Figure 1.--Some schools made sandals, usually closed-toe sandals, a part of the everyday school uniform. At others schools sandals were optional.
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Figure 1.--Some schools made sandals, usually closed-toe sandals, a part of the everyday school uniform. At others schools sandals were optional. |
Rules about footwear varied from school to school. There were some common trends such as not allowing sneakers (often called trainers), except for sports and recess. Some schools banned smeakers all togetherOther footwear options varied among schools. Some schools required sandals, but this was usually for ordinary schools days. At others sandals were optional. Some boys wore them and others did not. Some boys did not like sandals and some did or did not much care. Some schools just required sandals and accepted most styles. Others schools selected a certain style of sandals, usually closed-toe sandals. Often the style of sandal was not rigidly enforced. This was particulrly true with the larger boys who apparently had trouble finding the proper style in their size. At most schools the dress uniform required lace up leather shoes for the boys. This was a very common convention at prep schools. Generally speaking there was greater variation allowed in footwear than any other uniform item. There appears to have been some degree of variation with footwear, more so than with other aspects of the school uniform. We are not entirely sure why this was.
