Schools

Springfield Schools Ban PJs, Coats At Home During Remote Classes

Should a school district be allowed to tell your kid what to wear when they're at home? Some parents don't think so.

Sorry, you have to be "sitting up out of bed" too, so this photo depicts a violation of the student handbook.
Sorry, you have to be "sitting up out of bed" too, so this photo depicts a violation of the student handbook. (Shutterstock)

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Should a school be able to tell your child what to wear when they're at home? A dress code banning pajamas during online classes has some Springfield parents upset, according to local CBS affiliate WCIA Channel 3. Others say changing out of pajamas before logging onto a Zoom call with teachers and peers is just the respectful thing to do.

According to a plan released in July, Springfield Public Schools plans to offer a hybrid of in-class and remote instruction this fall. The 2020-2021 student handbook stipulates that students must follow the student dress code, even during remote classes. That includes not wearing pajama pants (no mention of tops) or slippers.

According to the handbook, students must also get permission from the principal if they want to put on a jacket or coat. So, parents, check the thermostat.

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Related: IL Breaks 2,000 New Coronavirus Cases For First Time Since May

In addition to the following the dress code and other guidelines, according to the handbook, students enrolled in remote classes:

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  • Will attend all video classes in their entirety (unless the teacher states otherwise)
  • While in a video class, the camera will be on and focused on your person not another part of the room
  • Will be sitting up out of bed preferably at a desk or table
  • Will participate in classroom discussions organized by the teacher

What are the consequences for violating these policies? Well, it's not clear.

"The policy will be addressed on an individual basis through the Restorative/Discipline Options for Classroom Managed Behaviors as outlined in the handbook," the school said in a statement provided to WCIA. "Generally speaking, there are no definitive one-to-one consequences outlined in our handbook for any disciplinary reason. Incidents of misconduct and subsequent consequences are treated on an individual basis."

Possible consequences for violating the dress code, as outlined in the student handbook, include parent conferences, detention, time out, verbal reprimands or withdrawal of privileges.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, dress codes are often unevenly enforced and can have disparate impacts on students with disabilities, students of color and girls, despite ostensibly being neutral.

"I made the decision for my kids to be at home and I don't really see how any district can come in and say what my kid can't wear in my house," parent Elizabeth Ballinger told WCIA. "I don’t think they have any right to say what happens in my house. I think they have enough to worry about as opposed to what the kids are wearing. They need to make sure they’re getting educated."

The local teachers union agreed. Springfield Education Association President Aaron Graves told the television station that enforcing the rule should be "at the bottom of our priority scale," adding that teachers "have more important things to focus on" during a pandemic.

Bree Hankins, the district's public relations coordinator, told Patch the updated guidelines were developed collaboratively with administrators, teachers and parents, "with the best of intentions to provide a framework to navigate this new educational landscape."

"Our hope is that students approach remote learning as they would in a classroom setting, to the extent possible given each student's individual circumstances," Hankins continued. "However, we understand the interpretation of the dress code in a remote learning environment will differ than in a normal school setting."

She added that during remote classes, the dress code will be more flexible than while at school, and said the district does "not intend to be punitive or to prescribe what students wear at home during remote learning, especially in this period of uncertainty and adjustment for students, families and staff."

Hankins didn't clarify some aspects of the dress code Patch had questions about, but said specific concerns will be addressed individually with students and their families.

"We appreciate the input and attention to our handbook and we are open to making our guidelines more supportive and inclusive," she added.

Read Springfield Public Schools 2020-2021 Student Handbook (the relevant text is on pages 19-20):


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