School Uniform: Spain


Figure 1.--While school uniforms do not appear to have been very common, school smocks have been commonly worn by Spanish school children.

HBC at this time has very limited information on Spanish school uniforms or schoolwear in general. School uniforms do not appear to have been common in Spain, with one exception. School smocks, which are a kind of uniform, do appear to have been common. Spanish school children were commonly wearing smocks by the 1930s, although we are not sure when this practice first began. Short pants were common until the 1970s. Young kindergarten age children still commonly wear smocks in Spain. It is no longer common, however, for older boys to wear them--but some still do. Spanish contributor report that school smocks are still worn at many Spanish schools, especially private schools. Hopefully our Spanish readers will probide us more detailed information.

Prevalence

HBC at this time has very limited information on Spanish school uniforms or schoolwear in general. School uniforms do not appear to have been common in Spain, with one exception. School smocks, which are a kind of uniform, do appear to have been common. School uniforms may have been worn at sme private schools, but HBC has few details at this time.

Chronology

We have limited informationn on Spanish schoolwear at this time and a relatively small archives of Spanish school photographs. As far as we call tell uniforms were not common at Spanish schools. We do not notice school uniforms in Spain even in the 1950s after World War II, even at private schools. We are less sure about the situation in modern Spanish schools. Available information suggests that school smocks were very common in Spain. We do not know when Spanish school children began wearing smocks, but they seem to have been very common in the inter-war period of the 20th century. School smocks have declined in popularity after the 1960s, but are still worn at many schools--especially private schools. Here they take the form of school uniforms with required colors and styles.

Types of Schools

HBC believes that schoolwear has varied at Spanish schools depending on the type of school. Some private schools may have had uniforms, although our inforation is very limited. Children commonly wore smocks to state schools in the inter-war period, but now they are mre commonly worn at private schools. Many of the private schools are Catholic scgools.

Garments

HBC at this time has little information on specific schoolwear garments. HBC has acquired some information on school smocks. Spanish school children were commonly wearing smocks by the 1930s, although we are not sure when this practice first began. Short pants were common until the 1970s. Young kindergarten age children still commonly wear smocks in Spain. It is no longer common, however, for older boys to wear them--but some still do. Spanish contributor report that school smocks are still worn at many Spanish schools, especially private schools. Hopefully our Spanish readers will probide us more detailed information on other schoolwear garments.

Regions

We have only limited information on Spanish school regulations. We believe that Spain under Franco had a centalized school system. After Franco died the responsibility for education was over time shifted to regional governmenst. This shift was fomented by a national referendum which defined the authority of the regions (1983). Some regions like Andulucia, Catalonia and the Basque Lands were give substantially more autonomy than the other regions.

Religion

Education since the medieval era and the Reconquista has been the province of the Catholic Church. We do not yet have any detiled information on the role of the Church in Spanish education. Education ebven in the early 20th century until the short-lived Republic was still dominated by the Catholic Church. Even in state schools the Church played a central role. This role was sharply reduced by the Republic. After Franco's victory in the Spanish Civil War, the unfluence of the Church was restored in education. After Franco died in 1975 a new democratic constitution was adopted (1978). Under this constitution sweeping reforms have been adopted in Spain. As part of these reforms Spain has created a secular school system. Many school photographs prominently feature Cathlolic clerics, often as teachers.

Education Policy

The minimum school-leaving age in Spain in the 2000s is 16 years of age.




Additional Information

Related Links: Careful this will exit you from the Boys' Historical Clothing web site, but both sites are highly recommended

Apertures Press New Zealand book: New e-Book book on New Zealand schools available
School Uniform Web SiteInformative review of British school uniforms with some excellent photographs
School Uniform Web Site Informative review of British school uniforms with some excellent photographs
Boys' Preparatory Schools: Lovely photographic book on British Preparatory Schools during the 1980s with over 200 color and black and white images.






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Created: January 28, 2002
Last updated: 11:51 PM 7/6/2004