Figure 1.--Shorts are still worn at some schools in the 2000s, but kneesocks ar becoming less common.

Short trousers s are still worn at some English schools in the 2000s, but kneesocks ar becoming less common. A school master reports a typical scene in the library at his school, "Boys often wear their uniforms differently. At my school, all boys wear grey shorts, but the white shirts can be either short sleeved, long sleeved rolled up to the elbow or long sleeved buttoned down to the wrist. One boy at the back leaning against the bookcase is wearing his blue blazer and grey jumper! All the boys are wearing grey knee socks with the school colour on the bands in the turnover tops; the knee socks are positioned round their ankles in what would appear to be a deliberate act. The staff generally acceed to this 'fashion statement' made by the boys; in my day, teachers would have reprimanded us for breach of uniform regulations. In the autumn because all the boys are wearing jumpers underneath their blazers and all the girls are wearing black tights even though the sun is shining. The boys, again by wearing their knee socks round their ankles, are making no effort to dress for the cold weather. On this basis surely it would be sensible for manufacturers to produce grey ANKLE socks, as well as grey KNEE socks, both with turnover tops containing bands in the school colours. Perhaps I ammissing the point entirely through not being able to 'read' the juvenile minds of kids today as to what is 'cool'? " Another reader writes, "I've been meaning to comment on this page for some time from my point of view and the "back to school" adverts still offering grey kneesocks for boys and white for girls reminded me of it - it shows that that tradition is something that has not changed over the years."