School Uniforms

As promised, this blog will be about the school uniform for students.

Unlike in the States where typically only private schools have uniforms, every school in American Samoa has a uniform. Each high school has their own school colors. Leone's colors are Green and Gold. Every student wears a green ie faitaga with the Leone High School emblem on it accompanied by a white top.

For girls they must wear a white puletasi top which is a traditional Samoan article of clothing. The puletasi must go over the top of their ie. As you will notice a girl must wear her ie to her ankles.



Guys are a bit more lucky as they can wear a white polo shirt or button down and their ie should be worn just below their knees. Only in Samoa would a mens skirt be shorter than a girls. Their top should be tucked into their ie.



There are mixed opinions from the students regarding the uniform. Some seem to enjoy the fact that it makes everyone look the same and gives them a feeling of school pride and unity. Others hate it because it can be hot to wear and feels too traditional.



What's interesting is that everyone wears a pair of shorts under their ie faitaga. Most wear sport shorts so that when school is over they can take off their ie and have something comfortable on to wear. But it certainly must add to the heat factor which under the Samoan sun can be quite brutal.

Luckily teachers do not have to wear this uniform. But that's for another post.