A school district in Illinois wants students to take remote learning seriously and has implemented a dress code for those sitting at home in front of their computers. The Springfield School District told parents that the student handbook has been updated with a new dress code that bans kids from wearing pajamas.

Not all parents were happy with the new dress code. Elizabeth Ballinger told WCIA she doesn't think the school has the authority to tell her what her kids can wear inside her home.

"I made the decision for my kids to be at home, and I don't really see how any district can come in and say what my kid can't wear in my house. I don't think they have any right to say what happens in my house. I think they have enough to worry about as opposed to what the kids are wearing. They need to make sure they're getting educated," she said.

The school district said that the dress code isn't going to be a priority for teachers, and explained that they will address any issues on an individual basis.

"Generally speaking, there are no definitive one-to-one consequences outlined in our handbook for any disciplinary reason. Incidents of misconduct and subsequent consequences are treated on an individual basis," the district said in a statement.

The teachers union said that teachers will be more concerned with ensuring students get a quality education, no matter what they are wearing.

"In truth, the whole pajama thing is really at the bottom of our priority scale when it comes to public education," Springfield Education Association President Aaron Graves said. "We really want to see kids coming to the table of education whether it's at the kitchen table with the laptop there or whether it's the actual brick and mortar schoolhouse. Raising the bar for all kids and helping them get there, whether they're in their pajamas or tuxedo, is really what's important."

Photo: Getty Images

Mark Simone