So my question is, when you have a girl who regularly wears athletic clothes to school, what should she wear? This just highlights and reinforces gender stereotypes. I think it's insensitive (and for what it's worth, I'm also a MS teacher). It highlights the ridiculous cultural norms we have, that boys shouldn't wear skirts unless they're being silly, and that wearing athletic clothes is a boys' thing.

And to those citing what happened at schools in the 80's and 90's, I hope we've progressed socially since then.

Anonymous wrote:My HS did this for Spirit Week in the 80s as well, but hopefully we've evolved as a society since then. It's not appropriate because it reinforces gender stereotypes, and makes it a joke to dress up in a way that is traditionally of the opposite sex. Making this somehow strange or hilarious is why transgendered kids commit suicide, folks. Think a little bit.

I posted about the my HS doing it in the 80s. We also had the punks wearing skirts to school on regular days. I went to school with 3 transgendered students. Well they did not have their operations until their mid-20s. The bullying they went through wasn't related to the "cross dressing" day during spirit week. I think spirit week is stupid. But to suggest that "cross dressing day" is what leads to suicide seem to woefully miss the other 364 days of the year when they struggle with gender roles.

We used to do this at CTY 11 or 12 years ago, and it was a lot of fun. Of course, that was an environment that was particularly friendly to queer/gender nonconforming kids, so that might make a difference. Not sure why it's disrespectful, though.

Anonymous wrote:You people take life too seriously.

Thank you for taking the time to post something so thought provoking and helpful.

You people take life too seriously.

Anonymous wrote:Not PC, that's for sure. What if there are some gay or transgendered students or parents in the mix? And if not, it sends an insensitive message. I'm stunned the school is proceeding.

This is sort of the issue I have with it. (OP, btw).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What school is this, OP?

+1. Name the school, or you're a troll.

A private in MD. And not n aming the school doesn' make me a troll. Good grief.

Not PC, that's for sure. What if there are some gay or transgendered students or parents in the mix? And if not, it sends an insensitive message. I'm stunned the school is proceeding.

Anonymous wrote:To the MS teacher, do you not think the boys are going to be using effeminite voices and actions to play the part. And the girls will try to act butch?
This is insulting to our transgender and gay youth.

Didn't think of it that way. Point taken. At my school we stick to pajama day...

My HS did this for Spirit Week in the 80s as well, but hopefully we've evolved as a society since then. It's not appropriate because it reinforces gender stereotypes, and makes it a joke to dress up in a way that is traditionally of the opposite sex. Making this somehow strange or hilarious is why transgendered kids commit suicide, folks. Think a little bit.

Anonymous wrote:What school is this, OP?

+1. Name the school, or you're a troll.

What school does this? And what age level? Halloween costumes for elementary school is cute, and even pajama day for that age group seemed like fun, but I have never heard of such a strange idea as this. Silly and possibly hurtful. Yuck.

To the MS teacher, do you not think the boys are going to be using effeminite voices and actions to play the part. And the girls will try to act butch?
This is insulting to our transgender and gay youth.

What school is this, OP?

MS teacher here. I don't think it's disrespectful. To whom?

As far as school spirit, a lot of kids will be eager to participate so kids who do not normally talk to each other may compliment each other on costumes, etc.

The downside is that the kids will largely be more focused on costumes than learning that day. Plus, the staff will have dress code issues to deal with, as some students will surely go too far and have to change.