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The tradition of school photography developed in the late-19th centutyin America was well established by the 20th century aided by Kodak, the family snapshot was also becoming enormously popular and adding to the available image record, We have a huge archive of school portraits and photographs from all school levels from Kindergarten to high school. Nursery schools were not very common in tyhe 19th century, although Kindergartens were appearing in the late-19tyh century. The major educational system was composed of primary schools often called elementary schools in America. These as they developed came to be schools with 8-year programs. Most Americans lived in rural areas during the 19th century. This meant attending small 1 or 2-room schools. Attendance at these schools were voluntary. Laws requiring primary school attendance only became common in the 20th century. . This varied from state to state. All states adopted 12 -year public schoolprograms, but the transition from primary to secondary school varied among the states. Some city schools had 6-year primaries and junior high-schools. A minority of students continued their education beyond primary school to secondary schools until well into the 20th century. The proportion was at first tiny, but steadily increasing and was much higher than in Europe until after World war II. Here urbanization and the increasing prosperity and resulting extension of the middle-class was factors. American secondary schools were called high schools which completed a 12-year program of free public education. .
Nursery or pre-schools are modern phenomenon dating to the indistrial revolution. Before that the ecoolomies around the world were based on agriculture and children stayed close to home. Public schools appeared about the same time as the Industriasl Revolution (late-18th century). Even when public schools began to be organized, the younger children mostltly stayed close to home. We so see some very young children at rural schools. This seems up to the teavher's disgression. Thir education was largely up to mother. And also about the same time educators began to talk about education and the special needs of the younger children. The Industrial Revolution meant that fathers and sometines mothers had to work at increasing distances from home. Before the Industrial Revolution, weaving was commonly done as piece work at home. The Industrial Revolution shifted production from the home to a factory where labor-saving machiery was installed. The distances increased as larger and more efficent maschinery was deveoped. This all began in Britain and spread to the Continent. The process soon reached America. And as it did the need for child care increased. This was at first provided by Dame Schools which often was just day care with little real education. Pre-schools were more advanced in Europe with important educators addressing the issue. The first formal schools in America were Kindergarten based on German advances. We see some in the late-19 century in the major cities, but for most American children at the turn-of the 20th century, education began with the 1st grade at about 6 years of age.
American public school children, unlike private school children, have never worn uniforms. Only in the 1980s did schools begin expeimenting with sdchool unifrms. Most American children went to rural schools until the turn of the 20th century. The clothes in rural and urban schools could be quite different. The clothes worn by children in rural schools were a good reflection of changing fashions. Younger boys in the late 19th century might wear ruffled collars and bows or sailor suits to school. Keen pants were common, until being repalced by knickers in the 1920s. Some younger boys wore short pants. Boys once dressed up to go to school, but that changed dramatically after World War II (1941-45). Eventually jeans and slacks replaced knickers as casual styles became prevalernt. Increasing problems with discipline have compeled many schools to introduce voluntary uniform policies.
American educators began founding high (secondary) schools in the early 19oth century. Only a small number of children were involved. State after state after admissuion to the Union began founding public school systenms. This bssically involved elementary (primary) schools with proframs up to 8th grade, xhuikldren about 13-years of age. Graduall more and more high schools were establishe for teensgers, grades 9-12 meaning youths about 14-19 years of age. Attendance increased, but was still relatively small at the end of the century. These schools except in major cities were small reflecting the lrelstively imited attendnce. Few working-class youths attended. Attendance seadily increased after the turn-of-the 20th century, but continued to be limited. The Great Depression made a differnce (1930s). Few jobs were available fiofr youths. By thev timev of Wiorld War II, atendabnce was becoming invreasingly common, more common ghsn in Europe. Secondary schools have had dress codes which varied over time. Secondary schools through the 1930s tended to have much stricter dress codes than is the case today. Until the 1940s, completion of highschool was not something that to which all children aspired. Many children from low-income families did not go to highschool. Thus attire was influenced by the social-level of the students. Most boys at the turn of the century wore kneesocks or knicker suits to highschool, usually with long dark stockings. Often boys wore knickers right through school. Above+ the knee knickers were common in the 1920s. Jackets with Norfolk styling were partivcularly popular. It was not only the younger boys wearing them. This did not change until the 1920s. High schools boys in the 1920s gradually began wearing the below the knee style with kneesocks, but by the 1930s older boys were more commionly wearing kneesocks. High schools generally had restrictive dress codes even in the 1950s and early 1960s. This began to change in the late 1960s as part of the tumultuous social tumault associated with the war--which had a major impact on teenage fashions. America boys began wearing jeans in the late 1940s, but most secondary schools did not permit, although by the late 1960s this had begun to change. It was common through the 1950s for boys and girls to wear their Cub and Scout uniforms to school on weekly meeting days. Secondary schoolboys wore long pants to school by the 1940s. Dress standards were maintained until the late 1960s and jeans were usually prohibited. Currently schoold have dress codes, but all but the most bizare outfits are allowed. Boys at most schools are now allowed to wear shorts which currently means long baggy ones.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1870s]
[The 1880s]
[The 1890s]
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
