Should You Allow Students To Wear Pajamas During Zoom Lessons?

Smart Classroom Management: Should You Allow Your Students To Wear Pajamas During Zoom Lessons

I never thought I’d be writing on this topic.

Yet here we are. Oddly, it’s a controversial one. Evidently some teachers have received significant pushback for not allowing pajamas during Zoom lessons.

“You can’t dictate what students wear in their own home.”

“If they want to wear pajamas, what’s the harm?”

“As their parent, I decide what they wear, not you.”

“What’s wrong with them being comfortable?”

“You should be happy they’re showing up at all.”

Fair enough. These arguments do make sense on their surface. But here’s the thing, the critical question: When students log in to Zoom or Google Meet, are they in school or out of school?

They’re in school, correct? Not physically, of course, but otherwise they’re enrolled. In fact, though virtual, they’re in your class and you’re their teacher.

If this is the case, and it is, then you have every right and obligation to determine the rules and policies therein.

But should you?

Should you require students to dress according to your school dress code (i.e. no pajamas) while sitting at home? Are students better served in the long run by having a minimum standard of dress?

I believe so.

Here’s why:

It’s a small but powerful message.

Allowing pajamas communicates to students that they’re not really in school and that expectations during Covid are lax, if they exist at all. It tells them that this Zoom thing isn’t serious and we are just happy if they show up.

The smallest foundational expectations, however—those that appear frivolous at first glance but mentally prepare students for learning—are in fact incredibly powerful in the message they send.

They tell students that online lessons are real and that school is very much in session.

They’re also the framework upon which you build higher-level success habits that can make the difference between good academic progress and very little.

It’s sets your class on firm footing.

If you allow pajamas, then here come the stuffed animals. Here come the waffles and cereal and laying in bed. It’s a slippery slope that will never end unless you create a boundary that protects their learning.

Pajamas are a symbol of apathy and doing whatever one pleases.

Therefore, when you draw the line at robes, nightgowns, and chipmunk onsies, it protects you from the poor work ethic and attitudes that naturally come with them.

It sets your classroom culture on firm footing from which you can make real progress motivationally, behaviorally, and academically.

It improves attentiveness.

Listening and attentiveness is challenging enough during Zoom lessons.

Add pajamas and the distractions and lack of commitment they can cause and it becomes next to impossible to teach effectively.

As the leader and decision-maker of your class, you must do everything in your power to limit distractions and set a bar of minimum standards required for success in school—online or not.

Here at SCM, we recommend using the Smart Zoom Classroom Management Plan along with the points system we unveiled a couple of weeks ago.

To Care Enough

I understand the fear of getting complaints. I understand angry parents. I understand colleagues who confuse what they believe are acts of compassion with what are in reality low expectations.

But if you’re a teacher worth your salt, you have to care enough about your students to make the tough decisions for their long-term future despite the slings and arrows.

No, pajamas aren’t the biggest issue in the world.

But they do say a lot about you and your commitment to provide the mental preparation skills your students need to succeed in a competitive world.

They do make a difference in how well your students listen and learn. They do affect the level of academic urgency and importance.

In education, we fall all over ourselves to make excuses for why students can’t or won’t do this or that. We lower standards and pin responsibility on everyone and everything but them.

We send the message that their hardships—no matter how universal or shared by the scores of others who came before them—are too much to overcome.

And in so doing, we crush their dreams and extinguish their spirit.

When we challenge students, on the other hand, when we set foundational standards for them, when we send the message that through hard work they can excel, they become transformed.

They gain respect for themselves and true self-worth. They fight through. They endure. They persevere.

They hold their gaze steady and forge their own path.

PS – Allowing a “Pajama Day” once a month or so is fun and I wholeheartedly endorse the practice.

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48 thoughts on “Should You Allow Students To Wear Pajamas During Zoom Lessons?”

  1. I get the argument – “Dress for Success”. But what is the use in requiring a dress code that can’t be enforced? Recommending a particular course of action and modeling it is one thing, but otherwise this will be out of the hands of teachers while remote learning is happening.
    If you tell a kid to change out of their PJs and they can just look at you from the other side of the screen with a look that says “make me”, you’ve lost.

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      • I did, Michael, and it’s a brilliant online learning management strategy. But if I had a nickel for every teacher, including me, who would not be permitted by their administration to implement this because “we don’t grade for behavior”, I bet I could retire tomorrow.
        For what it’s worth, I’ll happily eat these words if it ever comes down to it.

