School Uniforms in the Fifties

Peer pressure was stronger than any dress code.

School Uniforms in the Fifties

 

By Elton Camp

 

Some people have an idea they think is new

To tell students what to wear is what they do

“Wear a uniforms that is up to our dress code,

Or else you will be required to hit the road.”

 

As far back in time as several decades ago

School uniforms existed but were de facto

Fail to comply meant you had to be a geek

Socially that put you very far up the creek

 

Blue jeans all boys were expected to wear

And a flattop was the only way to cut hair

Thick athletic socks always had to be white

Oh, we were, back then, just quite a sight

 

Not one girl would wear pants to school

That would have violated the tacit rule

Full skirts were what they all did wear

To attend wearing shorts, none would dare

 

It was enforced by the strongest thing around

Violators would receive a sneer and a frown

Peer pressure kept the dress code in place

Back then, nobody was willing to lose face

 

And if a boy had placed a ring into his ear,

Instant retaliation of the guys he must fear

“What’s that you have got there, my dear?

It’s obvious to all of us.   You are a queer.”

 

Such talk was the universally accepted way

Bullying didn’t just start in our present day

So whether it was your voice or grooming

The group norm you had better be assuming.