Yet descipline without an effective education program has little value. Thus uniform standards can be misleading. Likewise, neatly tuned out boys suggested to many that a school, nomatter how dismal the results, was an effective one. Despite this obvious fact, there was once no other aspect of a school more likely to be regarded as the clear reflection of discipline. The state of the pupils' dress was thought to reflect the overall effectivness of the school.
Academic results are hard to evaluate.
Sure some schools might win more honors, but often that reflects the factors such as selectivity or the socio-economic status of the community from which the children are drawn. Even so excellent academic and sporting results might weigh less in some people's eyes than the appearance of the students as they move back and forh to school. It helps to establish the principle that they are in school to seriously apply themselves and not play. This is not to say there is no relationship between superficial matters such as well-turned out boys and the physical appearance of the school buildings and grounds. There is certainly some relatinship between the way a school looks and the quality of education it offers.