Figure 1.--These Canadian school boys in 1973 are working on a class project. Canadian boys like American boys have generally not worn school uniforms. The boys are dressed much like comaparable American schoolboys. Notice the turtle necks. Image courtesy of the MC collection.

Two of the major countries of North America (Canada and the United States) have both been profoundly influenced by England. Although English fashions were important in both countries, the idea of school uniform was nasically the 19th century English concept as appropriate for affluenet children attending exclusuve public schools. Public school children have not traditionally worn uniforms. They were, however, adopted in the parochial (Catholic schools) and Americans in particular begun rethinking the idea of school uniforms in the 1980s. Quite a number of schools have begun to adopt voluntary uniforms.

Bermuda

Many Bermuda children do wear school uniforms and the styles are heavily influenced by British styles as Bermuda has from the beginning been a British colony.

Canada

HBC has very little information on Canadian schoolwear. We believe that like the United states, Canadian boys have not traditionally worn school uniforms. We suspect that it would be difficult to tell images of French and American school children apart just by looking at them.Some pribate schools may have adopted English style school uniforms. The Catholic schools are especially important in Canada, especially in French-speaking Quebec. Boys there never seenm to have worn smocks as in France itself.

Mexico

Mexico and Central America are actually part og North America. For largely cultural reasons we decided it made more sence to archive these countries under Latin America.

United States

American children with few exceptions have not worn school uniforms. Public (state) schools did not have uniforms. Parochial (Catholic) schools have required uniforms as have many private schools. Many elementary and middle (junior high) schools, especially in the inner city, have adopted uniforms in an effort to address difficult problems of discipline and student violence.

Created: June 20, 1998
Last updated: October 8, 2003