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US man wants to create a mandatory dress code for parents to improve standards.

Antonio Parkinson, a US representative, has taken issue with the way some parents dress during drop offs, pick ups and other events.

He was inspired by an internet meme, prompting him to look into the issue and begin planning a bill that would allow schools to enforce a ‘parent dress code’.

The meme read: “Due to freezing temperatures, schools are advising parents to wear two pairs of Pyjamas when picking kids up.”

“That meme led to a conversation with one of my constituents during which I learned about some of her concerns about the way that parents dressed at school,” Parkinson told TODAY Style.

school meme

“That opened up a conversation, and I then got on the phone with some of the leaders in my district and learned how big of a problem it really was.”

And the issue does sound like a major one, Parkinson explaining that he’s heard countless “horror stories” from Tennessee locals who have witnessed the outrageous outfits some parents think are appropriate for school visits.

“People wearing next to nothing. People wearing shirts or tattoos with expletives,” he said.

“A principal I talked to told me a lady came into the office with her sleepwear on with some of her body parts hanging out. You got children coming down the hall in a line and they can possibly see this.”

He wants to introduce a new bill that would allow school districts throughout Tennessee to develop their own codes of conduct for parents and other adults visiting their schools, including enforcing a dress code.

He says that the goal is not to force parents to dress up for school runs but to set out an “expected decorum” that prevents students from being exposed to offensive states of dress.

Though some parents are worried that it could negatively impact lower-income families, where parents don’t have more dressed-up options available to them.

Of course, the bill Parkinson is proposing focuses on more than just what parents wear, addressing their behaviour while at schools as well.

“People [are] coming onto a school campus and cursing the principal or the teacher out. These things happen regularly,” he explained.

He hopes that by allowing schools to develop their own codes of conduct for parents the teaching faculties will be better able to manage and deal with such behaviour from unruly adults.

Read more – School Bans Wearing Pj’s On The School Run

Mum Slams Other Parents Lack of Effort at School Drop Off

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  • A fee for parents who pick their children up in the pick up lane? Isn’t that what they are there for?.
    Some schools enforce a rule that children under a certain age have to be collected from the classroom. The next stage is they are supposed to be collected at or near the school entry/exit. I know one Mum who goes to the school early otherwise she has to part at least 5 minutes walk away. Not ideal with a newborn in very hot or cold rainy weather.

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  • I’m not sure that you can in force something like that but I really think the amount of people that would actually go into the school in the sleepwear would be few and far between

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  • I think obviously get dressed to drop your kids off to school, but how many people actually rock up and get out of the car and go into the school in pj’s? Surely its not that many?!

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  • People need to dress appropriately when coming to school really

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  • I life the fact that they are looking at improving the way parents speak to teachers and the principal – it’s not a great thing to teach your children that it’s ok to curse and abuse teaching staff because your not happy with them due to something your child has done – there has to be a level of decorum and parents in the US must respect that not just for the children, and teachers but for themselves too – I would hate to walk down a crowded school corridor with some slinky outfit on that had my bits and pieces showing – I would die of embarrassment! – how is it though that some parents dont even seem to notice how they look let alone care?

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  • A mandatory dress code for the school drop off ?!
    Don’t make it a bigger problem then it is.
    Only when people are coming nude we can involve the police :)

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  • I agree just a basic standard


    • Getting dressed in appropriate clothing is good role modelling for children. They will need to dress appropriately once schooling is finished and they are in the workforce.

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  • I don’t think its a problem if you are in your pj’s in the car and not getting out. The issue is wearing next to nothing and you’re out of the car. I am all for wearing what makes you comfortable and confident but at the same time know your audience. At school pick up I am shocked to see people wearing shorter then short shorts and if they bend over their ass is hanging out. You go girl….but my child doesn’t need to see it. I am trying to teach my children to respect and protect their privates but its hard when society has no standard


    • In that I agree absolutely. It’s something I don’t like to see either.

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  • How are you going to enforce this if people aren’t getting out of the car.

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  • Enforcing a dress standard or code would be difficult. I don’t know why anyone would be in the night wear/pj’s – maybe sick?

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  • I bet it’s his wife who does the school run. This is a male telling women (because they still do th majority of school runs) what to wear.

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  • And who would enforce or police this?…haha

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  • It sounds a little bit exaggerated to me.

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  • I would hate to be caught out in my pjs that would be the time my car would break down! It isn’t that hard to get dressed even if it is tracky pants

    Reply

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