Figure 1.--.

Dress standards have changed remarably in England during recent years. Even so there continue to be sustantial differences with America. English schools often had attitudes toward schoolwear that seem a bit unusal to more informal minded Americans. There were several different options available to schools. Boarding scgools had many different rules about wearing the uniform. Some required the children to wear the school uniform all day long. Other schools allowed the children to change ino their regular clothes after classes or over the weekend. The different conventions have changed somewhat over time.

Formal Look

Dress standards have changed remarably in England during recent years. Even so there continue to be sustantial differences with America. English schools often had attitudes toward schoolwear that seem a bit unusal to more informal minded Americans.

Options

There were several different options available to schools.

All day uniforms

Some boarding schools insisted on the boys wearing their uniforms all day long. As a result boys often engaged in play and recreatiional activities in rather formal lokking school wear--often wearing their ties. At many schools you might see boys gardening or fishing after school still wearing ties.

Change after classes

Other schools let the children change into their own clothes after classes. This was, however, not a common option. At most schools the boys continued wearing their uniforms after classes.

Weekend change

Some but not all of the schools requiring the children to wear their uniforms all day long did allow them to change into their own clothes for the weekend, meaning after saturday classes.

Created: September 30, 2003
Last updated: September 30, 2003