Lingerie at School? Tennessee Lawmakers Say These Parents Need a School Dress Code Too

Students are used to having a school dress code, but what about parents who are dropping off their kids in the morning? Should they have to follow similar rules? Some lawmakers in Tennessee say yes.

While parents often joke about picking up their kids from school while wearing pajamas, the clothing choices being questioned in Memphis are far more risqué than a comfy set.

Discussions about a dress code for parents started with State Representative Antonio Parkinson who said he'd heard about the inappropriate way parents dress and act when they visit Tennessee public schools from school leaders and educators. Now, Parkinson believes a code of conduct should be put in place to outline appropriate school expectations.

“I was talking to my principals when I got the real story,” Parkinson said. “There are parents who are showing up at schools in the office with lingerie on… with cheeks hanging out."

Other educators cited seeing parents wearing gang-related clothing and appearing intoxicated while on school property.

According to Parkinson, the code of conduct would have a baseline of expectations for anyone visiting the schools for pick-up, drop-off, meetings or visits. Guidelines for appropriate clothing, car music volumes and the heavily discouraged use of curse words will also ensure parents understand how Tennessee hopes to cultivate their public school environment.

Parkinson hopes that by holding parents to a higher standard, students will follow in their caregiver’s footsteps.

"Everyone else who comes onto a school campus, teachers and students, has to abide by certain rules," Parkinson said. "Parents are the third leg of the school. Anything or anyone that comes onto the campus should be contributing to a learning environment."

According to USA TODAY, the bill is still in drafting stages but could go up for a vote as early as July and be implemented in schools as early as the fall of 2020.