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      • Dear Micheal Linsin:
        I agree with you 100% about the pajama, and thanks Lord for that, that I don’t have this problem but my main problem is the camera off
        and I’m suffering from asking the students to turn their cameras and even after opening is the struggle to stays on the whole class.

        I found opposites opinions
        First opinion
        Camera can be off because: its a personal choice,even collage students and educators don’t turn on their cameras .fear from screen shot from other participants, the screen back ground (home scene) that students don’t prefer it showing in camera, family condition maybe a sibling not in a good condition is rooming in the room.

        Second opinion
        Camera has to be on because: when camera is off that means that the student is disconnected from the class, or playing in other tab or device, or left the class, or chatting with his friends. snoring (really it happened)……….

        Third opinion:
        they can keep the camera off as long as they participate and be alert with the lesson
        Please give us a solution
        Thank you so much

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      • I absolutely agree with Michael, and I agree with Scott. We can set the example for our students by having our own dress code – wearing what we would wear in the “brick and mortar” classroom. You’re sending a clear message: We’re still in school, and that’s why we still have a dress code.

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  2. I made the transaction to pay for “Should You Allow Students To Wear Pajamas During Zoom Lessons?” But I am not sure if it went through. I haven’t received the material. I need help.

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    • Yes!!, I agree there has to be a dress code for students AND teachers. It is a also sign of respect to one another. We are all “attending” school even though it is in a different format!

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  3. I agree, and also, teachers need to dress for success too. If this is how it is, we need to make it work. I want my own kids’ teachers to hold them to reasonably high expectations, and I do believe that getting ready for the Zoom meeting (changed , reasonably clean bedroom, finished breakfast etc) helps set the tone. Of course, there will always be exceptions, but even in school we have the rule, and make discretionary allowances .

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  4. Hi Michael,

    Call me old-fashioned, but I’m actually an advocate of school uniforms. One, they are a great equalizer. We can’t see who can afford the latest jeans and who cannot. Two, they assure everyone is “dressed for success,” as you put it. When the uniform is on, you are at your “job”—being a student!

    However, the reality of my particular situation is I can’t even prevent students from wearing pajamas to brick-and-mortar school! We basically don’t have a dress code so students can, and do, wear just about anything you can imagine. From pajamas to suits & ties and fancy dresses to ripped jeans so ripped you can literally see their underwear to a student who dressed like a cat every day last year, complete with tail and ears. And, to be honest, some of the teachers aren’t much better! A couple of the men wear ancient jeans and sweatshirts daily, while a few of the young women teachers wear shockingly short skirts.

    To be fair, most of the teachers wear business casual and 90% of the students dress appropriately. But there is no way to enforce rules that don’t exist.

    I agree 100% with your article and with the concept of requiring high standards. I do so in my teaching and academic requirements. And I continue to advocate for school uniforms. 🙂

    Reply
    • I’m not even going to be able to require my students to have their video cameras on. What they wear is far from my biggest concern.

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  5. 15% of my stuff dents wear “pajamas” in school. As long as they are covered I don’t care what they wear. You are way off base on this one.

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    • He isn’t off base at all. In fact, I was surprised to even see the topic. Of course children should be washed, breakfasted and dressed before remote learning begins! 15% not even dressed in daywear? What standards are you teaching them?

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  6. Did you just say that we need to hold students accountable??? In my school district it does not happen, they have the poor child, they have it too rough, attitude, which sends the message that students can do whatever they want.

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  7. Agree! Fortunately my school is requiring students to adhere to the school dress code during Google Meets.

    I’ve found most parents and kids don’t complain if we explain why. You do so above Michael, and it is exactly what I’ll be explaining to my kids when they ask why I care what they wear in their own home.

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  8. I agree with the spirit of what your saying and continuing to hold high expectations whether at home or in a classroom, but I am not sure this is the hill I want to die on. How do you enforce it, for one? Will you reinforce students who get dressed?

    I am also struggling with lessons over Zoom anyway. I think the medium for online learning isn’t best used by replicating a classroom virtually. Rows of video boxes are not rows of desks. We are not leveraging this tool to maximize its potential. For example, game companies create stunning recreations of WWII battlefields. Why are we limiting ourselves?

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  9. After some disasters in the spring (kids laying in bed, pets in laps, food, squawking pet bird during math tutoring, etc.), I set down rules for Zoom: students had to be sitting up as if they were in the regular classroom, no pets, no food, a location without chaos, nothing else that would distract other participants. Things improved dramatically. I told the parents when I outlined the expectations that if students were not in a situation to learn, that I would exit them from the Zoom meeting. Things improved dramatically after that. I don’t think all of the parents were thrilled, but in real life and real jobs, there are expectations.

