Looking Too Cool for School: The Past, Present, and Purpose of Uniforms in American Education
A modern example of American school uniforms, as worn by our Studio’s founder while attending Mount de Chantal Academy in Wheeling, WV.
While the majority of students in the United States have historically not had to wear school uniforms, for those who have, these outfits bring forth a multitude of memories of their youthful years. Opinions are somewhat divided on the need for uniforms, though there is equally as much variety in styles of school attire as there are beliefs about their utility. Since these outfits have played such a major part in the lives of so many, today we will briefly touch on some of the fundamentals of school uniforms and how they have evolved over time.
1) Why are school uniforms even a thing?
Proponents of school uniforms offer a variety of reasons why they are of great benefit to students, parents, schools, and many other community stakeholders. For students, school uniforms can help to avoid distinctions between peers that might arise as a result of differences in clothing affordability for certain brands. This effectively creates a sense of equality among students, which in turn reduces bullying and other social pressures. Many schools still allow some minor use of accessories with their uniforms, so as not to completely stifle the creativity of individual students who wish to express themselves through what they wear. For parents, uniforms can reduce clothing expenditures and the time needed for clothes shopping. While alterations for school uniforms can become necessary as fits change over time, these modifications can often be done more affordably than purchasing entirely new clothing (we here at the Studio may even be able to help, as we take alterations projects on a case by case basis).
Preventing conflict is one of the biggest selling points of school uniforms. For schools and teachers, uniforms help to ensure that students are not unfairly judged by their clothing, which could unconsciously lead to less instructor attention or decreased opportunities in extracurricular programs. Some controversial clothing can cause distractions, so preventing that with mandatory uniforms often leads to fewer issues in the classroom. Additionally, there are many security benefits with standardized school attire, including clearly identifying students and helping to differentiate them from strangers, which can deter crime and improve student safety. This identification further helps to ensure students are where they ought to be during school hours, and eliminates the possibility of displaying gang colors.
On a more positive note, school uniforms can help to enhance school pride and community spirit, giving much-needed identity to students and making them feel like a part of something bigger than themselves. The consistency of school uniforms over time also provides a sense of timelessness that serves to connect different generations, helping to bridge a gap that might otherwise be difficult to navigate.
2) When were the first school uniforms implemented and how have they changed over time?
The concept of school uniforms is by no means a recent innovation. In fact, the earliest use of educational uniforms was in 1222 in England. A concept pioneered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, these cape-like robes (at the time known as “cappa clausa”) were mandated for scholars at the time. This didn’t exactly “catch on” in general until three hundred years later, when the boarding school of Christ’s Hospital in England implemented a standard blue cloak with yellow stockings. This would certainly look antiquated compared to modern uniforms, which makes it all the more surprising that the ensemble remained standard at the school through the 2010’s!
Over the years, uniforms became… well, more uniform! Robes and cloaks gave way to blazers with identifiable school badges, ties, white undershirts, A-line skirts (for the girls), and trousers (for the boys). Military schools have also utilized their own varieties of uniforms similar to those in the armed forces, including peaked cap hats, coats, long-sleeve shirts, ties, slacks, and dress shoes. Many of those military schools have transitioned into more traditional private schools over time, including The Linsly School, located in Wheeling, WV only a few minutes from our Studio and the alma mater of several generations of Rouses (including Emily Rouse, the Studio’s founder).
While flat caps and other formal hats were formerly a part of many uniforms, they have slowly fallen out of favor as schools have adopted stricter rules on allowable headgear. More casual school uniforms persist as well, with some schools sticking with a simpler combination of sweaters, polo shirts, and chino pants with dress shoes. Regardless of the level of formality, one common rule at the majority of uniform-requiring schools is that while students may wear the entire uniform outside of school, at no time should they wear only part of the uniform, which might reflect badly on the school’s image. It seems that branding is always important, even in academics!
3) How are school uniforms treated today in the U.S.?
While the business world may be slowing shedding its formality, the opposite is true of schools. In fact, the percentage of pubic schools mandating uniforms has increased from 12% in 2000 to 20% in 2018. Some U.S. cities are very committed to standardizing schoolwear, with New Orleans, Cleveland, Chicago, Boston and Miami all having more than 60% of their schools using uniforms, and Philadelphia even mandates uniforms in 100% of their schools. These requirements tend to be more prevalent in earlier years of schooling, especially in elementary years where 23% require uniforms, somewhat higher than that in middle schools (18%) and high schools (10%). As the sensitive topic of income classes becomes more of a hot-button issue, school uniforms are providing a way to prevent that conflict from spilling over into day-to-day classroom life.
As we have explored, school uniforms have had both a storied history and a multitude of social reasons for their adoption and expansion. While the temporary rise in home schooling has put a damper on the need for uniforms, the upward trend is starting to resume and will likely proceed into the foreseeable future. In fact, even as schooling moves online and potentially into the metaverse over the coming years, digital school uniforms may become a mainstay of school culture in the very same way that digital haute couture is currently taking the fashion world by storm. Whatever the future brings, while the fabric, styles, and even digitalization of the attire may change, school uniforms are undoubtedly here to stay!
