Posted on 07/30/2002 7:35:53 PM PDT by marshmallow
The days of just rolling out of bed and rolling into class are coming to an end.
Pajamas, the preferred attire of some sleepy and study-weary students, are no longer allowed in Hillsborough County schools.
"I think as long as you don't look like a hootchy mama, you should be able to wear whatever," said Nevena Novakovic, 17, a junior at Robinson High School in Tampa.
The opening of Tampa Bay area schools this year will bring a variety of changes in the way students are supposed to look and act. Skate shoes, or athletic shoes with skates built inside, are strictly forbidden. Cell phones, on the other hand, are okay if turned off during school.
In Pinellas, the prohibition on "disruptive" hairstyles and colors has been dropped. And while pajamas are not specifically banned, they are not allowed.
"Pajamas are absolutely not acceptable, but at this point our principals didn't feel we needed to specify that," said Nancy Zambito, director of school operations.
In Hillsborough, the forbidden list includes flip-flop shoes, tube tops, miniskirts and clothes with sexual, violent or gang-related images. But the Hillsborough prohibition on pajamas is causing the greatest fuss.
"There's no need to wear pajamas to school," said James Ammirati, assistant principal at Stewart Middle School and a member of the student handbook revision committee that brought about the changes. "Pajamas are for at home."
Sleepwear is popular school attire during cold weather and on exam days, students say. Seniors often wear their bed clothes to school near the end of the school year as senioritis takes over.
"It's not inappropriate, just comfortable," said Nichole Clark, a Leto High School junior.
Some students said they believe the crackdown on pajamas will encourage the entire student body to look better and pay more attention to their appearance. Others called the new rule silly, since pajamas are typically just sloppy, not offensive.
Mallory Mooser, a 15-year-old Plant High student, said she doesn't think students should wear pajamas to school, but she's crossing her fingers that not all comfortable-looking clothing will be deemed out-of-line.
"You want to wear clothes you feel comfortable in,"t she said. "You don't want to get dressed up every day."
When asked whether she had ever worn pajamas to class, Mooser said: "No, I don't usually wear stuff I've slept in. But it is stuff I would wear to bed."
So what happens to students who stumble into school clad in their favorite jammies?
First-time offenders are required to call Mom and Dad and change clothes. The consequences for repeat offenders range from in-school detention to suspension.
I know that many people older than college might believe that these outfits look sloppy, but of one has any fashion sense it all, it won't! Besides, IMHO, it's just the college atmophere, not business at a fortune 500 company. I just want to enjoy it while I can :)
A lot of the sleepwear out there is more like loungewear. I don't see a problem with kids wearing this to class. For the most part, I never see anyone in class wearing this stuff, except for the early morning classes.
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