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  10. I am a parent and a teacher. If you see my kids wearing pajamas it is because I am trying to make it safely through another challenging day of this global pandemic. Doing laundry is expensive, timely and dangerous. If my kids wear pajamas for one whole day that saves me time, money, and a visit to a public space which has the chance for exposure to a virus that could kill me, my kids or my immune compromised partner. And I am one of the lucky ones who can usually afford to pay for my laundry and has access to nearby laundry and have a partner I can leave the kids with while I do the laundry for the whole family. I don’t know the answer, but all of that is a reasonable consideration, it isn’t just a lack of effort on parents part nor is it due to teachers’ low expectations for students.

    Reply
    • While I sympathize with your situation, I’m truly and completely puzzled at how your kids’ wearing their pajamas as their outfit for the day saves on laundry.

      If the kids wear them all day, don’t those pajamas become every bit as much in need of an eventual wash as the street clothes they would have worn, if not more so because they’re also worn throughout the night?

      In fact, doesn’t changing and getting dressed for the day help reduce the laundry, since the pajamas are only worn at night and therefore need washing less frequently?

      I just don’t understand the argument.

      Reply
    • I had the same questions as Chris, and I’d also add that your kids may be finding other challenges in this pandemic from the lack of self-respect, etc. by not being properly dressed.
      While of course your health and safety is most important, why don’t you use a laundry service that delivers – if you can afford it? I truly think you’ll all find it more refreshing!
      As parents we need to make life work functionally; putting in a greater effort these days will help our children meet the expectations their wonderful teachers are helping them meet.

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  11. The arguments presented here make sense and, to most reasonable people, don’t pose a problem.
    However, “there’s one in every crowd”- the kid or parent who has a problem with this and won’t comply. It’s as if by allying against the teacher and the school, kid and parent are bonding together against the system.
    At any rate, I am going to go with what you’re saying here nonetheless, because it’s better than the alternative which is saying nothing for fear of a confrontation, and letting standards drop.
    Thanks Michael, for tackling these new issues we are all now facing in education.

    Reply
  12. This judgement projects a very privileged perspective. My husband and I did NOT lose any income during the pandemic and yet both of our children have outgrown almost ALL of their clothes. And they are children with OVERSTUFFED closets. Imagine the stress that this arbitrary rule would have on my families (with more than 2 children!) that are homeless or that have lost ALL their income and are struggling to feed their children. Will you make a special exception for them so they can be publicly pitied and ridiculed, possibly having their images recorded and distributed on social media? Please apologize and remove this highly prejudicial and harmful opinion from mass distribution!

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    • Karen, you obviously own a computer. In case you aren’t aware of it, there are many businesses that sell clothing online. I’m sure you can find a tee shirt and jeans that will fit the kids even if they might not look tailor-made. Not everything needs to be turned into a contentious, class ( pun intended) issue. BTW, attitudes are very often taught to kids by example. Why inculcate contentious attitudes in children? There’s enough out there to cause malcontent without teaching kids to be resentful over what amounts to a vacuous argument.

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  13. I 100% agree with the no-pajamas policy—for the students and for the teachers. And the policy must be supported and reinforced by Admin, with consequences and accountability for any non-compliance.
    One thing that comes to mind, however, is the “subjectivity factor”— ie., nowadays, some garments might “look like” pajamas even though they aren’t, technically, “pajamas”. It could get interesting.

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  14. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have been implanting your SCM plan for several years, and I am a happier teacher for it. I made the commitment to maintain the same expectations for my first graders during our on line classes. I almost caved on Thursday and said “why bother!?” But Friday (day 5 in the new school year) showed improvement in learning behaviors! There are still a handful of students not following the expectations, as is typical, but I’m not throwing in the towel. It is too important.

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  15. Re: Karen Townsend
    It is not my intent to provoke an argument. I would like to share some thoughts. I do not believe that Michael’s perspective is one of privilege, and I don’t believe he owes anyone an apology. Here’s why:
    1. Readers are free to follow or not follow the suggestions given.
    2. Teachers are free (somewhat) to implement ideas that they believe will be in the best interest of their students.
    3. I taught in a lower income school for over three decades. There were lots of ways for children to obtain school clothing for nothing or almost nothing, due to donations, thrift stores, sales, etc. I grew up in a household without much money, and we didn’t go without. I had hand-me-downs from my sisters, and just a few new things.
    4. Ability to obtain clean serviceable clothing often has more to do with priorities than with money. One year, we did a Sub for Santa for a family, and supplied the children very well with clothing and winter coats. The parents sold everything we donated to them.
    5. If kids’ closets are overstuffed with clothing that no longer fits, sell or donate the unneeded clothing, and use the money to purchase a few things for this school year. Kids do grow, so buying just a few things works well.

