individual Swiss State Schools: Nursery School (1943-45)

Figure 1.--While most school smocks were solid colors, ginham appears to be the most popular pattern of all the different patterns--both for boys and girls.

At a Swiss nursery school in a French caton about 1943-45, all of the children are wearing smocks. The Swiss refer to it as an "infant school" rather like a nursery school or kindergarten. Classes for these younger students include both boys and girls. The children are about 6 years old. The school clearly required all of the children, boys and girls to wear smocks. The children wear a variety of styles and colors of smocks. Clerarly there was no rule in the style which was up to the individual parents. Boys wear a variety of clothes--although all wear short pants. This photograph appers to have been taken in the spring, I'm not sure what the boys woulsd have worn during the summer.

Chronology

This photohraph was taken at a Swiss nursery school in a French caton about 1943-45. HBC unfortunately has no time-line data showing what clothes were worn before or after this scene.

Clothing

Many, but not all of the children wore smocks. The children wear a variety of styles and colors of smocks. Clerarly there was no rule in the style which was up to the individual parents. Boys wear a variety of clothes--although all wear short pants.

Headwear

HBC has no information on the caps and hats worn by these children.

Jackets

HBC has no information on the caps and hats worn by these children.

Ties

The boys ion the whole are dressed cassuallu\y, but one boy does wear a tie with his smock.

Smocks

All of the boys and girls wear smocks, although some of the girls' smocks are hard to make out. The most popular type of smock is the simple pinafore/apron style. HBC believes that usually this style of simple smock was worn bu boys who did not wear smocks at home. Notably the pinafore/apron smock style is mostly worn by the boys. Several of the girls wear smocks with a floral design. One boys wears a gingam smock, I think red gingham. His mother thought that smocks were a very utilitarian garment for boys. Another boy, in the top row, appears to wear a wears a rather short white smock.

Short pants

All of the boys at this nursery school wear short pants. HBC is not sure, however, if shorts were required. HBC is also unsure what the boys would have worn durig the colder winter nonths.

Socks

The boys wear a variety of ankle and kneesocks. One boy wears white kneesocks, although they have fallen down.

Shoes and sandals

Many of the boys and girls at this school wear sandals--all closed-toe sandals of various design. There appear to be no gender conotations with these sandals--at least the "T" strap and double bar sandals. Some boys also wear shoes.

School Type

The Swiss refer to it as "école enfantine". This is the very first school for children age 5-6 aimed at socialising kids and as a preparation of actual school. Classes for these younger students include both boys and girls.

Age

The children are about 6 years old. Children at this age at the school were taught together. Older children were more likely to be in single gender schools.

Regulations

HBC is not sure what the school rule was. Most but not all of the children wear smocks. In fact all the boys wear smocks, but only some of the girls. It seems that there was a school rule, otherwise not all of the boys would be wearing smocks. Why not all the girls wear smocks is a mystery to HBC. Our SWiss contributor, however, assures HBC that all the girls are wearing a smocks, however, it is sometimes difficult to perceive a white smock on a white dress. At least one girl does wear a "semi-smock" below waist (seated second to the left).

Conventions

Seasonality

This photograph appers to have been taken in the spring, I'm not sure what the boys woulsd have worn during the summer.

Created: December 17, 2000
Last updated: December 17, 2000