Figure 1.--Agriculture was the principal economic activity in New Zealand for many years. Some secondary schools still have an important agricultural component. Uniforms at rural and urban schools are very similar. |
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One of the most destinctive aspects of New Zealand schools are the uniforms. Americans will find it curious that for the most part that primary children do no wear uniforms, but almost all secondary schools require them. This was common in Britain during the early 20th century when school uniform trends were established in New Zealand. It is just the opposite of trends in America where many primary school children wear uniforms, but uniforms are much less common in secondary schools. There are some exceptions to this general pattern in New Zealand. Both parochial and private schools do require uniforms, even at the primary level. The uniforms styles are primarily British styles. The primary New Zealand twist has been to add a more informal element to the uniforms than was common in Britain. There is considerable variation as to school uniform from school to school. Some schools still have relatively formal uniforms, but many schools now have informal styles. Many schools are quite strict about the uniforms, but this also varies from school to school. Here we will provide information about the history, garments, school rules, seasonal trends, school types, modern trends, and other information.
One of the most destinctive aspects of New Zealand schools are the uniforms. Americans will find it curious that for the most part in the 1980s that primary children do no wear uniforms, but almost all secondary schools require them. This was common in Britain during the early-20th century when school uniform trends were established in New Zealand. It is just the opposite of trends in America where many primary school children wear uniforms, but uniforms are much less common in secondary schools where the teenagers don't like the idea. There are some exceptions to this general pattern in New Zealand. Both parochial and private schools do require uniforms, even at the primary level.
The uniforms styles are primarily British styles. The primary New Zealand twist has been to add a more informal element to the uniforms than was common in Britain. American clothing has also had some impact in recent years. Another major influence is New Zealand's generally benign climate.
Uniforms remain popular with parents and many school administrators in New Zealand. The students for the most part do not seem enamored by the idea, but it is so common in New Zealand that no one seems to think all that much about it. One New Zealand school explains why they require students to wear uniforms. This is a catholic school, but states the same basic case that most other New Zealand schools make for wearing a uniform. Other schools might phrase it aittle differently, but the same basic thems are widely shared.
Why we wear a uniform: A uniform is worn, so that students can identify more closely with the school. It is an outward sign of belonging to the community of St Joseph's.
The purposes for wearing a uniform:
1. To foster a sense of identity and belonging
2. To develop a sense of pride in the school
3. To be seen as belonging to the community of St Joseph's
4. To provide economic savings for parents
Guidelines: The correct uniform should be worn at all times, if not, a written reason
should be supplied to the Principal or classroom teacher. The correct
uniform is especially important when going on an excursion or sporting
visit. Hair is expected to be tidy, and shoulder length hair must be tied back
with maroon or navy ribbons or bands. Stud earrings, Watches, Signet rings,
Crosses and chains are permitted. The wearing of a uniform has long been an
accepted aspect of catholic schools and is still regarded as important by
todays parents. It should be a responsibility of parents, and not teachers
to see that children are correctly dressed.
The uniform as it originally evolved in Britain serves the purpose of setting the students off from the community. IThere were also early charity scools with uniforms in Britain, but this was not the case in New Zealand.) At private schools there was a social prestige. So the families wanted their sons (girls' schools developed later) to be seen as attending such schools. This was also a factor at grammar schools (academically selective secondary schools). There were also advantages for the schools to make it easier to identify their sudents. Some private schools saw the uniform as effective advertisding as some parents were influenced by uniform standards. Scools especially provate schools felt that uniforms instilled a sense of belonging and pride in the school. At state schools the uniform had the benefit of eliminating competition among the students who often wanted to wear trendy clothes. Fashionable clothes can be very expensive and low-income children can feel deprived when their parents can notafford it.
Gender is another factor in New Zealand school uniforms. Many uiforms items are worn by both boys and girls, including blazers, ties, and sweaters. Other items are gender specific such as the headwear, shirts, trousers/skirts, and footwear. Girls do not normally wear trousers and shorts as part of the daily school uniform. Girls do wear shorts for gym. There is some variation from school to school, but the gender conventions are fairly standard at the various schools.
