School Districts Enforce Dress Code for At-Home Learners

Slowly but surely schools in the Tri-State have started their fall semesters.  Like most schools across the country, students have the option to either attend classes in person or they can do it remotely.  If your students are learning from home for the time being, how would you feel if the school district tried to enforce a dress code?

At the moment, I haven’t seen any schools in the area mandating a dress code for remote learners. However, I can’t say the same for some schools in other parts of the country.  In Illinois, Springfield Public Schools have updated their dress code policy for students who will be learning from home this year.  Students will not be allowed to wear pajamas, slippers, or hats during online class sessions.

Here’s where things get a little sticky.  Who is to say that the school district can dictate what kids wear in their own home?  How can you really enforce something like that?   The counter to that being you would still like to have students going about their day as they normally would.  There is a dress code at school.  It should be followed regardless of where and how kids are attending.  Let the internet debates begin.

I don’t have kids but I do think it’s a bit silly to try and enforce a dress code for at-home learning.  It’s not like teachers need to take the time to make sure all the remote learners are properly dressed.  They have more important things to worry about.  It is also kind of strange to have someone tell you what you can or can’t do in your own home.  Now, obviously students need to be somewhat presentable while they are on camera but who cares if they have pj pants on.

This is just another thing we can debate all day long.  Should it really matter what remote learners wear?  Does some form of normalcy need to be upheld for this school year?  Are we overthinking this? It’s just another side-effect of the year 2020 and Covid-19.