Figure 1.--Children at many South African primary schools come to school barefoot. It is also common for South African children to have sport in bare feet. Maurizio |
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One significant difference from England is that many South African children go to school barefoot. One notiable trend is the tendency of many primary school children to go barefoot. This appears to have been an option even at schools which had required uniforms. We are not sure why children go barefoot. As it occurs even at private schools, we assume that many children prefer to go barefoot. This seem primarily an option at
primary schools. I don't know if any school required the children to go barefoot. The dress codes varies from school to school. In some primary school not only children go to school barefoot but also bare feet are specifically mentioned as part of summer school uniform ( skooldrag ). There are schools that require always school shoes or sandals (usually without socks), but there are other schools, especially Afrikaans speaking, that permit, or sometimes encourage, bare feet. This is a different situation also regarding other Country where many children go to school barefoot. This is true only for primary schools (Laerskools). Older boys are always required wear shoes or sandals.
One significant difference from England is that many South African children go to school
barefoot. One notiable trend is the tendency of many primary school children to go
barefoot. This appears to have been an option even at schools which had required
uniforms.
We are not sure why children go barefoot. As it occurs even at private schools,
we assume that many children prefer to go barefoot.
This seem primarily an option at primary schools.
I don't know if any school required the children to go barefoot, but some cetainly schools incouraged it. At some schools nearly all of the children, especially the younger children are bsarefoot. Perhaps it was required, here we are not sure. In some primary school not only children go to school barefoot but also bare feet are specifically mentioned as part of summer school uniform ( skooldrag ). There are schools that require always school shoes or sandals (usually without socks), but there are other schools that permit, or sometimes encourage, bare feet.
Going to school barefoot seems particulary common at Afrikaans schools. I'm not sure why this is. I think one factor is that many Afrikaaans schools are located in rural areas or Afrikaans families come from families tht live on farms or whose parents lived on farms.
The dress codes varies from school to school. This is a different situation also regarding other Country where many children go to school barefoot. This is true only for primary schools (Laerskools). Older boys are always required wear shoes or sandals. One school advises, "You children have not to be afraid for clothing when you are running and playing. You children are allowed come to school barefoot as long as possible, except in winter". Another school describes the school Summer uniform, "Boys. White open shirt with short sleeves. Short gray trousers. Bare feet or brown sandals or long gray socks with black shoes. Girls. White open shirt with short sleeves. Regular maroon dress. White short socks with black shoes or brown sandals without socks or bare feet."
We note many South African children going to school barefoot. A few children wear plastic ankle braclkets. We are not sure what the purpose of these beaclets were. A reader tells us that it is only a child's fashion. We do not know if there were any gender connotatations. We think both boys and girls wore them. We are not sure when this fashion began.
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