for a HT behaving like that.

That teacher checked and checked those (most likely) brand new pjs to make sure they were fine. He’s wearing probably clothes underneath and has never ever worn them to bed I can guarantee it. YABU the teachers are actually told to dress up whether they like it or not they have to join in and be in the spirt of the day.

OP, whilst I personally don't understand and think it's nice he's joining in, I know for a fact my ASD daughter felt odd about her teachers dressing as elves before Christmas. It's like that expected "my teacher wears X because they are the teacher" was blurred for her.

I feel so torn about WBD, I love seeing the children dressed up and enjoying but the unsettlement knocks my daughter with ASD for the full week (not helped that yesterday was St David's Day!!). I know that it has to be for the majority not the minority but I'm living for next week when routine, uniform and expectations are back to normal for her.

Also, absolutely no judgment of schools choosing to do pyjamas not costumes, my step child goes to a fantastic school in an area of high depravation, they've done pyjamas since Covid to lessen the pressure on families.

My kids would love it. I understand your past trauma could impact on your feelings about this, but I think most kids would find it really funny having their teachers in pjs for one day. Its a fun day, the kids can have a laugh and no pressure buying/making costumes either. I actually might suggest this at our school!

The grandparents in Willy Wonka

Hi OP,

Just to add to the discussion on the PJ thing - my son is autistic. For WBD they have the option to wear PJs or a costume. My son won't wear costumes because of his autism so the inclusion of PJs is brilliant, not just from the perspective of finances, but for Kids like my son who want to join in but can't bear to wear costumes. Being allowed to wear his PJs means he can be comfortable and feel like he's joining in and being included. Seeing his teacher or headteacher also in PJs, as opposed to say a costume, would be fab for him. 'Mr so and so was wearing his PJs today just like me!' 👍

Be grateful he was wearing PJs and a dressing gown, he might sleep naked 😳 you need to lighten up, the children probably think it’s hilarious seeing their teachers in their pyjamas.

Me too

My kids school does pyjamas on WBD, which I think is fantastic - inclusive of all pupils in a very mixed catchment, no faffing about with costumes and the kids love seeing their teachers dressed down. The teachers all wear pyjamas that are perfectly decent and get into the "bedtime story" theme with stories and some hot chocolate as a treat for kids. Pyjamas are just bedtime clothes, most of mine are more covering than my day to day clothes - I can't see what the fuss is, assuming no-one is attending in a silky shorts/cami top pyjamas set.

Agree this needed reiterating.

I like the idea of pyjamas for inclusivity for children. I do understand where OP is
coming from. There’s a connotation with
nightwear = no underwear. Also, not professional enough. That’s where my head goes! It’s not rational - but it’s perfectly valid to want to discuss our thoughts on things like this. It’s not clear cut.

I also like the PJ thing because I think it can normalise the teachers. Of course, they need to be professional but I think it's good for the kids and parents to see the teachers in home clothes and PJs. They're human beings like the rest of us. I think it's a good reminder for us to see them this way.

@Everyotherone yes, that's how I feel. I'm a big fan of uniforms and have been since childhood but not costumes because that's someone pretending to be someone they are not and that's difficult to understand in a world where so much is difficult to understand already. People with ASD tend to have very black and white thinking and this is a prime example for me. Ds is not ASD as far as I know but he didn't like it either. It's very unsettling to me to expect one thing (HT on the door in his usual suit) and get another (HT in nightwear).

As far as costs go, it's a fairly affluent area with parents saying yesterday that they buy new pjs for the day. Ds has much-loved ones that are too small now and holey so he went in his onesie. His favourite ones would result in him being bullied. Wrong character? Wrong colour? He's had weird looks this week for saying his favourite colour is purple ffs. He's not into football, or any sport, and his normal pjs would make him stand out even more. He won't be the only one that applies to. I'm all for WBD. There's hundreds of books in our house as we are avid readers but pjs is not something I am personally happy with. And I live in my pjs at home again due to sensory issues.

It’s fancy dress because he normally wears a suit.

Chilll

Love book day., when you work with children as a job it's different from working with adults.,

School should be fun!

Send her in PJs and say she's dressed as the word "pyjamas"

We had a bedtime story theme and I'm with you - pyjamas out of doors gives me a weird feeling I can't rationally explain.

Chill. It’s meant to be a fun day.

I'm in my pyjamas, because I'm at home. I am on strike for better pay and funding for schools.

What the fuck.

OP needed help to understand why the situation wasn't inappropriate and she asked for it.

Its not about YOU though is it?

Everyone these days seems to think they are qualified to diagnose or judge someone else's diagnosis online.

Also, no, neither the ones at the higher end of symptoms nor anyone else is getting adequate care but you being sceptical about the diagnosis of someone that you know nothing about won't help with that.

Arthur Dent, Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy

🙄