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There are three types of schools in modern Ireland, state (national primary and vocational/technical schools, private schools (often run by Catholic religious orders, but also some with a Church of Ireland ethos) which charge fees, and Voluntary schools (often run by Catholic religious orders, but equally with some with a Church of Ireland or other ethos) -- kind of a cross between private schools and state schools (this is a rather strange explanation -- if here you are referring to the post 1967 free secondary schools, then a better worded desciption is that), these schools were established out of schools that were previously fee funded before 1967, but which subsequently received state funding when they entered the free secondary school education scheme post 1967. Since the 1970s a number of community schools and comprehensive schools have been established. There are many similarities among these schools, but also some notable differ. A major step in Irelands modern edication development was the introduction of free secondary school education (1967). Up to that date the law required that children up to 14 years of age be sent to school, however the state only funded national schools, once a child had attained the 'primary certificate' formally ending national school education, parents had to pay for the further education of their children up to the age of 14 years. After 1967 the law was changed requiring that children attend school up to 16 years of age. There are many similarities among these schools, but also some notable differences. The trends have of course varied overtime. Many of the schoolwear fashions are essentially English fashions and reflect trens in comparable schools. The Catholic schols are run by a board of managment. They run on a government grant per pupil and funding from parents. The Public secondary schools are state run they get all funding from the state. The private secondary schhols are mostly boarding schools. They are primarily supported by school fees, but do get some grants from the govenment but not much.
The state schools are entirelly funded by the state. We have no details yet about the history of state education in Ireland. We do not think school uniforms were required at the elementary schools. We sre not sure at this time about what was worn at secondary schools. Until after World War II, Ireland did not have a well developed secondary system. A Irish HBC reader, G. Jones, reports that in the late-1950s and early 60s Ireland had two types of secondary schools for further education, after Primary Level (age 11/12). Firstly, Secondary School was for academic education leading to the Intermediate Certificate (15/16) and ultimately to the Leaving Certifuicate. (17/18) and Vocational (Technical) School for training for a trade. Whilst there is still a distinction Vocational (Technical) Schools do have a curriculum for Intermediate and Leaving Certificate.
National (primary/ 4-12) schools were free and available to all in each 'parish' or local area from 1920s-1966. The 'qualification' to end primary school was a 'primary certificate'. Some children took until 14 years to reach this standard, it they did not reach it by then they left school with no 'qualification'. School was cCompulsory for 4-14 up to 1966. In later years that was increased to 16 years old. In 1967 free secondary schooling was funded by the state. Before that schooling in secondary for teenagers required that parents paid a fee to cover all costs. Parents did not have the money, and if the child was at school they were not earning money at work - a double hit financially. School wascCompulsory for 4-14 up to 1966. In later years that was increased to 16 years old. In 1967 free secondary schooling was funded by the state. Before that schooling in secondary for teenagers required that parents paid a fee to cover all costs. Parents did not have the money, and if the child was at school they were not earning money at work - a double hit financially. We do not think school uniforms were required at the primary schools. How does this impact what is worn to school. As so few went to secondary school, there was not really any sense of 'uniform' in those schools before 1967. Teenagers simply wore the normal clothing of the era for teenagers (and men) namely suit or jacket and trousers with a shirt and even a tie as normal day to day dress. Primary national (= state funded) schools in the 1970's generally had no uniform for boys as the young boys tended not to control their dress options and parents just dressed them in clothes. The young boys were more concerned with sports matters than their dress! Other contributors to HVX-SU or the period mention short trousers. Oue Urush reasdefr doesn't think that was a big issue in (southern/Republic of) Ireland. Younger children in the 1970s would have woren short trousers on holidays in summer up to age 12/13. Their winter or formal clothes might have been short trousers up to age 8 or 10. There was never any requirement from school authorities on this. Thus school uniforms were not common/normal in national (primary) schools until the late 1980's, by which time external fashion trends, due to the widespread access to colour TV and cinema, were beginning to influence dress. Young children would not have been so prone to such influence prior to the 1980s.
Secondary schools (leading to our current intermediate/junior certificate and leaving certificate exams) wer for 12-18 year olds.
