Figure 1.--The head boy at this British school is having a portrait done. Notice all the badges on his jumper. The school badge is in the middle and the others show he has won his colors and is now the head boy. |
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Schoolboys wear a variety of garments and badges to signify their status and achievements. The most important of course is the badge on the blazer identifying the school. The most common are colored badges or pin to indicate which house to which they belong. Athletic achievement is recognized when a boy is awarded his colors in Britain or letter in America. British boys may receive a cap aftter winning his colors. American boys wear their letters on jackets. The headboy or prefect usually recieves a special tie. A variety of other awards may be worn as badges on the blazer or jumper. Badges can exist for helping in the library and many other activities. They are worn rather like Scout merit badges, but not quite as elaborate.
Schoolboys wear a variety of garments and badges to signify their status and achievements. The most important of course is the badge on the blazer identifying the school. HBC is not sure just when boys began wearing school badges on their coats. HBC has not noted them on 19th century uniforms, but we have realtively few such images. We believe that school badges became common in the 1920s when boys began to commonly wear blazers. It is possible that school badges were worn on 19th century blazers when they began to be worn at games. More information is needed on the chronology of badges. We have noted that some schools, mostly prep schools, began wearing school badges or logos on their jumpers We begin this is a relatively recent development--HBC knows they were commonly worn on jumpers by the 1970s, but almost certainly it began before that. Again we do not yet have precise details. One British contributor reports that bages began to be worn on jumpers in the 1950s. A HBC contrinutor has provided some information on English school badges.
The most common are colored badges or pin to indicate which house to which they belong. The house was develope at English boaring schools, but even day schools instituted houses to help organize the school. There would be intra-school games and other competitions between these houses. The house would be named after historical indiviuals, authors, lakes, or other well known people or places. Badges were often different colors to help identify the various houses. AHBC ontributor has provided some useful information on school houses in England.
Athletic achievement is recognized when a boy is awarded his colors in Britain or letter in America. British boys may receive a cap aftter winning his colors. American boys wear their letters on jackets. The headboy or prefect usually recieves a special tie. Schools give recognition for many other activities, but generally is the athletic awards that are the most prestigious.
A variety of other awards may be worn as badges on the blazer or jumper. Badges can exist for helping in the library and many other activities. They are worn rather like Scout merit badges, but not quite as elaborate.
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