Figure 1.-- This class portrait is undated. A reader writes, "I would judge that it comes from about 1928-30, partly because the short trousers are still cut rather long and also because the long stockings are entirely black. We might expect beige or tan stockings in later years. Most of the boys (about 12 years old) wear open collars with sweaters rather than the more formal suits, shirts, and neckties that were common in the earlier 1920s. A few of the boys still wear sailor suits although the fashion seems to be fading by the time of this photo. Notice that one boy wears knee socks and has bare knees whereas all the others apparently wear black long stockings. Some of the boys wear cardigan sweaters> instead of suit jackets. One boy on the right seems to wear a modified Norfolk-stye suit jacket." We have a bit of a different take on this school. We might guess that the boys are mosty 11 years old, but our basic difference with our reader is that the more casual clothing is not a chronological matter, but the fact that these are working-class children Wecwould huess that this portrait was taken about 1920, even in the late-1910s.

We do not yet have much information on 19th century schoolwear trends. We know, however, a great deal about the 20th century. Children at this age could attend different types of schools. Most working-class children stayed in their Volksshule or other type of primary school. Middle class children commonly went on to secondary school, although there were academic standards that had to be met. There were different kinds of gynasiums with a variety of academic orograms. The type of school affected how children dressed, primarily because of the social-class differences involved. Almost all 11-year olds knee pants or short pants to school. This did not change until after World War II, At first younger boys first began wearing long pants during the Winter, but gradually they became common throughout the year. World War II and the post-War German Economic Miralcle fundamentally changed German society. The sharp social class differences disappeared and this can clearly be seen in how children dressed for school.

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Created: 10:47 PM 2/25/2009
Last updated: 10:47 PM 2/25/2009