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American School footwear has varied substantially over time. Many Ameican boys went to school barefoot at least during the warmer months. This was especially the case in the South and rural areas through the 1930s. And we still see a few boys coming to school barefoot in the early-1950s. We do not know much about 18th century footwear, but we notice low-cut buckle shoes. We see boys and men still wearing low-cut shoes in the early-19th century. For some reason we do not fully understand, high-top shoes became common aftr mid century. We notice buckle and lace up shoes. we also see strap shoes, but we do not see boys wearing them except for a few younger boys. Strap shoes were almost always worn by girls in America, Low-cut oxfords began to replace high-top shoes after World War I. And the leather low-cut oxford was standard for boys and girls. Saddle shoes were worn by boys and girls, but were more popular with girls. Girls also commonly wore different styles and colors of strap shoes. We note an interesting article about the Portland public schools which taught boys shoe repair. Most boys wore leather shoes to school. Younger boys in rural areas might come to school barefoot. Sneakers began to be worn after World War II, especially by primary-age boys. but not at first to school. Keds were very popular. Gradually sneakers became more and more common, at first with primary school boys and gradually with secondry students. Trendy sneakers began to become popular in the 1960s. Today children rarely wear leather shoes to school. Boys did not commonly wear sandals to school, but we begin to see open-toe sandals in the 1990s, at first in California. We believe the pattern was highly seasonal. Schools had a variety of rules. Some schools had safety concerns. Some permitted sandls while others did not. Boys and mothers had various opinions about sandals. They are now more common in warm weather. Shoe companies have introduced sport sandals.
American school footwear has varied substantially over time. We have next to no information on American school footwear during the 18th and much of the 19th century. We suspect that many if not most of the children came to school barefoot. This surely was the case in rural areas where most of the population lived even by the end of the 19th century. We do have some actual information after the invention of photography (1839). This did not occur immediately. We do not see school photography to any extent until after the development the albumen processes which used negatives and thus and unlimited number of prints could be made (1860s). We only begin to see major numbers of school portraits (1870s). The foot wear we see for both boys and girls was mostly high-top shoes. Unlike clothing , footwear was very similar for boys and girls. Curiously we do not see many barefoot children in these early images (late-19th century). For reasons we do not fully understand, we do begin to see barefoot children (early-20th century). At this point most of the barefoot children we see are in rural schools. This was especially common for the younger children and most common in the southern states for climatic reasons. In the Deep South it was common to go barefoot even during the Winter. This was not possible in the north. By the 20th century, the tradition of school photograph was firmly established. So we have a virtually endless number of school portraits to use to study school fashions in detail, including footwear. At the turn of the century, children were mostly wearing high-top shoes, but gender differences were beginning to appear. We see girls beginning to wear strap shoes. Younger boys also wore strap shoes, but ideally not by the time that they began school (6-years of age). We also see school wear including foot wear developing between rural and urban schools. America did not male the transition to a majority urban population until after World War I (about 1920). It is at this time that children made the transition from high-top to low-cut styles. American boys began wearing mostly leather oxfords to school. Girls wore both oxfords and strap shoes. Sneakers were becoming important for play after school, but were rarely worn at school--except for gym. Girls also wore sandals, but not usually boys. A major observation during the early-20th century is the number of rural children that came to school barefoot--something that was much less common in city schools. Differences between city and ruralm school did not change until World War II (1941-45) when states began to close small rural schools and bus the children to consolidated city schools. Oxfords and strap shoes were standard, but we also see saddle shoes and loafers. School footwear This did not change significantly until well after World War II (1960s). We begin to see children wearing sneakers to school (1970s). This began as sneakers began to be seen as fashionable. By the end of the century, we see bous beginning to wear sandals, a trend first observable in California.
While we have very little information on the early-19th century. Children in rural areas must have mostly come to school barefoot. America was one of the countries that launched public school systems and the only one to do so in rural areas.which is rare most of the population lived. We do not begin to see how people dressed in detail until the invention of photography (1839). School photography was not feasible until the introduction of the albumen process (1860s). We first begin to see substantial numbers of school portrait until a decade later (1870s). And curiously we do not see many barefoot children in these early images (late-19th century). For reasons we do not fully understand, we only begin to see large numbers of barefoot children (early-20th century). At this point most of the barefoot children we see are in rural schools. This could in part be because difficult economic conditions beginning in rural areas a decade before the Depression of the 1930s. This is something that was much less common in city schools. Coming to school was especially common for the younger children and most common in the southern states for climatic reasons. In the Deep South it was common to go barefoot even during the Winter. This was not possible in the north. This was especially the case in the South and rural areas through the 1930s. Differences between city and rural schools did not change until World War II (1941-45). This may be because the War was revving the American economy. But the major reason was that states began to close small rural schools and bus the children to consolidated city schools. This was an economy measure. Maintaining small schools for a handful of children as too expensive. We we still see a few boys coming to school barefoot in the early-1950s, mostly in southern states.
We do not know much about 18th century footwear, but we notice low-cut buckle shoes. We see boys and men still wearing low-cut shoes in the early-19th century. For some reason we do not fully understand, high-top shoes became common aftr mid century. We notice buckle and lace up shoes. we also see strap shoes, but we do not see boys wearing them except for a few younger boys. Strap shoes were almost always worn by girls in America, Low-cut oxfords began to replace high-top shoes after World War I. And the leather low-cut oxford was standard for boys and girls. Saddle shoes were worn by boys and girls, but were more popular with girls. Girls also commonly wore different styles and colors of strap shoes. We note an interesting article about the Portland public schools which taught boys shoe repair. Most boys wore leather shoes to school. Younger boys in rural areas might come to school barefoot. Boys and mothers had various opinions about sandals. Sneakers began to be worn after World War II, especially by primary-age boys. but not at first to school. Keds were very popular. Gradually sneakers became more and more common, at first with primary school boys and gradually with secondry students. Trendy sneakers began to become popular in the 1960s. Today children rarely wear leather shoes to school. Boys did not commonly wear sandals to school, but we begin to see open-toe sandals in the 1990s, at first in California.
Demographics played a major role in school footwear. This was primarily because many rural children came to school barefoot. While children in the cities primarily wore shoes. Some poor city children went barefoot, but most city children had shoes. Pf course it should be understood that most American children at the time the United States was created (1880s), lived in rural areas--ovr 95 percent. This continued to be the case throughout the 19th century, although the percentages gradually declined. Rural children in the north wore shoes guring the winter, while children in the Deep South might go barefoot all year round. In the southern states, even some city children came to school barefoot. This was especially common in small towns. American boys generally did not wear sandals. This only began to change in the kate-20th century, a change that began to develop first in sunny Califiornia.
We believe the pattern was highly seasonal. Sandals They are now more common in warm weather. Shoe companies have introduced sport sandals.
Schools had a variety of rules. Some schools had safety concerns. Some permitted sandals while others did not.
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