Figure 1.--

A HBC reader provides us some details about the public schools in Washington and Califirmia that he attended ijn the 1950s and 60s. He also has some insights on the 1970s and 80s. He reports that School clothes and styles are a very interesting topic.

Washington States (1950s-60s)

I attended grade school in Washington state in the mid 50s to early 60s. Girls had to wear dresses (no pants) and boys had to wear long pants (no jeans) and button up shirts (no T-Shirts). During the last week of school everyone was allowed to wear shorts if they wanted to, but they had to be Bermuda length. I remember a kid getting into trouble for wearing shorts that were boxer length.

California (1960s)

I moved to California in the early 60s and attended both Jr. High and High School there during the mid to late 60s. Boys were NEVER allowed to wear shorts and girls were NEVER allowed to wear pants. We could wear jeans and T-shirts though, as opposed to my Elementary school in Washington. Again in High School, no shorts for boys or pants for girls. My Senior year the faculty had and especially bad time with enforcing the dress length for girls (Mini Skirt era). A questionnaire was sent home to the parents ref the dress code and the parents supported it.

California (1970s)

The next year (1970) the dress code was dropped. Go figure. I personally don't remember seeing shorts worn to school by boys until the mid to late 70s when OP shorts became popular. I believe girls were allowed to wear pants earlier than that. Now you see more bare legs on boys that girls and when I was in school age it was dramatically the opposite (not that I minded it). Boys wore long pants, girls dresses. Even for casual wear, girls who wore longs and boys who wear shorts really stood out. Now you will see a brother and sister and the brother is wearing short and the girl long pants.

Junior High graduation in the 70s and 80s, at least in my area, became a contest to see who could dress the flashiest. Girls were wearing expensive evening gowns and boys would show up in tuxedos, and in some cases, beleive it or not, in tails. It got to be such a competition between kids (and their parents) that the school district finally put a stop to it. Now the kids mostly wear slacks and a jacket and girls wear more modest dresses. I've never seen a kid who was gutsy enough to wear shorts to graduation. Maybe it's against school rules.

Comments

I think that uniforms became more attractive when boys could wear shorts and khaki's, rather than the heavy, hot cords, and girls could wear skorts, shorts or pants as well as the usual pleated skirts. Both usually have choice of shirt colors as well. When the kids get more of a choice, then the uniform stigma is not as bad. The shorts make the uniforms more appealing to boys and being able to wear something other than a dress, for girls. Short length is still an issue though. Boys shorts can't be to long and girls can't be too short.

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Created: May 30, 2003
Last updated: May 30, 2003