School Uniforms

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It is said that England was the first country where school uniforms were introduced. The first recorded use of school uniforms in England dates back to 1222. At that time, students used to wear a robe-like outfit called a ‘cappa clausa.’ However, it was in the 16th century when modern school uniforms started to be common.

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School uniforms became popular in private and preparatory schools amongst the upper class. They were incredibly formal, though. For instance, students at the prestigious Eton College were required to wear a black top hat as their uniform.

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Nowadays, uniforms are obligatory for many students in elementary and secondary schools in England. Uniforms have changed and they have become more modern. Instead of the traditional uniform of a blazer and tie in a thick fabric, T-shirts or polo shirts and sweatshirts in school colours have become popular. Plain coloured pants or jeans are also widely accepted at some schools. However, there are still some schools which keep their uniforms just the way they have been for hundreds of years.

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School uniforms appeared in the U.S. in the early 1900’s in private schools. Public schools started to use them almost 80 years later. School officials at this time highlighted the positive changes in the students’ attitudes and the decrease of disciplinary issues after the uniform policy was introduced. A decrease in crime of 36%, a 50% drop in school muggings, and a 74% drop in sexual offenses was reported by schools in California. These factors led other schools to begin using uniforms as well.

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China widely adopted school uniforms in the 19th century as a symbol of modernity. Early uniforms were designed with the influence of Western fashion yet still mixed with traditional Chinese attire. Chinese school uniforms in the past were criticized for being dull and showing little difference between styles for boys and girls. However, today uniforms are more influenced by Korean fashion. Female students are now wearing bow ties, blouses, and plaid skirts while boys wear suits and ties.

Adapted from kids.lovetoknow.com