Figure 1.--These Catalan nuersery school children all wear green schho smocks. The school is located near in Catalonia where smocks are commonly worn. Notice the large front pocket on one boy's smocks.

The ages of the Spanish children wearing school smocks has varied over time. HBC does not know what age boys wore smocks in the late 19th or early 20th century. In France boys wore them into their early teens. HBC does not know if the same was true for Spain. Today young kindergarten age children still commonly wear smocks in Spain. It is no longer common, however, for older boys to wear them--but some still do. A Spanish contributor to HBC in 1999 reported seeing school boys about about 7 or 8 years old still wearing the smocks over their street clothes. This appears to be especially the case in Catalonia. Many Catalan schools require smocks for all students, including the older children. HBC does not know at this time to what extent older children commonly wear smocks in other rgions of Spain. We do not know at this time if there are specific school smock styles for younger and older children.

Chronology

The ages of the Spanish children wearing school smocks has varied over time. HBC does not know what age boys wore smocks in the late 19th or early 20th century. In France boys wore them into their early teens. HBC does not know if the same was true for Spain. Today young kindergarten age children still commonly wear smocks in Spain. It is no longer common, however, for older boys to wear them--but some still do. A Spanish contributor to HBC in 1999 reported seeing school boys about about 7 or 8 years old still wearing the smocks over their street clothes.

Ages

Spanish school children commonly wear school smocks from nursery school to about 12 years of age. A Spanish reader tells us in 2003, "Generalmente son llevados por los niños y niñas desde los 3 años hasta los 12 años." This means, "Generally smocks are worn by boys and girls from 3 to 12 years." Children generally wear then until age 12, because smocks are mostly worn in primary schools. Our Spanish reader writes, "Normalmente en las escuelas publicas las batas solo se usan en la educación primaria, es decir hasta los 12 años. En cambio, en las escuelas privadas y las privadas elitistas las batas se usan en la educación primaria y secundaria y su uso es mucho más extenso." This means, "Normally in public schools smocks are used in primay schools which means for children up to about 1 years. In contrast, at private schols including elite private schools smocks are used in both private and secondry schools and their use in much more extensive."

Regional Trends

The age of Spanish children wearing school smocks varies in part on the regions of Spain. School smocks are comon in Catalonia. While many nursery school children thoughout Spain may wear smocks. In Catalonia, primary school children, including older primary school childen common wear school smocks. Many Catalan schools require smocks for all students, including the older children. HBC does not know at this time to what extent older children commonly wear smocks in other rgions of Spain.

Styles

We do not know at this time if there are specific school smock styles for younger and older children. Smock styles have varied over time. At this time we have little information about early school smocks. We do note that currently most pre-school smocks are back uttoning. The smocks worn at primary schools are more varied. Many are front buttoning, but some primary children also wear wear back buttoning smocks. This is especially true or girls, but HBC has also noted boys in primary school currently wearing back buttoning smocks. Again there are regional factors here. School smocks were especially common in Catalonia and older primary school boys common wear them. There are many destinctive features to Catalan school smocks.

Private Schools

The type of school also affects the use of school smocks. A reader tells us that concerning the age of children wearing school smocks, "hay algún tipo de excepciones, generalmente en las escuelas privadas de elite". This means that especially at elite private schools that there can be variations from the general pattern of the age at which children wear school smocks. One reader tells us that unlike public secondary schools, some private secondary schools require school smocks.

Created: February 9, 2002
Last updated: May 8, 2003