Privale Primary Schools, 1930

Figure 1.--These boys photographed in 1930 are engaged in an outdoor printing class, note the ink roller. They wear a variety of clothes, including smocks, sweaters, short pants, and long pants. There was no school rule as this private school stressed freedom of exprerssion.

HBC is attempting to assess French schoolwear trends. We have assembled a good deal of information on different types of garments, but an accurate assessment of trends over time and conventions remains elusive. Thus HBC is assembling images of invidual schools. One a number of schools have been assesmbled it will enable us to better understand trends over time and accepted conventions. Unfortunately often little information is available on the schools pictured in many available images. HBC will do its best to assess these images. Hopefully our French consultants will be able to add additional details.

Type

These boys attended a private school utilizing the experimental methods of noted French educator Célestin Freine who was concerned about the education of working class children. (See "Teacher" below.)

Chronology

I'm not positive about the date of this photograph, but would speculate that it was taken in the 1930s.

Class

The boys children in this photograph look to be about 9-10 years old. They appear to be engaged in an outdoor class dealing with printing. Many elementary schools were not very well equipped, so it was probably easier to do some "messy" art work outdoors where cleanup was easier. Of course the boys' smocks will come in handy here as there is likely to be ink everywhere after they get done.

Teacher

The teacher is with the students. There were still many men school masters. He looks less imposing, however, that the teacchers seen a generation earlier. The source identifies the adult as Célestin Freinet, a noted French educator who promoted a new pedagogy during the 19 30's, and created his own school for pupils that had trouble with "normal" teaching. His method is worldwide known, inspired, as far as I know, the Summerhill experience in England, and is based on children's self government. He also insisted on self expression through school newspaper, and the photo shows printing by the pupils. Of course, in this "leftist" pedagogy; no kind of uniform could be required. On the photo, the children look rather poorly dressed, as Freynet was mostly interested in educating the working class children.

Clothing

The boys in this photograph wear a variety of clothes. Unlike some earlier images, this is an informal photograph showing what they boys wore on a normal school day. There does not seem to be a school rule about the clothes the boys wore. It was apparently up to the boys' parents.

Headgear

None of these boys are wearing their caps. It is likely that most wore some kind of cap, possibly a beret, to school.

Smocks

I'm not precisely sure, but it looks to be like three of these boys are wearing smocks. They look to be dark-cilored back buttoning smocks. All of the boys wearing smocks wear them with short pants.

Collars

None of the boys wearing smocks wear them with any kind of special collar. They are simoply worn over the normal clothes.

Bows and ties

Boys are no longer wearing bows with their smocks. They all wear casual shirts without ties.

Jacket

None of these boys are wearing suit jackets.

Sweaters

At least two of the boys not wearing smocks wear sweaters.

Pants

These boys mostly wear short pants, both the boys wearing smocks and the boys wearing sweaters. Only one boy wears long pants.

Socks

All of the boys, except for one appear to be wearing kneesocks and short socks. Three boys wear light-colored kneesocks and another dark colored kneesocks. One boy wears dark colored short socks.

Shoes

The boys appear to be mostly wearing heavy shoes or boots. One boy looks to be wearing sandals.

Hair Styles

Akk of the boys wear similar length hair styles. None wear hair over their ears, but none have especially short cuts.

Created: February 19, 2000
Last updated: February 19, 2000