School Transport and Travel



Figure 1.--Visits to railroad and transportation museums are popular trips at British schools. Many required the boys to wear their full school uniform.

Schools over time have had various regulations concerning travel. This has varied both by country and by type of school. The wealth and infrastructure of a country has affected how children travel to school. More affluent countries can afford to transport children to school. The yellow school bus is a mainstay of Ameruican education and busses are important in many other countries. Municipal transport, trains, and subways are also important in many countries. Less affluent countries are less able to afford transport and the children mostly walk to school. The level of school is also important. Primary schools tend to be relatively small and many children live within walking distance. Secondary schools tend to be larger and fewer children live within walking distance. The type of school is also a factor. Boarding schools often required that boys wear the formal uniform when traveling to and from school. Train stations in England were often crowed with different school uniforms during the seasonal times that boys traveled to and from schools. A less formal uniform was often worn while at school. Day schools often required boys to wear their blazers and caps while coming to and from school, but they may not have to wear them during the school day. Field trips were another time that the formal scool uniform was required. Many schools hace now adopted more informal uniform policies.

Mode

There are all kinds of ways thuat children over time used to get to school. The first schools appeared in cities and children walked to school. For millenia this was how children got to school, although until only the nodern age, relatuively few children actually attended a formal school. As schools we located in cities and villages, children still mostly walked to school in the 19th century when public schools began to become more widespread. An exception hre as the United States. The Northwest Ordinance set the principle of universal educartion by devoting a section of Federal Lands for schools (1787). This provided both land for schools and land to sell to finance those schools. This meant as America moved West that schools were created in both urban and riral areas throughout the country. And ecven in rural areas children walked to school, but ome cam in horses and mules as well, depending on distances and family citcumstances. You also begin to see school busses in the 19th century,. The first was a horse drawn conveyence for girls in London (1827). Modern children continue get to walk to school, but the growth of suburbs has meant that transport is neccessary for many. And just about evert mode of transport is used around the world, inclusing busses, trams, subways, trains, boats, and animals. Some countrirs have destinctive modes, such as pedicabs in India.

Countries

Schools over time have had various regulations concerning travel. This has varied both by country and by type of school. The wealth and infrastructure of a country has affected how children travel to school. More affluent countries can afford to transport children to school. The yellow school bus is a mainstay of American education and busses are important in many other countries. Mant oparents drive their children to school, especially in gthe more affluent countries. Municipal transport, trains, and subways are also important in many countries. Less affluent countries are less able to afford transport and the children mostly walk to school. The level of school is also important.

School Levels

Primary schools tend to be relatively small and many children live within walking distance. Of course there are variations. Some primary schools are larger than others. Any many cover rural or suburban areas. Secondary schools tend to be larger and fewer children live within walking distance.

School Type

The type of school is also an important factor in how children get to school. . Boarding schools often required that boys wear the formal uniform when traveling to and from school. Train stations in England were often crowed with different school uniforms during the seasonal times that boys traveled to and from schools. A less formal uniform was often worn while at school. Day schools often required boys to wear their blazers and caps while coming to and from school, but they may not have to wear them during the school day. Field trips were another time that the formal scool uniform was required. Many schools hace now adopted more informal uniform policies.

Boarding Schools

Boarding schools often required that boys wear the formal uniform when traveling to and from school. Train stations in England were often crowed with different school uniforms during the seasonal times that boys traveled to and from schools. Trains used to be the primary way that boys traveled to and from boarding schools. Today more and more boys are brought to school in the family car. Regardless about how they came, a less formal uniform was often worn while at school.

Day Schools

Day schools often required boys to wear their blazers and caps while coming to and from school, but they may not have to wear them during the school day. Regulations varied. Some schools insisted te boys wear there blazers while at school. A formal ruling was required on hot days for boys to take off their blazers. By the 1960s, however, more informalmappraoces began to be less common. Coming to and school has varied over time. Many boys used to walk or ride bikes. City transport such as busses and trains was also common. Increasingly parents now drive their children. School busses have also become increasingly common.

Field Trips

Field trips were another time that the formal scool uniform was required. Many schools hace now adopted more informal uniform policies for field trips, but some schools still require the full uniform be worn for many outings. This was especially true of visits to musdeums and istorical sites. Of course outings to encironmental sites might require more casual clothing.




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Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Late 19th century] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s]





Created: May 20, 2001
Last updated: 5:54 AM 1/28/2014