    Thanks again, Michael, for the good you do, even if you choose not to post this comment.

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  16. Sorry, that’s a negative. In the end, the space and children are the parents. If you wish that control, get your own space. Period. End of discussion.

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  17. It seems odd that the rule you want to enforce is dress code. I wore a uniform K-12. And in college liver in pajamas. I don’t think it hinders anything.

    I’m now a senior engineer at a well known firm. Even before covid times, we wore t-shirts and jeans. Heck in summer we wore shorts. 🤷‍♀️

    I find it to be a power struggle that doesn’t need to happen about something that doesn’t matter. I would rather you show everyone respect regardless of what they wear. And teach that to your other students as well. It’s not a sign of respect to me to “dress for success”. It’s a sign of power to mandate a dress code.

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  18. I think parents will just let the kid sleep in a tshirt so they are “ready for school”. I had a parent who told me she put the child to bed in his sweatpants and tshirt outfit for school the next day because they had to be up and out so early. No sure if the battle is worth it with the K-5 crew at least.

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  19. Absolutely Not! What’s next after PJ’s- Some may feel liberated enough to only wear their Birthday Suit- We have to draw the line somewhere- wake up, eat breakfast, and put on clothes just like you are preparing for any regular school day- or career!

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  20. I just tell them:

    “I’m not a nurse, and this is not a hospital. I am a teacher, and this is a school, put some clothes on!”

    It works.

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  21. To john, the senior engineer:
    As an adult you are able to understand that clothing aren’t the be-all-and-end-all of who a person is. Still, I do feel that a dress code helps set a tone. That goes for dressing casually when the occasion calls for it, and dressing formally when the occasion calls for it.
    Children tend to be innocent in their thinking. They are not as able as adults to figure out that being dressed in PJs does not mean they make act the way they would outside of the classroom. If you want your child’s/student’s Zoom lesson to be as effective as possible set a classroom tone. Most teachers agree that with kids ( not adults) Zoomed lessons aren’t as effective as classroom lessons. Why add a factor that may further diminish its effectiveness for many kids.

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  22. I enjoyed this article on pj’s in online learning, and agree that setting up the right environment for success includes dressing for the occasion. Being prepared for learning definitely includes dressing for learning and having a work space that’s similar to school.

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  23. Parents telling teachers you are lucky that they have turned up – isn’t really supporting the child. It’s for the child’s benefit that the lessons are presented on line and children should be encouraged to attend. In my view smart casual worked for us.

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  24. There are so many views of this issue. For me I say dress for success. As long as it is something you would allow the child to wear in a group setting, it should be ok. I would select times as one of the earlier writers have suggested. Remember some of the children want to stay at home so they don’t have to get dressed. Study your population. Consider is dress or learning the most valuable issue.

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  25. Michael,
    Just had to drop a quick note of thanks during these crazy times – your calming articles always make me feel refreshed and excited about teaching, and relax my concerns, no matter what the situation is. It’s going to be a great year no matter what!

    Reply
  26. I think there are several thoughtful approaches. For younger students, we need to make it worth their while to change out of those comfy PJ’s. So maybe each day of the week is a day for a different outfit–color day, wear an animal day, superhero day, etc. etc. Get away from telling them what NOT to do and make it worth it to do something fun that you want them TO do. Have outfit contests, give prizes, reward students with praise and tokens for meeting and exceeding expectations. Get away from a punitive mindset, please.

    Please also look at literature for adults about changes in dress expectations. As a New York Times reader I pay attention to headlines like “Sweat Pants Forever” and articles about new attire expectations in the Zoom world. As the outside world changes, maybe schools can consider adjusting expectations as well.

    NYT also had a great article (I searched but could not find the link for you all) about how the inside of our homes reveal so much about our socio economic levels. As students enter Middle School or High School and pay closer attention to these distinctions, there might be some shame around the furnishings and condition of their home, so camera off might be more culturally sensitive for some students.

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  27. Any advice how to tackle students / classes who do not co-operate to turn on their camera during zoom classes…students give excuse like their microphone spoilt or they dont have a camera or camera spoilt.

    Reply

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