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American Children in the late-19th century tended to dress up for school. We see a lot of boys weraring suits to school. Children had far smaller wardrobes at the time. And suitswere a far more common item than is the case with modern children. We see boys commonly wearing suits at many schools, even elementary (primary) schools, but this varied from school to school. Younger boys might wear blouses, but even the younger boys might war suits. The idea of wearing school uniforms never became accepted in America, at least in the public schools. In this regard, it was not unlike England. English state primary schools did not require uniforms. Most private schools, both public schools and prep schools, however, did commonly require uniforms. Many early British prep schools did not require uniforms, but by the turn of the 20th century this had changed. And many of the exclusive private schools in America following the British system, also adopted school uniforms, but this was a relatively small number of exclusive schools. Parochial schools did not require uniforms and were still limited in number. The variations in schoolwear were largely economic and regional. Interestngly the differences between rural and urban schools were mot as pronounced as they would become in the 1910s when overalls would become a virtual standard uniform at rural schools. Untill the 1910s, actually the last few years of the 1900s decade, we still see rural boys dressing up for school. The girls did not wear overalls, but pinafores were common at some schools.
American Children in the late-19th century tended to dress up for school. This contunued to be the case in the early-20th century. We see a lot of boys weraring suits to school, mostly knee pants suits. Children had far smaller wardrobes at the time. And suits were a much more common item than is the case with modern children. Knee pants suits were standard in the 1900s decade, even for many teenagers. This bgan to change at the end of the decade wioth knickrs rapidly replacing knickers. We see boys commonly wearing suits at many schools, even elementary (primary) schools, but this varied from school to school. Younger boys might wear blouses, but even many younger boys might wear suits. Some of the blouses the boys wore included Fauntleroy blouses. School age boys often wore the print Fauntleroy blouses and not the the classic Fauntleroy blouses with huge collars. Many boys wore neckwear with their blouses. A few younger boys wore floppy bows which was more common in the 1890s. Knee pants were commonly worn with long black stockings. The major exception was boys going barefoot which was common in rural areas and small towns. The idea of wearing school uniforms never became accepted in America, at least in the public schools. In this regard, it was not unlike England. English state primary schools also did not require uniforms.
American Children in the late-19th century tended to dress up for school. This contunued to be the case in the early-20th century. We see a lot of boys weraring suits to school, mostly knee pants suits. Children had far smaller wardrobes at the time. And suits were a much more common item than is the case with modern children. Knee pants suits were standard in the 1900s decade, even for many teenagers. This bgan to change at the end of the decade wioth knickers rapidly rerplacing knickers. We see boys commonly wearing suits at many schools, even elementary (primary) schools, but this varied from school to school. Younger boys might wear blouses, but even many younger boys might wear suits. Some of the blouses the boys wore included Fauntleroy blouses. School age boys often wore the print Fauntleroy blouses and not the the classic Fauntleroy blouses with huge collars that younger boysc wore. Many boys wore neckwear with their blouses. A few younger boys wore floppy bows which was more common in the 1890s. Knee pants were commonly worn with long black stockings. The major exception was boys going barefoot which was common in rural areas and small towns. The idea of wearing school uniforms was not accepted in America, at least in the public schools. In this regard, it was not unlike England. English state primary schools also did not require uniforms.
Location significantly affected schoolwear. When we talk about locations, there are two basic areas. First is the rural/urban divide. Second is the regional divide. Most Anericans still lived in rural areas, although the difference by the 1900s was narrowing. Boys tended to wear knee pants suitts to school. The younger boys might wear blousesc and knee pants,. Interestingly, the differences between rural and urban schools were mot as pronounced as they would become in the 1910s when overalls would become a virtual standard uniform at rural schools. We begin to see this change in substantial numbers by 1908. In the 1900s, most boys still dressed in knee oants or blouses and knee pants. This was the case in both urban and rural schools. For some reason, rural students were still dressing up for school. The girls did not wear overalls, but pinafores were common at some schools. There were at the same tinme also changes in urbn schools. City boys began wearing knickers rather than knee pants. The regional divide is much more complicated. The wealthiest areas in the 1900s decade were the niortheast abnd he iundustrial Mid-west. The poorest region was the South. This was due to the fact tht the South was the most rural region. Another factor was the system of Jim Crow racial segregatiin in the South. Thus we see large numbers of children goiing barefoot in the South. This was not the only place at the time where children were giung barefoot, butit was especially oroniunced in the south. Another major development is tha tPascific costal srates, esopecuially California began to emerge and an important force.
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