Figure 1.--Grey suits were a very common school uniform garment throughout Britain. Many schools had blazers, also colorful, instead of suit jackets. Some schools had both, using the suits for special occassions. |
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In discussing British schools we have a little problem. We are actually dicussing United Kingdom schools. The United Kingdom is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (U.K. for short). It is a union of England (the largest constitunnt part), Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (often referred to as Ulster. The country is also referred to as Great Britain. Britain or Great Britain refers to the large island off the coast of France. And Great Britain is the great bulk of the United Kingdom in land area and population. Britain consits of most of the United Kindom except for Northern Ireland. It used to include all of Ireland, but now only Protestant Northern Ireland. To be picky there are a lot of small islands off northetn Britain, but there is no problem calling them British because they are mostly Scottish. The problem is what to call the people of the United Kingdom. United Kingdomers would be accurate adjetive and thus not used by anyone. Europpeans tend to use English and Americans British or Brits. Is the same problem Amnericans have. United Statesers is evn more awkward, although some Latinm Americans do use 'estadounidense'-- rather a mouth full. So we will use what the Brits tend to use 'British' with the Understanding that Northern Ireland is included. British schools, especially thiose in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are all very similar. There are, however, some differences with Dcottish schools.
England has had a huge impact on educational around the world. This is in part because of its empire and the English lanuage. England did not, however lead the way in modern public meaning free state eduction. Here the leaders were America and Germany (18th centuy). Free public education was one of the reason that both America and Germany rose to such prominance and economic success (19th century). Here Britain lagged behind and private schools tended to dominate the nationl ethos. There was resisance to public education in Britain, primarily from the country's landed aristocracy, fearful that education would result in their farm workers' children would seek enoloyment elsewhere. As a result, the British wirking-class did not have universal access to free state primary schools until the late-19th century. Curiculum and teaching methods from the private sector have, however, proved influential in the development pf public schools. And secondry education did not become widely avilable ti working-class children until after World War II. No country has inluenced the school uniforms worn by children around the world more than England. The tradition of school uniforms in England is a little complicated. School uniforms in England are oftn assocaiated with privlidged children at the country's elite private schools. Uniforms at school, however, were first worn by poor children at charity schools. Only later were they adopted by priavate schools, in typical British fashion, referred to as public schools. Children at the country's developing state school system during the late 19th and 20th century did not wear uniforms. Britain was late to provide a free public education to children. Some European countries, especially the Germans had a much more extensive public school system. Britain had a great variety of state and charity schools for those who could not afford a private education. Uniforms were first intriduced for children at charity schools to identifybthem and for purposes economy. Uniforms for the affluent children at private schools were introduced much later. Children at statte elementary schools until the 1960s did not commonly wear uniforms. Both privatevand state secondary schools did require uniforms. Uniforms served to build the esprit de corps of the school. Uniforms also prevented rich parents making poorer parents feel humble. Despite thism Left-wing politicians (Labour) in the 1960s and 1970s objected to uniforms which led to the individualistic fashion shows of today which make poorer parents subject to the new uniform dictates of "Nike", "Puma", "Adidas" and rendered blazers very expensive as suppliers shrank.
Scotland as part of the United Kingdom has basically followed prevailing British school uniform styles. Standard school uniform styles in England and Sctland are esentially the same. It would not be possible be difficult to identify British and Scottish school boys. There have been, however, some differences. In addition, as a more traditional part of the country, changes often occur more slowly in Scotland than in England. The major difference is of course the kilt. We are not sure to what extent the kilt was worn in the 19th century at bloth state and private schools. We do know that in the 20th century that most Scottish private schools adopted the kilt as their dress uniform.
Ulster is northern Ireland and part of the United Kingdom. We have listed the various U.K. countries separately, primarily because of differences between England and Scotland. We know very little about Ulster schools at this time. There are significant differences between the educational systems in Scotland and England, but not between Wales and England. We are not entirely sure about Ulster. As far as we know, the education system in Northern Ireland is very similar to the English system with some rather minor differencs. One is that the age of a child on July 1 decides when they begin school while in England it is September 1. The schools follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum, which is based on the National Curriculum used in England and Wales. This became mandated by law at all key stages (2009/2010 academic year). The primary difference is that Catholic and Protestant students mostly attended different schools. In the United Kingsdom, both systems are supported by the state. A reader writes, "I see that there is little information about Northern Ireland in HBC. This is a shame as it is interesting. Being ‘very British’ and a fairly conservative place it has preserved until recently many of the uniform styles that were more common in England a couple of generations ago." Our reader has provided an account of his personal experiences at a grammar (selective secondary) school.
Wales was conquered by the Normans in the 12-13th century before the developmnt of the British education system. Thus education developed in Wales along the same pattern as in England. During the 18th century, John Griffiths set up many Sunday schools in Wales to teach the Welsh how to read and write in Welsh, bringing mass literacy to Wales, something not seen in England until the late 19th century. A Welsh reader writes, "The Welsh Sunday schools in the 18th century came about after noncomformity and the chapels began to dominate Welsh life (the chapels did dominate Welsh life right up until the middle of the 20th century) with their firebrand preaching. The literacy (in Welsh, not English) in Wales led to many Welsh books being printed and many households owning their own Bibles." [Morgan] With the advent of state-financed public education, the inroads of the English language into Wales increased. As far as we know, all of the state financed schools like National Schools conducted classes in English and insisted that only English be spoken. We note in the 20th century little difference between English and Welsh schools and school uniform. We do have details on one Welsh school, Cowbridge Grammar School which dates back to 1607. A Welsh reader writes, "Since the 1950s Welsh language education (and that is education through the medium of Welsh, not just teaching the Welsh language to pupils) has become evermore popular."
There are a few other bits and pieces that are not British or even part of the Uninted Kingdom, but overseen by the United Lingdom. They include the Isle of Manx (in the Irish Seas) and the Channel Islands (off Brittany). Brittanty of course is a French Peninbsula pointing out into the Atalantic south of Britain and not part of Britain. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser, or Little Britain (as opposed to Great Britain, with which it shares an etymology.
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