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Catholic schools began adopting uniforms long before public schools began to use them. Our information on actual Catholic school uniforms, however, is very limited at this time. The Catholic schools unlike the state public schools insisted on a school uniform. I'm not sure why the Church made this decision, but may be due to the Irish and Italian influence or the fact that immigrant Americans were generally low income families and would be sensitive to preceived differrences in the clothing that poorer children might be wearing. The greater focus on discipline at a Catholic school might have been another factor. This appears to have been a choice taken by individual schools, but given that uniforms were adopted in the Catholic schools before the public schools, there must have been some incouragement from the heirarchy. Uniforms are now common at Catholic schools. HBC is, however, not sure when uniforms were introduced. We believe that the uniforms were mostly introduced after World War II (1939-45), but this requires confirmation. and we do see some uniforms beginning to appear in the 1940s. We have very little information about individual Catholic schools. A HBC reader tells us that his Catholic school had uniforms in the 1940s. "I remember well what we wore as uniforms in the late-1940s, when I attended Catholic Junior High School in San Diego, California. The pants were gray corduroy, and we wore white long sleeve shirts and gray woolen sweaters." Most Catholic schools, both primary (elementary) and secondary schools have required uniforms--usually simple uniforms.
The Catholic schools unlike the state public schools insisted on a school uniform. I'm not sure why the Church made this decision, but may be due to the Irish and Italian influence or the fact that immigrant Americans were generally low income families and would be sensitive to preceived differrences in the clothing that poorer children might be wearing. The greater focus on discipline at a Catholic school might have been another factor. This appears to have been a choice taken by individual schools, but given that uniforms were adopted in the Catholic schools before the public schools, there must have been some incouragement from the heirarchy.
Uniforms are now common at Catholic schools. HBC is, however, not sure when uniforms were introduced. We believe that the uniforms were mostly introduced after World War II (1939-45), but this requires confirmation. and we do see some uniforms beginning to appear in the 1940s. We have very little information about individual Catholic schools. A HBC reader tells us that his Catholic school had uniforms in the 1940s. "I remember well what we wore as uniforms in the late-1940s, when I attended Catholic Junior High School in San Diego, California. The pants were gray corduroy, and we wore white long sleeve shirts and gray woolen sweaters." The School of the Cathedral Mary Our Queen appears to have introduced uniforms in the 1960s, but we are not positive about this.
Most Catholic schools, both primary (elementary) and secondary schools have required uniforms--usually simple uniforms.
The uniforms worn by the boys are usually white shirts and ties, sweater, and solid color--often blue pants. Usually thevboys wore long pants, but many elementary schools now permit shorts. A HBC reader reports in 2001 that "We have three parish schools in our area. The students all wear uniforms. The boys blue long sleeved shirts and long pants in the cold months. Short sleeved shirts and blue shorts in the warmer months. First grade through 8th. For the most part they look sharp excepting where you have a sloppy working mother. The girls have nice plaid (blue) skirts and blouses. In these post Vatican II days pulled up irregardless of age or configuration above their waists and in many cases ridiculous earrings. O tempora o mores.
A HBC reader reports in 2001, "We have three Jesuit post Vat II Boy High schools. In my days, the boys at two of the schools wore suits and ties and were most noticeable for their sharp image. The third was a military high school. Blue uniform with white stripe on the pants. They always looked sharp ready for inspection. Today the two that wore suits now dress like the public schools only more expensive. The military school when they wear a uniform it is the color of the British Army battle dress and usually what would be called out of uniform. No cap, buttons open, etc. Not all Catholic schools required uniforms. One former Catholic school boy reports, "The Catholic school I went to as a kid did not have uniforms because they considered they were to expensive for some of the students. In this very small town and with casual glances it is quite easy to tell who has a
good quality uniform and who has a poor quality one. Most are very poor. The kids know ho has the money and who does not. It is as artificial as "blue" , "red", and "green" reading groups. The kids know which group the dummies are in.
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