Encyclopedia
School uniforms are common in
elementary and
secondary schools in many nations. They are the most widely known form of student uniform, other types of which include uniforms worn by students participating in higher vocational training, such as in health related occupations.
Traditionally, school uniforms have been subdued and professional. Boys' uniforms often consist of dark
pants and light-colored
shirt, plus a
jacket in cold weather. A girl's might consist of a tie, a
skirt and
blouse. The gender-specific uniforms have been a point of contention, and some schools permit female students to choose either skirt or trousers. The use of a blazer or suit-like jacket has come into favour in some areas.
In continental Europe, uniforms have not been required in public schools. Private schools, though, often have a school uniform or a strict
dress code. This is different in the
United Kingdom however, where the majority of state schools adopt a uniform, for a more formal look.
School dress codes vs. school uniforms
School
dress codes generally dictate what can't be worn by any student, such as sheer or midriff-baring blouses, clothing with ads for beer and alcohol, or low-rider jeans. A school uniform policy generally dictates what must be worn by all students, such as solid color polo shirts in school colors in American public elementary schools with a uniform policy.
Use according to country
Australia
In the late 1990s, the education ombudsman for the state of
Queensland ruled that public schools in that state may not punish students for refusing to wear a uniform. This is among the few official rulings that specifically prohibit mandatory public school uniforms in any country in recent years.
All Private Schools have a uniform, and for boys this is mostly a shirt, tie and trousers. For girls this uniform usually does not consist of pants or shorts, but either a skirt or dress. Pants for girls are only worn for sport.
In most private schools students are not allowed out of school in their Sports Uniform, and they are definitely not allowed to wear it on public transport. All private schools have a blazer, but the School Committee can choose whether they want to make it compulsory or not.
Canada
Many regions of
Canada have publicly-funded
Catholic schools, and many of those schools have uniforms. In recent years, some schools have eliminated
skirts and
kilts, in favour of dress pants for girls, or replaced skirts with the x-kilt, a garment that looks like a kilt from the outside, but has an attached shorts on the inside for modesty. Also, bicycle shorts are sometimes worn under skirts. The tops are either dress shirts or golf shirts, and either sweaters or sweatshirts are worn. Grey or khaki dress pants are worn by both boys and girls.
Germany
Although quite common in pre-
WW II times, school uniforms fell almost totally out of favour as a long-term consequence of
Nazism, as they were considered a symbol of militaristic thought. In the 80s and 90s, school uniforms were almost totally unknown. Recently, they have made a comeback at some schools, for their supposed positive effect on discipline and also to prevent brand name competition among children. However, those school uniforms that have been introduced would be considered marginal in most other countries, rarely consisting of more than a school shirt or sweater.
Japan
- Main article Japanese school uniform
Malaysia
Malaysia introduced Western style school uniforms in the late 19th century during British colonial era until post-independence. Today, school uniforms are almost universal in the public and private school systems. The current Malaysian school uniforms are compulsory for all students.
New Zealand
Traditionally, many
New Zealand intermediate and
high schools have followed the British system of school uniforms. This usually consists of a variety of the following apparel: an 'official' school jersey, jacket and tie, a grey/white shirt, pants and/or shorts, and, in many girls' schools, kilts. Blazers and jackets are of varied colours according to the school - dark or light blue, crimson, scarlet, green or black. Some follow the British practice of having contrasting colours edging the lapels and jacket fronts. Caps or other headdresses have generally been discarded since the 1970s.
Being allowed to wear long pants as part of the uniform, rather than shorts, often marks the division between being considered a 'junior' member of the school, to being a 'senior'. At some schools, seniors are allowed to disregard school uniform in favour of mufti . It is a strong tradition for many schools, especially boys schools to have long socks worn with shorts as a sign of distinction.
During the 1980s and 1990s there was a tendency for the traditional uniform to be replaced by cheaper and more 'modern' options:
polo shirts, polar fleece tops, or a complete doing away with uniforms in favour of mufti. This trend seems to have been reversed in recent years and only a small number of secondary schools have now abolished uniforms entirely.
United Kingdom
Uniforms are extremely common in schools in the
United Kingdom. Virtually all public, state and secular schools have a uniform of some kind or have a strict dress code. Uniform is typically worn from year 1 through to year 11 In many schools the sixth form are also required to wear a uniform or to comply to a dress code, though this is sometimes more relaxed. This practice is more common for sixth form colleges which are attached directly to schools than for independent sixth form colleges. Further Education colleges do not usually have a uniform.
