When one considers the great importance of going to school, it should be somewhat shocking when a student shows up in pajamas. Going to school is equivalent to having a job, and so students should dress for school how they would dress for work: appropriately and respectfully.

The student’s role in school pretty much parallels that of any other worker in any other context. The student goes to school as the worker goes to the workspace. The student does schoolwork as the worker does work. At the end of the day, the student retires from the classroom as the worker retires from the office. The student receives knowledge as payment for hard work as the worker receives a paycheck for hard work. As previously stated, school is the student’s job.

Though students may have jobs outside of school, coming to school is their primary vocation, and the job of being a student is the most important job one will have in their entire life. This job prepares one for all other jobs.

This being said, when was the last time a businessman walked into a conference room in polka-dot pajama bottoms? Or a construction worker show up to a construction site in a leopard-print snuggie? A chef cook in his five-star restaurant while shuffling in slippers? A doctor tend to a patient while wearing sweats with “#Juicy” printed across her fanny? President Obama deliver a speech in Betty Boop pajama pants and Minion slippers? The answer: (I pray) never.

Such images are so ridiculous and comical to students, but this view is somewhat hypocritical considering that pajama bottoms and slippers are a common trend among high school students (especially the ladies). When a student wears pajamas to school, it’s really the same as any professional worker showing up to their job in pajamas: bizarre and inappropriate. On top of this, wearing pajamas is breaking the school dress code. Our school’s student handbook clearly states that “pajamas (tops or bottoms) and bedroom slippers are not to be worn on campus”, so whether or not pajamas can be worn is not a matter of opinion but rather a matter of school policy.

And this choice of rule is justifiable. Considering that the job of being a student is of significant importance, should the student not then dress as if they are doing something of significant importance? Not to make the proposition that students must wear suits, pencil skirts, or pantyhose in order to reflect the importance of their work. But students should definitely dress with a degree of respect for their vocation as a scholar.

This could be as simple as replacing the pajama pants with a comfortable pair of boyfriend-jeans, the slippers with a pair of Converse or sandals, and the wrinkly slept-in shirt with a loose, cotton shirt. Simply strip yourself of all clothing items that scream “just rolled out of bed” and replace it with something that says “look, I’ve got my life together,” even if that item is a simple ironed t-shirt.

The desire for comfort should not result in a personal pajama-day. You can still be perfectly comfortable and look put together and ready to do your scholarly duties at school.