School was compulsory for childremn 4-14 years and up to 1966. In later years that was increased to 16 years old. In 1967 free secondary schooling was funded by the state. Before that schooling in secondary for teenagers required that parents paid a fee to cover all costs. Parents did not have the money, and if the child was at school they were not earning money at work - a double hit financially. Thus only the rich and comfortable middle class children received secondary educations. We are not sure at this time about what was worn at secondary schools. Until after World War II, Ireland did not have a well developed secondary system. A Irish HBC reader, G. Jones, reports that in the late-1950s and early 60s Ireland had two types of secondary schools for further education, after primary level (age 11/12). Secondary school was for academic education leading to the Intermediate Certificate (15/16) and ultimately to the Leaving Certifuicate. (17/18) and Vocational (Technical) School for training for a trade. Whilst there is still a distinction Vocational (Technical) Schools do have a curriculum for Intermediate and Leaving Certificate. How does this impact what is worn to school. As so few went to secondary school, there was not really any sense of 'uniform' in those schools before 1967. Teenagers simply wore the normal clothing of the era for teenagers (and men) namely suit or jacket and trousers with a shirt and even a tie as normal day to day dress. We think that it was only with the advent of free secondary education that with everybody heading to such schools there might have been a need to set some 'standard' of dress or dress code.
The 1960s saw the growth of TV and cinema in colour. External fashion trends could influence teenage dress. Young children would not have been so prone to such influence then. Thus school uniforms were not common/normal in national (prinary) schools until the late 1980's. Some of the former "fee paying" secondary schools which remained fee paying began to establish a dress code sense, with requirements to wear a "school tie" or even a blazer on certain occasions. In fact even in the 1960's wearing trousers and jackets was common for middle/upper class (perhaps even lower class) children/teenagers in the 1960s. Some such schools introduced a school pullover for the under 12's in the primary/preparatory school associated with the secondary school. Younger children in the late 1960's would not have wore a jacket as regular daily clothes. Gradually as the 1970's passed through the wearing of jackets declined in teenagers. And equally the school pullover became a requirement for the younger teenagers, with the older teenagers wearing suits or trousers and jacket. All were to wear the 'school tie'. Blazers were required for those not in suits/jackets for formal school occasions including any school photographes, public events (concerts/religious ceremonies (such as confirmation)) etc. Little interest was paid to colours of shirts, as in the 1960's clothing colours were not too crazy. In the 1970's fashion colours in clothes when mad! Most school pullovers in these fee paying schools were probably grey with some sort of "band of stripped colours" at the v-neck. School photographes were generally black and white. School photos remained black and white until the 2000s. This may have been for print cost reasons in respect of the school yearbooks. However if we look at the 'new widely attended secondary schools for the post-1967 era, some of these free schools required a uniform (more for girls than boys). The reasons was to overcome the increase in fashion trends and the need to get all the working class - middle class to dress the same way in order to avoid fashion displays of the better off children and to establish a normal decent clothing standard for the poorer children (since the tuition was free). This was very much the case in the city areas (Dublin) where TV /cinema and shops were more readily accessed to influence teenage dress. These uniforms might be very prescriptive. School ties and pullovers and defined colour shirts and trousers (though socks were not defined).
Irish private schools closely followed the pattern of English schools, including uniform styles. The private secondary schhols are mostly boarding schools. They are primarily supported by school fees, but do get some grants from the govenment but not much.
Some of the former "fee paying" secondary schools which remained fee paying began to establish a dress code sense, with requirements to wear a "school tie" or even a blazer on certain occasions. In fact even in the 1960s wearing trousers and jackets was common for middle/upper class (perhaps even lower class) children/teenagers in the 1960s. Some such schools introduced a school pullover for the under 12s in the primary/preparatory school associated with the secondary school. Younger children in the late 1960s would not have worn a jacket as regular daily clothes. Gradually as the 1970s passed through the wearing of jackets declined in teenagers. And equally the school pullover became a requirement for the younger teenagers, with the older teenagers wearing suits or trousers and jacket. All were to wear the 'school tie'. Blazers were required for those not in suits/jackets for formal school occasions including any school photographes, public events (concerts/religious ceremonies (such as confirmation)) etc. Little interest was paid to colours of shirts, as in the 1960s clothing colours were not too crazy. In the 1970's fashion colours in clothes when mad! Most school pullovers in these fee paying schools were probably grey with some sort of 'band of stripped colours' at the v-neck.
We do not have details on Catholic schools. During the centuries of English rule, the Irish were supressed and their land taken away. We are not sure what restrictions the English placed on Catholic education on the 19th Century. In 1800, Ireland was technically made one with England, Scotland and Wales, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In some ways, this was a Good Thing for Ireland, as it led to electoral reform, land reform, and the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland and its right to taxthe whole population. But the colonial relationship remained, and as freedoms grew without realequality with England and the English, so did Irish nationalism develop and flourish. As the 19th century moved on, independence became inevitable.
Akenson, D.H. The Irish Education Experiment: The National System of Education in Ireland in the Nineteenth Century (Routledge and Kegan Paul: London, 1970).
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