Figure 1.--These English prep school boys are fishing after school. Notice that several continue to wear their ties. Their school uniform is cord jackets and short pants.

English schools often had attitudes toward schoolwear that seem a bit unusal to more informal minded Americans. Some boarding schools insisted on the boys wearing their uniforms all day long. Other schools let the children change into their own clothes after classes. This was, however, not a common option. At mist schools the boys continued wearing their uniforms after classes. As a result boys often engaged in play and recreatiional activities in rather formal lokking school wear--often wearing their ties. At many schools you might see boys gardening or fishing after school still wearing ties.

Boarding Schools

Dress standards have changed remarably in England during recent years. Even so there continue to be sustantial differences with America. English schools often had attitudes toward schoolwear that seem a bit unusal to more informal minded Americans. There were several different options available to schools. Boarding scgools had many different rules about wearing the uniform. Some required the children to wear the school uniform all day long. Other schools allowed the children to change ino their regular clothes after classes or over the weekend. The different conventions have changed somewhat over time.

Day Schools

There were also varying conventins for the children attending day schools. This included both boys attending private and state day schools. Some mothers insisted that that boys change clothes before they went out to play. Others did not insist, but boys wanted to change out of their school clothes are school uniform. Oher boys could not be bothered. Boys going to private school often got home later than boys going to stte schools. Many didn't change because there wasn't much time to go out and play. This varied, however, from family to family.

Created: September 13, 1998
Last updated: September 30, 2003