I did not start this thread because I find young girls in plaid skirts attractive, nor do I want to know about the techniques of making minor girls attractive.
[/QUOTE]
Nor I. But it wasn’t the first “Catholic girls” joke out there, and won’t be the last. Sorry.
[QUOTE=WhyNot]
From a textile perspective, I think we already got a good answer: traditional wool plaid is sturdy as hell, needs little or no ironing if you hang it promptly, hides dirt and stains and was a very utilitarian fabric back in the day. All things you want when outfitting active kids. Note that places that use solids use *polyester *solids, even in today’s day and age. After wool, polyester is the top of the resists-stains, needs little ironing, sturdy as hell fabric. Polyester, however, needs to be dyed or printed with a pattern after weaving, so it’s more commonly left blank. That second step costs more. Wool can be cheaply woven into patterns - herringbone and plaid being the most common (and, again, common = cheapest in fabrics.)
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, as you and sugar and spice have noted above, this is probably the best explanation. I was hoping for something more culturally revealing–some kind of semiotic connection. [sigh]
[QUOTE=GorillaMan]
Stretching all the way back to the Arabic jubbah, according to Etymonline.
[/QUOTE]
That’s a lot of stretching. I think the word sweater makes more sense, because if you wear it indoors, you sweat.
[QUOTE=pulykamell]
Is this right? I thought a British “vest” is a sleeveless tee-shirt (aka “singlet” or, more vulgarly, a “wifebeater.”)
[/QUOTE]
Please don’t get me started on that. It’s my weekend morning.
[QUOTE=guizot]
Yeah, as you and sugar and spice have noted above, this is probably the best explanation. I was hoping for something more culturally revealing–some kind of semiotic connection. [sigh]
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, it sucks when the answer is incredibly mundane. I’m reminded of a conversation I had with a fellow named Richard who actually met Gerald Gardner, the father of modern Wicca. Richard told me the (apocryphal?) tale of having a conversation where he was really excited to finally ask Gardner why there are always two candles on the altar during Wiccan workings. Lots of hypotheses had been tossed about (they represent The Goddess and The God, or the Moon and the Sun or the Light and the Dark or…) but no one really knew for sure - it wasn’t part of the knowledge passed down. Gardner apparently looked slightly confused at the question and said, “Well, you see, back in Highcliffe, the shop down the corner sold candles in packs of two…”
[QUOTE=Siam Sam]
It is in Bangkok. In After Skool Bar in Soi Cowboy and Playskool Bar in Nana Plaza, the bargirls all wear plaid schoolgirl outfits. Mmmmm, baby.
[/QUOTE] Sam, you seem to know a lot about these infamous places in Bangkok. You must be an investigative reporter.
I’ve been offered a teaching position there. If I go, will you serve as a tour guide?
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee]
I meant that a school will never choose a uniform with a flower pattern, or a polka-dot pattern, or a striped pattern, for example.
[/QUOTE]
I’m trying to imagine if my soccer team had to play in polka-dots. I don’t think we ever would’ve won.
[QUOTE=guizot]
Well, I just called my mother, who is thoroughly educated as a Catholic, and she confirms that a “jumper” is a sleeveless dress-like thing worn by school girls over their regular clothes. But she’s from Boston, so I have to take it with a grain of salt (and a communion wafer).
[/QUOTE]
The jumper is part of the clothes, not worn over them. Like this. We wore jumper with uniform shirt underneath in 1-4, and a shirt and plaid skirt in 5-8.
[QUOTE=WhyNot]
From a textile perspective, I think we already got a good answer: traditional wool plaid is sturdy as hell, needs little or no ironing if you hang it promptly, hides dirt and stains and was a very utilitarian fabric back in the day. All things you want when outfitting active kids. Note that places that use solids use *polyester *solids, even in today’s day and age. After wool, polyester is the top of the resists-stains, needs little ironing, sturdy as hell fabric. Polyester, however, needs to be dyed or printed with a pattern after weaving, so it’s more commonly left blank. That second step costs more. Wool can be cheaply woven into patterns - herringbone and plaid being the most common (and, again, common = cheapest in fabrics.)
