Dress for Success… at a desk!
In a traditional in-person classroom, students must come to school in modest, appropriate attire. Online classes, on the other hand, sometimes allow for a more relaxed dress code, with some students even attending class in their pajamas. And while in-person classrooms require students to sit upright at their desks while in a classroom, online students sometimes join class from while lying in bed or sprawled on the couch. While it is important for students to feel comfortable when attending class, and homeschooling students often have more flexibility as to where to attend class due to attending from their own homes, we might consider the role of dress and space and its role in shaping habits of mind and heart, two important goals of classical education.
In the “adult” world we often speak of dressing for success or dressing for the job one wants, not the job one has. Why? One reason is that when we dress the part, we feel the part. Even people who work from home often feel more professional and behave more professionally when dressed in dressy work attire rather than sports clothing. There’s something about feeling the part that helps someone act the part.
The same is true for children, even those who attend classes from home. While not all families are able to provide the ideal work space for their child, it seems reasonable to find a way to maximize all possibilities of providing children with the best possibilities based on what is available to the family. This could mean making sure the child is bathed, dressed in school clothing, and with hair neatly combed before each class, making sure he or she is sitting upright (not curled up in bed or on the couch) for attention purposes, and making sure he or she has all needed supplies and homework in front of him or her before class starts. It is also most helpful if the space in which the child is attending class is quiet and free of as many distractions as possible. Some students find it helpful to carry their supplies in a backpack to an area in which they will be attending class, thus making them feel as if they are packing up and heading off to school. None of these measures requires a significant financial investment, just a bit of time and energy.
These small measures can go a long way in helping students—even those attending school from home—to feel as “professional” as possible, to think of school as something special (not just something one does on the couch, the same place one might eat popcorn or watch movies), to help them form discipline they will need throughout their lives.
For parents who are interested in purchasing Foundations Classical Academy apparel for their children, we have a wide selection in our apparel store. For each item purchased, FCA receives a small amount of revenue that helps cover the cost of books, supplies, and teaching materials, thus enriching the classroom environment for all students while helping your child to feel the part of an FCA scholar. One might even create an FCA “uniform” using some of the t-shirts, polo shirts or sweatshirts available on the website. Adult clothing is also available as are water bottles, earrings, and backpacks. All items can be customized for no extra charge with a variety of designs or the year of graduation of your child.
