School uniform facts for kids
A school uniform is a uniform worn by students primarily for a school or otherwise an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries.
An example of a uniform would be requiring button-down shirts, trousers for boys and blouses, pleated skirts for girls, with both wearing blazers. A uniform can even be as simple as requiring collared shirts, or restricting colour choices and limiting items students are allowed to wear.
Uniform or dress code?
Although often used interchangeably, there is an important distinction between dress codes and school uniforms. A dress code is much less restrictive than uniform. Examples of a dress code would be not allowing ripped clothing, no logos or limiting the amount of skin that can be shown.
School uniforms are clothes that are usually used for school, each level of school has a different uniform. Each educational unit has its own distinctive school uniform.
History
It is difficult to trace the origins of the uniform as there is no comprehensive written history, but rather a variety of known influences. School uniforms are believed to be a practice which dates to the 16th century in the United Kingdom. It is believed that the Christ's Hospital School in England in 1552 was the first school to use a school uniform. Students were given a uniform that most notably consisted of a long blue coat and yellow, knee-high socks. An almost identical uniform is still worn by students attending the school today. The earliest documented proof of institutionalized use of a standard academic dress dates back to 1222 when the then Archbishop of Canterbury ordered the wearing of the cappa clausa. This monastic and academic practice evolved into collegiate uniforms in England, particularly in charity schools where uniform dress was often provided for poor children. Universities, primary schools and secondary schools used uniforms as a marker of class and status. Although school uniforms can often be considered conservative and old-fashioned, uniforms in recent years have changed as societal dress codes have changed.
Images for kids
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Schoolboys in France, 1880
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Schoolgirls in Japanese Taiwan, 1927
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Kindergarten schoolboy in Ghana wearing school uniform
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In many Japanese schools, students take off their outdoor shoes and wear uwabaki, an indoor soft slipper.
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Colombian primary school students with their teacher
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A group picture of Thai students (uniforms with dark blue shorts) and Singaporean students (uniforms with cyan skirts and shorts) in front of the Grand Palace
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Schoolgirls in Nepal. Some school uniform policies (e.g. Vietnam) include trousers for girls.
See also
In Spanish: Uniforme escolar para niños
