History of School Uniforms: Take a Look at the Origin

Both private and parochial institutes have customarily favored the use of school uniforms and made it mandatory for the students to wear them. There is no doubt about the fact that the number of institutes adopting the use of uniforms is increasing. It is because they believe uniforms help in fostering a sense of sister/brotherhood and, spirit of unity among students and reducing socioeconomic disparities.

Tracing Back the History of School Uniforms in Different Countries

Let’s take a look at the origin and history of school uniforms in different countries including UK, USA, Africa, China, Japan, and Australia.

Standardized dress codes in academics were probably used for the first time in England in 1222. It was the Archbishop of Canterbury who made it mandatory for students to wear attire that resembled a robe called “cappa clausa”.

However, the history of wearing modern-day school uniforms in England has its origin in the 16th century. It was the deprived and underprivileged children living on charity visiting Christ’s hospital boarding school wore blue cloaks that were similar to cassocks clad by the clergy.

As time progressed and centuries passed by, school uniforms started making its presence felt among the upper class and aristocrats of England and became prevalent in schools. At Eton, one of the prestigious schools in England, students wore black top hats and tails on and off-campus until 1972. The uniform became a symbol of identity and cohesion.

In the USA, the origin of school uniforms can be traced back to the late 1800s. They followed the UK style and, started using uniforms traditionally. It was mostly the private and parochial schools in the USA that encouraged the use of uniforms. The rule was however shunned by one of the boarding schools run by the government- The Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for Native American children who adhered to military-style uniforms.

The first public schools in the U.S.A who implemented school uniforms were located in Maryland and Washington along with Cherry Hill Elementary School in 1987. After a year, 39 public elementary schools and two public junior high schools in Washington made it mandatory for students to wear uniforms. Subsequently, the rule was enforced in schools of other US cities like Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York who embraced the use of school uniforms.

In Africa, the story of school uniforms began with the missionaries who pioneered in spreading them throughout Africa. The missionaries in Africa used uniforms to distinguish students learning at the school from kids on the street.

In China, school uniforms started to be widely accepted in the 19th century as an epitome of modernity. The uniforms inspired by Western trends, had a blend of traditional Chinese outfits. The touch of traditionalism, made the uniforms in China poles apart from those of other countries.

In Japan, school uniforms were influenced by French and Prussian military uniforms rather than getting sculpted after the traditional English style. While girls’ uniforms were modeled after sailor uniforms, boys’ uniforms were influenced by the navy.

Uniforms in Australia were formal before the World War II, but schools adopted a more casual style after the war.

Today, almost all schools across the world, have made it compulsory for elementary and secondary students to wear uniforms. It bridges societal gaps, improving academic performance and building better peer relations among students.

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