[/QUOTE]
For the record, the plaid school uniforms I had in the '70s and '80s were polyester plaid. The printing may have added to the cost, but it was still cheaper than wool, in addition to being slightly more appropriate for summer and easier to wash.
Another possible reason for plaids over solid colors, by the way, is variety. Solid colored school uniforms seem to be mostly confined to blues, greys, black, khaki, brown and dark green. Even allowing for the occasional mutant maroon uniform, you’re not going to have as many easily distinguishable choices as you can with the plaids shown on this chart. That can be important in a city where many schools in a fairly small area want to have a uniform that is unique to their school. (My grade school uniform was plaid #45 on that chart, and my high school uniform was 08 Navy, by the way )
[QUOTE=gigi]
The jumper is part of the clothes, not worn over them. Like this. We wore jumper with uniform shirt underneath in 1-4, and a shirt and plaid skirt in 5-8.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=guizot] Sam, you seem to know a lot about these infamous places in Bangkok. You must be an investigative reporter.
I’ve been offered a teaching position there. If I go, will you serve as a tour guide?
(And what’s your rate?)
[/QUOTE]
Lots of positions in Bangkok, hehehe.
This is definitely an interesting place to hang out for a while as a teacher. I don’t know your background or qualifications, but teaching pay in Thailand is generally quite low compared with other countries in East and Southeat Asia (although there are some high-paying positions for the truly qualified). But the low pay is made up for by the warm weather and general easy living conditions, at least for a while. From what I can tell, foreign teachers usually burn out after a few years, but it’s a worthwhile experience to have under your belt.
One New Zealander who has lived and taught here for 10 years now is an exception. He runs a local website and calls himself Stickman. A genuinely nice guy; I’ve met him on occasion. He offers this advice on living and working in Bangkok and this advice on teaching English here.
And don’t be surprised if you end up with a Thai wife.
[QUOTE=Siam Sam]
This is definitely an interesting place to hang out for a while as a teacher. I don’t know your background or qualifications…
[/QUOTE]
(BA English UC Berkeley, MA Applied Linguistics UCLA)–taught about in every circumstance you can imagine.
[QUOTE=Siam Sam]
…but teaching pay in Thailand is generally quite low compared with other countries in East and Southeat Asia
[/QUOTE]
It can’t be that much lower than in Colombia, where we worked so much we didn’t even have time to spend the little money they paid us. But when we did…(have you ever gone camping in a tropical paradise and been woken up in the middle of the night by guerrillas, pointing machine guns at you?)
[QUOTE=Siam Sam]
But the low pay is madup for by the warm weather and general easy living conditions, at least for a while.
[/QUOTE]
I’m thinking more about the food. I can’t think of a country that has better food, except maybe India.
[QUOTE=Siam Sam]
And don’t be surprised if you end up with a Thai wife.
[/QUOTE]
Actually, I’ve already had a Thai wife, in a way.
When I taught at LACC, in East Hollywood, which is also known as “Thai Town,” one of my Thai students said, “You should meet my teacher (Pi-Dang) from Bangkok University, who’s in town visiting.” I didn’t realize that he was actually setting us up (she was staying at his place). We became friends, and often went out (often very late, which is the Thai way) to the Thai cabarets of East Hollywood, where Thai celebrities (soap opera actresses, singers, etc.) would go—to perform (sing), etc. On one night, she introduced me to a dean from Bangkok University, who offered me a job there. (Maybe it was just too much Sing-Ha.)
Anyway, my student’s girlfriend came to L.A. from Thailand, so he effectively threw her (Pi-Dang) out, and asked if I could put her up. So she moved into my dingbat. Within a week she had put a pink mat on the floor, and had me getting up at five AM to do Buddhist meditation. I had no problem with the meditation, but the pink had to go.
And she changed the position of my futon because the head was facing west—that apparently means burial in Thailand.
But, she taught me how to cook real Thai curry (and make home-made curry paste in a mortar and pestle). I am forever thankful.
[QUOTE=Siam Sam]
This is definitely an interesting place to hang out for a while as a teacher. I don’t know your background or qualifications…
[/QUOTE]
(BA English UC Berkeley, MA Applied Linguistics UCLA)–taught about in every circumstance you can imagine.