- An example of a typical British secondary school uniform dress code is as follows:
- School blazer
- Plain white or blue shirt
- School tie
- Black or navy trousers or skirt
- Gray, white, dark blue or black socks
- Plain black shoes
- Black or navy v-neck pullover, or black pullover with the school crest
- Outer clothing of a sober design
- The PE kit often consists of:
- School polo shirt
- Blue, black, red, green or white shorts
- Trainers
- Gym skirt
- Athletic Briefs
- Leotard
In addition to this, many schools have moderately strict rules on the wearing of make up, jewellery or 'trendy' clothing. It should be noted that most schools in the United Kingdom do not suffer the fairly common 'clothing cliques' found in countries where uniforms are not so prevelant. However children with cheap or poorly kept school uniform often become excluded.
Although never an official part of the uniform, the
Snorkel Parka became extremely popular as a school winter
jacket in the 1970's and 1980's. It was a relatively cheap
jacket, affordable by most families and therefore in many schools at the time almost every boy would have one though they were less popular with girls. Although unpopular during the 1990's the
Snorkel Parka is now becoming popular again, though nowhere near the popularity it gained in the early 1980's.
During the
1990s a trend toward
sweatshirts and polo shirts with the school crest spread throughout schools in the UK, notably in Primary schools but, increasingly, in Secondary schools. This was seen as a way to modernise the uniform as well as make it more affordable to lower income families who couldn't afford blazers, etc. Equally temperatures in classrooms have changed over the last 50 years in the United Kingdom due to both
environmental reasons and also the introduction of central heating systems. This has in most schools made older uniforms such as thick jumpers, blazers and shirts highly impractical, especially in the summer months, prompting many schools to adopt more casual temperate uniforms. In some cases schools are re-introducing the blazer and tie in a bid to 'smarten up' their pupils and combat bullying.
In many secondary schools, girls have started to wear trousers instead of skirts as part of their uniform, but this depends on the school and the area. Particularly in sixth forms, the tailored shorts that are now in fashion in the UK are being permitted during the summer months. Unlike in the
United States there is no law forcing gender-impartial uniforms. As a result, especially in privately funded schools, the girls' uniform often differs significantly from the boys' uniform.
British
night clubs often organise uniform theme parties where patrons are asked to wear adult versions of the uniform. This kind of use of children's clothing may be controversial in the context of a setting of heavy drinking and sexual behaviour.
Angus Young from the Australian musical act
AC/DC often wears his school uniform on stage.
United States
Most public schools in the United States do not require uniforms, though many have
dress codes regulating student attire. Dress codes usually include limits on skirt length and skin exposure. They generally include prohibitions on clothing with tears or holes, exposure of undergarments, and anything that is obscene, gang-related, or unsafe. Some school dress codes specify the types of tops and bottoms that are allowed. In recent years there has been a signifficant increase in school uniforms for all levels of schooling. According to the National Association of Elementary School Principals , the fraction of American public schools requiring school uniforms rose from three percent in 1997 to one in five in 2000.
School uniforms are fairly common for private schools in the United States, especially for
Catholic schools. Although many private school uniforms are similar to the ones described below for public schools, a few still require more formal British-style school uniforms, such as blazers and ties.
Culottes are also sometimes substituted for a skirt, especially at Episcopalian or non-parochial private schools.
In 1994, the Long Beach Unified School District, in
Southern California, required school uniforms in all elementary and middle schools. This began a trend for uniforms in American
elementary public schools, especially in
urban school districts.
President Clinton mentioned LBUSD's efforts in his 1996
State of the Union Address. The adoption of school or district-wide uniform policies has been motivated by a need to counter "gang clothing" , as well as improve morale and school discipline.
School uniforms are fairly simple for U.S. public schools. Tops are usually solid-colored shirts or blouses with collars or
turtlenecks in a choice of school colors. Pants are usually solid Khaki-colored or navy
blue. Girls can usually wear solid-colored pants, shorts,
jumpers,
overalls, or skirts in a choice of school colors . Public school uniform policies do allow parents to opt-out of the uniform requirements for personal or religious reasons. The number of parents who choose to opt out is usually very low.
Furthermore, pursuant to the bill passed in 1999, uniforms in the
United States cannot be gender specific.
Efficiency
The efficiency of uniforms is often debated. A study published in
The Journal of Education Research by David L. Brunsma, of the
University of Alabama, and Kerry A. Rockquemore, of the
University of Notre Dame, found that student uniforms neither improved attendance and discipline nor decreased drug use. Uniforms did not significantly improve academic performance or students' attitudes toward school. Peer-group relations were not improved. The study also found that uniforms had a negative effect on student attitudes.
The acceptability or otherwise of school uniforms appears to largely be a reflection of national culture and tradition. Thus in Britain, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Fiji and New Zealand the uniforms are seen as a sensible norm - a form of working dress which is seldom challenged by either the wearers or society at large. In the United States and many West European countries school uniforms are ofter perceived as symbols of a restrictive culture that has no place in the educational process.
See also
References
External links
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- Mississippi Teacher Corps Focus Paper on
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