Figure 1.--Most New Zealand secondary schools in the 2000s continue to require traditional school uniforms. Many schools require the boys to wear short pants and kneesocks. These boys at a state school wear the long leg style populat in the early and mid-2000s. Click on the image to see a primary school. |
The New Zealand school uniforms regulations vary greatly among different schools. A New Zealand reader in 2001 reports that some New Zealand school boys
continue to wear short trousers to the end of High School (about 18 years old). This is especially prevalent in the summer months. In the winter term many boys,
especially the oler boys wear longs. It is relatively common to see young lads in this type of outfit riding motor scooters to school. The younger boys mostly cycle to school and thus wear "helmets" by law. New Zealand boys have different attitudes about thr uniforms. Some thought it was OK to wear shorts. Most wore shorts came to the top of their knees and the socks were puled right up. Others boys, especially chubby boys seem to hate wearing them. Perhaps they were less comfortable or it was the way they looked. Oten tall boys also isliked wearing shorts. Basically, as soon as boys get home, they take the uniform off and change into clothing that looks like that in the Unite States--Addidas, etc. Shorts were not overly in evidence on weekends either, they tended to wear cargo pants and blue jeans. At some schools now, especially in the country, the uniforms are gone and in other schools, students are complaining about wearing shorts. The punishment for coming to school improperly dresse is they were refused entrance to class and had to sit in a room by themselves (detention). Parents are becoming involved, and it looked as thought the kids might win this one. However to go to a prestigious boys school, they have to agree to wear the uniform--which is still mostly short pants.
The New Zealand school uniforms regulations vary greatly among different schools. A New Zealand reader in 2001 reports that some New Zealand school boys continue to wear short trousers to the end of High School (about 18 years old).
Short pants are especially prevalent in the summer months. In the winter term many boys, especially the oler boys wear longs.
It is relatively common to see young lads in this type of outfit riding motor scooters to school. The younger boys mostly cycle to school and thus wear "helmets" by law.
School level continues to be a major factor in school dress. Primary schools for the most part still do not require uniforms. The children there wear a wide range of casual clothes. The clothes by the 2000s tend to be the trendy styles popular with the children. One exception is the Catholic primary schools which do require uniforms. Most secondary schools, however, still require uniforms. Here we see a typical secondary school (figure 1). The uniform requirements vary from school to school. Not all required uniforms. Most do and the uniforms varied from school to school.
New Zealand boys have different attitudes about thr uniforms. Some thought it was OK to wear shorts. Most wore shorts came to the top of their knees and the socks were puled right up. Others boys, especially chubby boys seem to hate wearing them. Perhaps they were less comfortable or it was the way they looked. Oten tall boys also isliked wearing shorts. Basically, as soon as boys get home, they take the uniform off and change into clothing that looks like that in the Unite States--Addidas, etc. Shorts were not overly in evidence on weekends either, they tended to wear cargo pants and blue jeans. At some schools now, especially in the country, the uniforms are gone and in other schools, students are complaining about wearing shorts. The punishment for coming to school improperly dresse is they were refused entrance to class and had to sit in a room by themselves (detention). Parents are becoming involved, and it looked as thought the kids might win this one. However to go to a prestigious boys school, they have to agree to wear the uniform--which is still mostly short pants.
Rugby continues to be enormously popular in New Zealand. By far the most popular sport. It not only is played in inter-scolastic sports, but many schools have intra-mural teams to give everyone a chace to play. In addition, there commonly are pick-up games after lunch. Rigby is also part of many school PE programs.
