School Uniform:  French School Smocks--Attributes


Figure 1.--T 

The French school smock was above all a practical garment. The smock had several attributes that made it a useful school outfit. These were especially important in the 19th and early 20th cerentury, but declined in importance after World War II. A school smock was seen as a way of reducing social distinctions. Not only did the smock serve a social purpose, but it was a very practical garment for young children who were often not very careful with their clothes. The ptotective smock was also very helpful in reducing mother's laundry load. We do not think as much about laundry today. Unlike many school garments, a smock could be brought in a large size and not look bad. Sleeves and hems could be easily let out.

Egalitarian

A school smock was seen as a way of reducing social distinctions. Children from poor families that could not afford nice clothes need no longer be embarassed. The smock certainly served the purpose of a uniform, covering differences in the clothes worn by children from different economic circumstances. In this regards it served the same purpose as the school uniform in many other countries. Requiring the smock was an exercise in government-enforced equality. Even affter the fovernment dropped the requirement, some schools maintained it. And even if the school did not require it, many mothers continued to send their boys to school in smocks, but primarily other reasons. A French reader tells us, "The requirement to wear smocks was an expression of one of the theee pronciples of our old republican slogan: "Freedom, Equality, Fraternity". The smock expressed the desire for equality. Indeed under the school smock, which covered the clolthes, one could not distinguish the economic level or fashion sence of the wearer. Ir was difficult to see if a boy wore poor clothesd. Thus the schoolboys of the Republic looked equal. The rich child appeared much like the poor child. But that did not mean that the poor child was this able to succeed better. It also in the view of some the principle of "Freedom" were restricted by requiring boys to wear smocks and not allowing him to dress in accordance with his desires or needs."

Protective

Not only did the smock serve a social purpose, but it was a very practical garment for young children who were often not very careful with their clothes. In an era when clothes were expensive and writing was done with basic pens and ink wells, a black smock, made considerabe sense. The smock served to protect children's clothes. One particular problem at the time was the ink used for school work. School desks had wells for ink bottles. There were no ballpoint pens. Children were for ever staining their clothes with the ink. This was particularly true of the boy's front which may be one reason why French school smocks were mostly back-buttonimg. Thus many boys did not object strenously, knowing they could run and play without the fear of damaging their ckoothes and irritating mama.

Laundry

The ptotective smock was also very helpful in reducing mother's laundry load. We do not think as much about laundry today. It is all so simple with laundry detergents, automatic washers, driers, and synthetic fibers. This was not the case in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Most French mothers did not obtain washer driers until the late 1950s. Doing the weekly wash even in the early 20th century required a tremendous about of work. Unless the family could afford help, the girls might be kept back from school on Monday to help with the wash. Thus anything to reduce the weekly wash load--such as boys wearing smocks was very helpful to mother.

Sizing

Unlike many school garments, a smock could be brought in a large size and not look bad. Sleves and hemds could be easily let out. A belt coould be use on a large size, but a large size baggy kilt was not unusual, allowing most mothers to get a year or two wear out of the garment even if the boy was growing rapidly. Smocks could be worn in a wide variety of lengths.







Christopher Wagner





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Created: May 14, 2002
Last updated: May 14, 2002