[QUOTE=Siam Sam]
…but teaching pay in Thailand is generally quite low compared with other countries in East and Southeat Asia
[/QUOTE]
It can’t be that much lower than in Colombia, where we worked so much we didn’t even have time to spend the little money they paid us. But when we did…(have you ever gone camping in a tropical paradise and been woken up in the middle of the night by guerrillas, pointing machine guns at you?)
[QUOTE=Siam Sam]
But the low pay is madup for by the warm weather and general easy living conditions, at least for a while.
[/QUOTE]
I’m thinking more about the food. I can’t think of a country that has better food, except maybe India.
[QUOTE=Siam Sam]
And don’t be surprised if you end up with a Thai wife.
[/QUOTE]
Actually, I’ve already had a Thai wife, in a way.
When I taught at LACC, in East Hollywood, which is also known as “Thai Town,” one of my Thai students said, “You should meet my teacher (Pi-Dang) from Bangkok University, who’s in town visiting.” I didn’t realize that he was actually setting us up (she was staying at his place). We became friends, and often went out (often very late, which is the Thai way) to the Thai cabarets of East Hollywood, where Thai celebrities (soap opera actresses, singers, etc.) would go—to perform (sing), etc. On one night, she introduced me to a dean from Bangkok University, who offered me a job there. (Maybe it was just too much Sing-Ha.)
Anyway, my student’s girlfriend came to L.A. from Thailand, so he effectively threw her (Pi-Dang) out, and asked if I could put her up. So she moved into my dingbat. Within a week she had put a pink mat on the floor, and had me getting up at five AM to do Buddhist meditation. I had no problem with the meditation, but the pink had to go.
And she changed the position of my futon because the head was facing west—that apparently means burial in Thailand.
But, she taught me how to cook real Thai curry (and make home-made curry paste in a mortar and pestle). I am forever thankful.
Well, guizot, I’d say you were qualified. Bangkok U is a private school, so their pay rate will be a bit higher, especially being a uni. A decent school from what I’ve heard. It’s sort of in an out-of-the-way area of Bangkok, but not way out in the boonies. See if the dean meant what he said and give it some serious thought. You could have a reunion with Daeng.
I’ve heard of this head-pointing thing once before, but it does not seem very common. The guy in charge of the work we had done getting the last place we owned ready seemed very concerned about which way the head of our bed was going to be facing, but my wife could not care less, and now your friend is only the second one I’ve heard of who voiced concerned about it. But I suppose it could be that all the beds I’ve slept in over the yaers have not faced west, and I just never thought about it.
[QUOTE=gigi]
The jumper is part of the clothes, not worn over them. Like this. We wore jumper with uniform shirt underneath in 1-4, and a shirt and plaid skirt in 5-8.
[/QUOTE]
So does that mean that if she doesn’t wear the jumper she is considered unclothed?
[QUOTE=flodnak]
Even allowing for the occasional mutant maroon uniform, you’re not going to have as many easily distinguishable choices as you can with the plaids shown on this chart. That can be important in a city where many schools in a fairly small area want to have a uniform that is unique to their school. (My grade school uniform was plaid #45 on that chart, and my high school uniform was 08 Navy, by the way )
[/QUOTE]
Neat! My grade school plaid* is #90 and my high school plaid** is #82. My high school was a bit different in that each graduating year had their own plaid (they had probably 8-10 blue plaids they rotated through). I graduated in 2000 so we had the “special” plaid there because it had RED in addition to white, blue, black and grey. You could tell at a glance what grade any student was in at my HS.
Jumper from 1st to 5th grade, then a skirt for 6th through 8th. White collared shirts, dress shoes and white knee or ankle socks. Optional navy or hunter sweater when it was cold and tights were permissible in the winter.
** Skirt with a white oxford shirt (or white polo with school name embroidered on it) and black, grey, navy or white knee or ankle socks and mandatory saddle shoes. Optional grey or navy sweater (with school name embroidered on it) and tights were allowed from October - April.
[QUOTE=MaxTheVool]
That’s ridiculous. One might even call it infernal nonsense!
[/QUOTE]
Why would you say that? Is it because for $230 you can buy something called a “hokey pokey pinafore top”? (“A modern print ups the cool quotient of a sweet style.”)
)
