The School Uniform in Public Schools Debate

It was in the late 1960's that school dress codes (and the general belief that a certain type of attire was expected in the "serious" educational setting) began to be eliminated. Before that there was no need to think about school uniforms for public schools. Private schools tended to require uniforms, but they served a purpose within that context. For the most part, anyone who saw a schoolyard full of public-school students saw children and teenagers who were dressed reasonably well.

Girls were required to wear dresses, jumpers, or skirts. Since they wore only dresses, jumpers or skirts they wore shoes that went with dresses, jumpers or skirts. Boys were required to wear dress shirts of any color. Neckties were required, although string ties were an acceptable alternative for which most boys opted. (Today the word, "string", conjures up a few completely different images, doesn't it?) Boys' shirts could be short-sleeved in Spring. Boys of secondary-school age were required to either wear or pullover sweater or jacket to school. Jeans were not allowed. Neither were T-shirts or sweatshirts (except for sports), particularly those with pictures or words on them. Students had gym uniforms (that were generally despised by all girls).

There was always the occasional boy or two in any class who tried showing up in a black T-shirt and black pants, and such boys would be given a lecture in the principle's office. Once "mini-skirts" showed up on the scene there there were always a few girls who didn't know the difference between a short skirt and a way-to-short skirt, and rules about a hem needing to touch the floor if the girl kneeled were instituted. The reasonably lenient (and yet detested by the students) dress codes that prohibited "Garrison belts", super-short skirts, low-necklines, T-shirts on boys, super-long hair on boys, and super-teased hair on girls were said to be "archaic" back in the 60's, when my generation decided it was time to change the world, though, so many schools eliminated dress codes around that time.