SCHOOL UNIFORM RULES RELAXED

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32120, 16 October 1969, Page 2

SCHOOL UNIFORM RULES RELAXED

(By

CAROLE LYDERS)

LONDON. It looks as if the days of the old school tie are numbered, along with all the other items making up the formal school uniform. Headmasters and headmistresses appear to be catching the “with-it, swingin’ Britain” bug and relaxing the rigid rules on uniforms.

The country’s school children are now appearing in mini-skirts and flared trousers, though those bastions of the establishment—public schools —are clinging to striped blazers and caps for the moment. A large firm of schools’ outfitters has just completed a survey on the changing modes of uniforms. A few years ago, the start of the new term saw the mothers of Britain shopping for caps, straw hats, gym slips, belted raincoats, regulation shoes, socks, lies, blouses, and blazers for their offspring. Woe betide the child who was detected “undressed.” Lines, detention, visits to the principal were the result However the earlier maturity of children, the rising costs of formal uniforms, as well as the realisation that uniforms are not the great social leveller people thought, are bringing changes. Now boys are allowed to blossom out in pastel shirts, anoraks, and modern trousers. Today the girls are geting out of the sexless gym slip in-

to bright, up-to-the-minute mini-skirts and dresses in easy-care fabrics. The navyblue knickers are left to greatgrandmother, the girls prefer more feminine colours and designs. Individuality is becoming the order of the day and a few schools even arrange for classes in grooming and beauty-care for the girls. In another few years, when today’s pupils reach the universities it is more than likely that the era of the scruffy university type will be replaced by fashion-conscious, well-dressed students, and the older generation will be left without one of its major nagging planks.