As far as we can tell, school uniforms seem more popular (at least with parents) in New Zealand than any other country in the world. We are not entirely sure why this is. New Zealanders who for many years looked on themselves as English. As even after consciounness of their own nationhood became more pronounces (especially after World War I), New Zealanders continued to view Britain with great affection. Moreso than Australia. Also being located so far away from Britain and the Western world, we suspect that the English styled school uniforms with the strong associaton with Britain and tradition provided a bit of comfort. At any rate, the association with Britain does seem to be a factor. The attitudes of the students seem to have varied from school to school. The younger children usually don't give it much of a thought. The older students often had much more to say about their uniforms.
There is considerable variation as to school uniform fom school to school. Some schools still have relatively formal uniforms, but many schools now have informal styles. Many schools are quite strict about the uniforms, but this also varies from school to school. A factor here is the type of school. Almost all private schools have a compulsory uniform and insit tht the students wear it correctly. Most state secondary schools also require a unifirm, but here there is a much great difference from school to school both as to the type of uniform and how strictly the uniform regulations are enforced. Again there are differences as to the tyoe of school. The single gender schools seem to be the strictest.
New Zealand was a British colony and the educational system was founded by the British. The curriculum, methods, and first teachers were all British. The clothes worn by New Zealand children were also British styles and often British made. The school uniforms adopted at New Zealand schools were British styles, largely influenced by the private preparatory and Public (private secondary schools). The modern school uniform evolved in England during the late 19th century. A school uniform consisting of a cap, blazer, school tie, and dress pants became standard. It gradually spread to the English colonies which once spanned the globe. Over time New Zealand school uniforms have developed some destinctive characteristics, but are still largely based on British styles. Short trousers wee commonly worn at British schools, but shorts became even more prominent in New Zealand. We suspect that the climate was a factor, but other factors such as British army colonial uniforms may have also been an influence. The difference between primsary and secondary schools also is a British artifact. Uniforms wee not worn at British state primaries until well after World War II. British secondary schools using the public (private) schools as a model did have unfirms. This is the model that became standard in New Zealand.
New Zealand schools that had uniforms took two different approaches. One was a casual approach with an open collar shirt and sweater during the winter. The other approach was a tie and blazer. And there were differences between day schools and boarding schools. Schools had many different unifirms that fell somewhere in beytween these two badsic approacjes. There were many permutations of these two basic approaches. Somne schools had an informal unifom for the summer and the formal uniform foir the winter. Other schools had age difference with the younger boys dressing informally and the ilder students more formlly. There were also special days when the students dressed up rather than wearing the standard saily uniform. And of course there have been changes over time.
The New Zealand school uniform garments have remained remarkably standard over time. They include all the basic school uniform items worn in Britain and other countries. The primary change in past few years is that most schools have discontinued the once common school caps. A few private schools continue to require them. Other schools uniform garments including blazers, shirts, ties, pants, socks, and shoes or still widely worn. The most destinctive aspect of New Zealand school uniform garments is that short trousers and kneesocks are till commonly worn, even at secondary schools. There are substantial differences, however, from school to school. There have also been a gradual shift from the moral formal items like ties and blazers to more informal garments. There are garments for formal occassions as well as for seasonal wear.
Virtually every school has detailed regulations concerning the school uniform and how it was worn. Schools can have very precise requirements. Schools may issues a uniform list which covers both general day-today wear (ncluding footwear) to more specialized sports wear and equipment. At most schools these regulations are strictly enforced, but this does vary somewhat from school to school. Here we will show the school uniform regulations at some some representative schools.
Conventions concerning the wearing of the school uniform vary from school to school. Some day schools required the students to wear the full school uniform when coming to and from the school. Once at school they can hang up their blazers and in some cases take off their ties. This often is the case at private schools. Other schools allow the children to come to school in the often informal gaments that they wear as everyday uniform, often meaning jumpers (sweaters) or in wam weather just shirts. Most boarding schools require the students to wear the uniform all the time while at school, although more casually after classes. Some schools evem allow mufti to be worn in the evening or during the weekend, but this varies from school to school.
Most New Zealand schools with uniforms have seasonal uniforms. There are different uniforms for summer and winter wear. It never gets bitter cold in New Zealand, but there are notable seasonal differences, especially on South Island. The seasonal uniforms vary widely fom school to school. The most common Summer uniform were matching grey cotton short-sleeve shirts and sshort pants, often wrn with Roman sandals. Winter uniforms might consist of a a heavier long-sleeve shirt and heavier shorts with kneesocks or long pants. While this uniform was worn at many schools, there was a wide variety of other garments and variaions at different schools. Some items like the sweater might be worn both as part of the Summor Winter uniform. Schools normally set a specific date when the uniform shift takes place.
