Figure 1.--This photograph at Christ's College (Christchurch) was taken in 1920. It looks to be the boys from one of the boarding houses at the school. You can tell that it is a boarding house rather than a class group because of the frange of ages of the boys. Note that some of the younger boys wear Eton collars. (Reference: 1/1-005185; G) |
New Zealand school uniforms by the 1920s take on the look of the uniforms that were to be worn for the rest of the century--at least the formal styles. The more casual styles did not appear until the 1960s. Some boys still wore Eton collars in the 1920s, but soft collars were begoming the principal style. Note that it is, with one exception, the younger boys wearing the Eton collars. This does not appear to be a school rule as one of the older boys also wears an Eton collar. It seems that simply some parents thought this a smart style for boys, but we can not be sure. Private school boys like the boys here wore uniforms. Children in state primary schools did not. We note an interview from a New Zdaland girl remembering the boys and girls at her primary school.
New Zealand school uniforms by the 1920s take on the look of the uniforms that were to be worn for the rest of the century--at least the formal styles. The more casual styles did not appear until the 1960s. Some boys still wore Eton collars in the 1920s, but soft collars were begoming the principal style. Note that it is, with one exception, the younger boys wearing the Eton collars.
We have some information about individual schools.
We note many younger boys at Christ's College, a private all boys boarding school, still wearing Eton collars. This does not appear to be a school rule as one of the older boys also wears an Eton collar. It seems that simply some parents thought this a smart style for boys, but we can not be sure.
Private school boys like the boys here wore uniforms. Children in state primary schools did not. We note a fascinating interview from a New Zealand girl remembering the boys and girls at her primary school. Unfortunately the interview is not dated, but we believe it describes school life in the 1920s. There is informatioin on both the children the clothes wore as well as their lessessons and interactions with the masters (teachers) and other children.
