History of School Uniforms
From LoveToKnow Kids
Learning something about the history of school uniforms can help parents and students gain some perspective on whether they are in favor of them or not.
School uniforms worn by students tend to be conservative in style. For boys, they may be made up of dark pants and a light colored shirt. A tie completes the outfit. School uniforms for girls may be made up of a blouse worn with a skirt, culottes, a jumper, or a dress. Some schools will allow female students to wear pants. A jacket may be worn by both genders.
History of School Uniforms Over Time
The history of school uniforms can actually be dated back to the fall of the Roman Empire when formal education also stopped for young people in the West. Boys were sometimes chosen to attend song schools to prepare them for the priesthood. They may have worn similar clothing while attending classes.
In the Middle Ages, priests often took on the role of teacher. Boys were the only ones offered an education, since educating girls wasn't considered a priority at that time. Students attending secular schools probably didn't wear uniforms while attending classes, which could be for up to 12 hours a day.
School Uniforms in England
Most students attending elementary and secondary schools in England are required to wear uniforms. Policies vary from school to school as to how strictly the wearing of the uniform is enforced.
In the past several years, a trend has emerged where school uniforms are more modern. Instead of the traditional uniform (including a blazer and tie) in a thick fabric, T-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts in school colors may be worn. Plain colored pants or jeans may be worn at some schools.
This policy was adopted to modernize the apparel of students and also to help families who were finding it difficult to afford the standard school uniform. Another consideration is the fact that schools are now using central heat in the winter, which means the temperature during colder months is much easier to control. Students no longer need to bundle up in old-style uniforms to stay comfortable while attending classes in winter, and these styles are not the best choice during summer months.
Some schools in England are bucking the trend toward more modern school uniforms, and instead have chosen to go back to more traditional ones. Administrators want students to have a more conservative look and feel that having students wear uniforms will help to combat bullying.
School Uniforms in the United States
Most public schools in the U.S. don't require students to wear uniforms; however, the number of schools that require pupils to wear uniforms has been on the rise. Those children attending private schools are likely to be required to wear uniforms when they go to school. Catholic schools in particular expect students to dress in a certain way.
Options Instead of School Uniforms
Instead of setting a policy that students are required to wear a uniform, many school districts decide on a standardized dress code instead. These may be adopted in an attempt to keep "gang clothing" out of schools and to reduce pressure on students (and their parents) to buy certain brands of clothing in order to fit in or be popular.
The dress code may specify that certain parts of the body must remain covered while on school property (stomach and back). Most schools would not encourage students to wear T-shirts with violent messages or offensive language on them. Some dress codes may be quite specific about the style of dress that students are allowed to wear, while others give pupils a certain amount of leeway. Students and their parents may be told that they are expected to wear clothing that is clean, neat, and that covers them appropriately.
These recent developments will form part of the history of school uniforms, and we can look back to see how the popularity of school uniforms changes with time. Bold text
Learn More
This page has been accessed 4,027 times. This page was last modified 18:49, 17 January 2009.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
Print this page
Follow ltk on twitter
Visit us on facebook