School Uniforms

The parameters of what can be worn by students in schools is not new. The spectrum of what students are allowed to wear ranges from dress code policies that explicitly state what cannot be worn to uniform policies that explicitly state what must be worn in schools. The historical lineage of uniform policies in formal schooling is notable, particularly in United Kingdom, with the rise of school uniforms originating in the 16th century but becoming more widespread in the 18th and 19th centuries, and later influencing parts of Europe and the British Empire to varying degrees. This entry examines the history of school uniforms, the rationale given to support school uniforms, and ongoing debates about school uniforms.