UNIFORM RULES 70s & 80s

School uniform policy has evolved significantly over the decades, but during the 1970s, strict appearance standards were standard practice. 

Excerpts from the McKHS newsletters of the era highlight the firm rules governing everything from sideburn length to extreme hairstyles, offering a fascinating glimpse into the expectations placed on students at the time.

Click on the image to enlarge

EXCERPTS FROM THE 1970S AND 1980S McKHS NEWSLETTERS

Grooming and General Appearance 

Parents and students are reminded of the school's requirements with regard to appearance, especially boys' hair and length of girls’ dresses.

The rule relating to boys' hair:

1. Hair must be clean and under adequate control.

2. It must not be so long as to touch shirt or blazer collar at the back.

3. It must be well back behind the ears.

4. Sideboards must not protrude past the ear lobe.

5. Boys must be clean shaven.

6. Students not obeying these instructions on hair may, at the discretion of the Form Co-ordinator and Senior Master, be sent home until they return with a written note of explanation from the parent/guardian, or with rules carried out.

    

And from an earlier newsletter:

To take pride in one's appearance and dress is a mark of self-respect.

This applies to all boys in the school, whether at school or on the way to/from school. The community judges a whole school by what individuals from that school do.

Shirts are to be buttoned at all times and the school tie is to be firmly adjusted to the collar. On a very hot day, ties may be removed and shirt sleeves rolled up neatly.

On the question of hair styles, we ask that there be no extreme styles.

While students are at school accepting the privileges and benefits a good school can offer, they have an obligation to abide by its rules in all matters.

School Rules on Girls' Uniform and General Appearance

We at McKinnon High School feel that to take pride in one's general appearance, dress and grooming is a mark of self-respect, both as a girl from a good home, and as a member of a fine school.

The following instructions apply to all girls in the school, whilst in school uniform. We particularly ask the girls to remember that the community judges the whole school by what individuals from that school do, thus they must be very careful to behave appropriately.

From other newsletters of the same time:

• Hats will be compulsory for all girls of Forms I, II and III. For other pupils it is optional.

• Blazers must be worn to and from school except on extremely hot days.

• No jewellery including rings, studs & bracelets.

• No make-up or nail polish.

• Hair must be clean and, if shoulder length or longer, must be tied back and ribbons must be dark blue or junior navy. No fancy clips.

• Side curls and fringes must not obstruct vision.

• Girls must change out of sport, drama or other clothing into full uniform before resuming classes.

• The length of frocks is the responsibility of mothers but the school reserves the right to have exceedingly long or short garments altered.

Parents of girls are reminded that where the school considers frocks are too short, girls may be sent home to have these lengthened. The length of dresses should be checked well ahead of the end of vacation.