page_title: Catholic school uniform
section_title: Purpose of school uniforms
hierarchical_section_title: Catholic school uniform / Purpose of school uniforms
caption_attribution_description: Photo description Several examples en:Catholic school uniform skirts showing the plaid patterns. All of these examples were manufactured by the Dennis Uniform Company based out of Portland OR. All skirts, skorts, jumpers and shifts are made in America at the Dennis Uniform factory in Portland. http://www.dennisuniform.com/onlstore/madeinUSA.asp The patterns of most or all such uniforms have names. For example, the green ground skirt (leftmost in the photo) has a pattern which is called a "Sequoia" by the manufacturer, next is "MacBeth", followed by "Plaid OO" and the last is called Lloyd. Note that these names apparently do not have any relation to the similarly named patterns of Scottish kilts which are registered with the Scottish Tartans Society. For example, the MacBeth plaid skirt is quite unlike any of the three examples of MacBeth tartan patterns, both as to the color scheme and the thread count. Photo is copyright © 2005 by James F. Perry.
context_page_description: A Catholic school uniform in North America, and especially the United States, stereotypically consists of a pleated and plaid skirt or jumper, Mary Jane or saddle shoes, a button-down shirt, and a sweater for girls, while boys' uniforms consist of a button-down shirt, a necktie, and dark pants. Actual school uniforms vary widely by location and individual school.
  In contrast to most schools in the United States, almost all Catholic schools in that country have some form of dress code, and most of them have a mandatory uniform policy.
  The concept is not easily transposed to other countries. In most Commonwealth countries, school uniforms are common in all types of schools, whether sectarian or not and regardless of religious denomination.
context_section_description: The stated purpose of uniforms, often set forth in school uniform policies, include reducing clothing expenditures for parents as well as avoiding distinctions among children based on whose parents can afford to buy them fashionable clothing to wear to school.  The school attire is also said to reduce distractions and help with student identification, ensuring that a stranger will stand out among the uniformed students.
caption: Several examples of Catholic school uniform skirts showing the plaid patterns.
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