School uniforms were designed not only for institutional recognition, but also for social equalising. When school clothing becomes a fashion parade, I imagine that concentration on classroom work fades.
I've just found the above photo of my own alma mater, a tad before my time; and looking decidedly like something out of 'Goodbye Mr Chips'. I see mortarboards, short jackets, and stiff collars; more like my father's school uniform. These days gowns of various ilks are worn, and in my day we wore boaters; which I rather liked.
The school clothing department of a well-known Knightsbridge shop, from whence our uniforms were purchased, was always an 'interesting' place. I remember lots of dreadful mothers overseeing the purchase of ill fitting jackets for their little Cedrics or Poppets (they were bought to 'grow into'). Time there was best kept to an absolute minimum.
I wonder how much longer rigorously strict school uniforms will last. I suspect not that much.
We had a beret, which is too much like a Frisbee and grabbed and thrown too easily. A new headmaster when I was in second year and that was the end of the berets and caps
ReplyDeleteBerets were very popular in girls schools. Maybe they were the origin of the frisbee; they make good ones.
DeleteI do not like school uniform but understand the advantages. I just wish they were more comfortable and casual. I hate seeing children in shirts and ties.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know if I liked them or not; they were simply a part of early life.
DeleteMy all girls school had berets (minus the twisted tuft), but the treat of the 6th form was the Boater in the summer. It did wonders for our deportment. Later in life my husband used it for Maurice Chevalier impressions.
ReplyDeleteThe other rite of passage was the change from white socks to stockings.
My wife also wore a boater; we both still have them in an attic somewhere.
DeleteI can't say I've seen a reduction in uniforms here. Tertiary students don't wear uniforms here at all, except for a gown and mortarboard for presentations, and a parade through the city after they graduate, mostly for the benefit of their wealthy Asian overseas parents. The parade is a big thing for them and their parents and a nice finishing touch for their rather expensive education.
ReplyDeleteYou Aussies seem quite strict about school uniforms, with accompanying huge hats. I think it's probably a good thing.
DeleteI found a strict uniform to be an excellent thing. A small girls' grammar, we were all on a par. No having to cope with inequality. Expensive to start with, yes, but as I grew taller, my tunic became shorter - in the 1960s! Also, at the end of school years, we had a large 'uniform sale', where outgrown clothing would be sold to younger/smaller pupils. The stuff was made to last!
ReplyDeleteSchools were they aren't so strict soon find that certain cliques think more about fashion than they do about work.
Delete'where' not 'were'.
DeleteI am very much in favour of school uniforms. Puts students on one level.
ReplyDeleteQuite right; as long as the school doesn't tolerate those who test the boundaries.
DeleteThe best thing about school uniforms is that they should be a social leveller - obviously not at Eton or your school though. I hated wearing school uniform but these days I like wearing black tie for the above reason - sadly a very rare event now.
ReplyDeleteI always accepted my uniforms as being just a normal part of life.
DeleteThat's what the SS said.
DeleteGosh, you certainly stir up some memories with your posts. Our grammar school in the 60s had strict uniform rules. When I started there at the tender age of 11, my mother thought it prudent to buy *gently used* items from the school shop for me to grow into. The girl who previously owned my uniform was a tall, willowy creature, however I have always been a little squirt, only achieving the dizzying height of 5ft 3in in adulthood. I never did manage to grow into my uniform.
ReplyDeleteYour Mum sounds like those women I used to see at Harrods. Hardly anyone was bought clothes that actually fitted.
DeleteBeing at school in the 70s I was part of a wave of uniform modernisation where the winter tie and oversized box-pleat tunic you were intended to grow into gave way to unisex skivvies and stretchy pants - my mum loved it! Nothing fussy and no ironing. Too late for hats and gloves at my high school, but the main colour Royal Blue has stood the test of time as my most loathed colour. I will not and have never since worn it again.
ReplyDeleteUniforms are a terrific idea for so many reasons and there's no reason for them to vanish in Australia. When you're young you only need your school uniform, pyjamas and a pair of shorts and t-shirt for the weekend & a ballet leotard if you're a girl. You don't even need to own a wardrobe!
Oz seems much more adherent to standard school uniforms. The photos of my grandsons schools are always very 'correct'.
DeleteI liked wearing a uniform and never had a problem with any of it, even the beret which I carried on wearing even when it became non-compulsory to do so. We had a felt brimmed hat in bottle green in the Prep school. I still have mine. In the summer I wore the Panama part of the uniform. Few others did.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started in The City, my new suit wasn't quite ready so I turned-up on Day 1 in my school suit.... they sent me home!
DeleteI learnt to knot a tie which we wore with white shirt and grey pleated tunic. In later years we had a tie on a piece of elastic . Much easier. And the tunic had to reach the knee, or else.
ReplyDeleteOur ties were tied daily; as you could imagine.
DeleteI loved my navy blue school uniform although the red stockings the girls wore earned us the nickname of Red Shanks.
ReplyDeleteRed Stockings sound quite racy, but I suppose that if everyone was wearing them, they would lose that appeal.
DeleteWe had to wear a uniform too (which horrifies my boys who have grown up in France), but it really was a great equalizer. AND I learned how to tie a tie from an early age too!
ReplyDeleteYes, here in France the very idea of uniforms sounds crazy.
DeleteI wish the public schools here required uniforms. It would be a great equalizer for all classes of students, and if the clothes were paid for out of the state budget it would relieve a lot of burden on poorer parents. Plus, I think uniforms on schoolchildren just look nice! A few of the private schools in this area require them and it's always refreshing to see well-dressed kids.
ReplyDeleteThe cost is the only problem. Uniforms cost money, and if the school adheres strictly to the regulations, it can become prohibitive to some.
DeleteI had to wear a uniform and as a retired senior teacher I still strongly believe in it. As you say, it is a social lev
ReplyDeleteeller. I hope it doesn't disappear because I dare not imagine what some senior children would wear given the opportunity. What is wrong with identifying with ones school?
ReplyDeleteSorry this has come in two halves!
You only have to see some of the more senior kids coming out from school to see what happens if the rules are not enforced correctly.
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