Spirit Days: those days at school where kids dress up according to a theme, supposedly to celebrate school spirit, often planned by the school’s student council or some such group. Again, I don’t often write about school, but it’s bothering me, and when things bother me, I write. Wednesday this week has been dedicated “Nerd Day”. Students are encouraged to dress up as nerds, or as some of the kids are already calling it, “Loser Day”.
I’m sure we had something similar when I was in school, and that is where my deep-rooted dislike of this type of spirit day started. You see, I was a nerd. Still am. Think about the number one accessory you need to dress up like a stereotypical nerd. What did you come up with? I bet 90% of you thought, “glasses”. Yep. So I didn’t even need to dress up for nerd day – I was already in costume, whether I wanted to be or not. Whether I wanted to be identified as a nerd, or not.
I thought the trend was to help kids get away from stereotyping their classmates and people in general. So it’s OK to do it, if it’s for school spirit? Can you imagine if they had a “jock” day, or a “Mean Girls” day, or a “Sped” day… Instead of embracing and celebrating everyone’s differences, we encourage the school to dress up as a stereotype.
Now, as I said, I am still a nerd. I prefer books to people (in general), dislike partying (in general), was always studious and smart, and enjoyed rather off-the-beaten track music, movies, and senses of humor. I cried last night when watching the last episode of Dr. Who with David Tennant as Dr. Who, OK?? I’m a nerd, and I own it, and I don’t think it’s a bad thing!
But kids? Kids are self-conscious, sensitive, undeveloped globs of anxiety. I think we should put more thought into stuff like this.
*stepping down off my soap box*
What do you think? Am I overreacting?
***Update: we just received word at the end of the day that tomorrow’s theme has been changed to super hero day.
Simple. I Just Do. 
I feel the same as you…although I will say that I have noticed that more and more kids seem happy embracing being nerd than they did back in our days in school.
My teenage step-daughter, who has neither glasses nor pocket-protector (and is very disappointed about these facts) is very proud of her “nerd-dom”.
Don’t know if I feel that makes “nerd day” right…especially when it seems to be an idea that lacks any real creativity….with all the possibilities out there, they come up with nerd? Why? How does that build school spirit?
Peace,
LBD
I also bristled when I saw Nerd Day. I don’t think you are over reacting at all. I climbed on this soap box and planted a flag a few days ago!!
If we had had that same day when my guys attended that middle school I would have had one that was unhappy with it and one that reveled in it. Different strokes. I agree, though, unnecessary and I am glad that they changed it. It should have been caught before it ever became an issue.