NEW BRITIAN, Conn. – New Britian schools superintendent Nancy Sarra claims she did not ban hooded sweatshirts, she just told students they can’t wear them to class anymore.

Sarra issued a perplexing statement to parents and the media Monday that attempts to downplay a ban on “hoodies” – perhaps the most popular clothing item of students everywhere – by alleging the district is simply standardizing the student dress code to prepare them for success, WTNH reports.

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“The definition of the word ‘ban’ is to officially or legally prohibit. When that language is used to describe our position on hooded sweatshirts, it is misleading,” Sarra wrote. “We understand that students wear hooded sweatshirts while at recess, dress down days and other events. We also understand that students wear hooded sweatshirts to school so they can stay warm.

“However, then classroom instruction begins, they are not to be worn. With that said, we recognize that at times, students are cold and require another layer of clothing. This is why we allow students to wear long sleeve shirts under their uniforms if needed.”

Sarra told the news site that hooded sweatshirts obstruct student name tags, as well.

“Certainly, they can wear them to school. We look at them as ‘outerwear.’ But when they get into school, we’re asking that they remove them. They have their name tags on so their name tags will show and the hoodies will go in their lockers,” she told NBC Connecticut.

“We want our students to compete with every other student for those jobs 15 years from now. And so it’s working with our families to define – well, what does that look like?”

The ban, set to go into effect for the 2017-18 school year in all district schools that require students to wear uniforms, was a hot topic at a Monday school board meeting, where Sarra read the statement and board members discussed the issue.

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“Some of us (board members) have different thoughts and opinions on that,” chairwoman Sharon Beloin-Saavedra told The Britian Herald. “We all have different thoughts on headwear and hoodies.”

Only one parent spoke about the ban at the school board meeting – Aggie Zurzyna.

“One of my pet-peeves is the over-emphasis on dress policy,” she said, noting that many students in the district are from poor families that can’t afford special clothes for school. “

Zurzyna advocated for “less of a focus on dress code.

“High achieving and high performing districts don’t have strong dress code or uniform policy. Uniforms are a distraction,” she said. “There are better ways to bring unity into schools.”

Other parents who spoke with the media seemed to like the ban.

“I think it’s excellent,” parent Claritza LaFontaine told WFSB. “When it comes to uniforms and all that stuff, I personally love it!”

“I think it’s a good thing to get the young generation ready for the next step,” parent Fenias Bahebura said