School uniform styles are fairly similar at the different types of schools around New Zealand. Most primary schools do not require uniforms. Notable exceptions here are the private prep schools as well as the Catholic and other religious affiliated schools. Most secondary schools do require uniforms, both state schools and private schools. The uniforms tend to be a little more elaborate at private schools and uniform rules enforced more vigiriusly at private schools. There are many state schools, however, with very strict uniform requirements. Often the uniform requirements are most strict at coed schools. The same tends to be the case with many of the private schools integrated into the state system.
The cost of buying somme of these school uniforms is not inconsiderable.
The school uniform can be costly when purchased in one setting. Up to about NZ$1,000. Some of the items, however, can be worn more than ome year, especially the more expensive item like blazers. And at some schools blazers are not worn to keep down the cost of the uniform. Uniforms while very common at New Zealand schools are quite varied. Thus the costs associated with those schools vary widely. Many private schools, especially the more traditional ones, generally have more elaborate uniforms costing substantially nore than those at state schools. The most expensive item is the dschool blazer. Thus schools who require students to wear blazers usually entail higher expenses for uniforms than those which do not require blazers. Generally speaking, however, costs are less than the clothes that many parents would pay for the popular, trendy clothes children like to wear to school. Most schools have second hand shops to assist thrifty or low-income parents. Here uniform items can be purchased inexpensively. This can significantly reduces the cost.
Younger children because they are in primary schools generally do not wear uniforms. The exception here being private and Catholic schools. Most of the children in secondary schools (middle schools and high schools) do wear uniforms. The exception here is the youths in their last year (year 13) who are often exempted from the required uniform. This varies, however, from school to school.
The debate over school uniforms have been going on since they were first introduced. The debate intensified when they were adopted by state schools. The debate over school uniforms has raged for years and has been endlessly debated by educational experts, administrators, teachers, students, and parents. Proponents insist that uniforms help avoid distinctions between children of different income level and put everyone on an equal plane. Many associate uniforms with good discipline. They also simplify attire for the children. Having taught at an American high school, I am convinced that some of my girls spent more time choosing their clothes each day than doing their homework. Opponents argue that uniforms are meant to stifle individuality and to assert unneeded control over the students. Some teachers believe that uniforms have little impact on student behavior. Some complain of the cost of the uniform.
Uniforms are such a common feature of New Zealand school life that many students take them for granted. This has not prevented the uniform, like school cafeteria food, from becoming an endless subject of discussion. Many students would like a more informal uniform. One school in a tourist center, Wakatipu High School, has instituted a uniform of polo shirts and track suits which is popular with the students, but criticized by some parents and local newspapers. Some of the younger boys at high schools requiring shorts have asked for long trousers. At one school the older boys objected, insisting longs were one of their privileges. The girls generally seemed the most critical of their uniforms, perhaps because they are more clothes conscious. Several girls we spoke with objected to the regimentation of a uniform and expressing a string preference to choosing their own clothes.
The school uniform is often the most visible aspect of a local school and not uncommonly an important issue with parents. Often discussions of the uniform will attract considerable discussion at parents' meetings. Many New Zealand parents seem to prefer a relatively formal school uniform and it is common to hear students at schools without uniforms described as looking "scruffy". Some school officials, rightly or wrongly, are convinced that the uniform reflects on the school and affects how the community views the school. Few people other than parents actually visit a school, but everyone sees the uniformed students moving about town. One school official referred to "the presentation of our pupils around town" as an important matter to consider. Several secondary schools (such as Greymouth and Wakatipu) in recent years have adopted more casual uniforms that the students generally find more comfortable than the older styles. Some parents have criticized schools with less formal uniforms. Some parents at Wakatipu High School in Queenstown, for example, where the students wear track pants disapprove of the casual uniform. While popular with the students, one sees comments from the parents in local newspapers suggesting that the uniform was alright for a sporting event, but not for a school uniform. One parent complained, "You can't tell girls apart from boys."
