Figure 1.--.

With reference to the article sent on the April 11, 2003 on "Shortspants/Trousers: Rite of passage in America" by a retired history professor, I wish in spirit of camaraderie and as a HBC reader, wish to add on the topic which is a favorite discussion point and to ramificate on.

First of all I speak on no authority and my points and observations are essentially irreverent. It is interesting that this topic comes up on HBC as by coincidence I was in contact with an acquaintance in the United States who says that in his country, boys in shorts who charge around barefoot, as in the case here in South Africa, would be frowned upon. Essentially the discussion was more on bare feet as he says schools there have a firm 'no shoes, no shirts = no admittance policy.

Whilst I appreciate from where he is coming from, I find it quite amusing and one can almost not resisting jibing the Yanks with their over regulatory demands on what is entailed for the (no doubt) energetic young lad to go to school. Does Congress have sessions to iron out the finer points of the issue and have them promulgated? The paragraph where the good prof's axiom postulations is that the 'quaint' practice is to 'properly' train boys and to 'keep them in place' Also the ulterior motive was to demean and so teach humility.

These noble, outlandish and profound observations sound indeed plausible and sagacious but such specious rationalizations I can assure you will vaporize here in this country at once. Being blessed with a moderate and temporate climate for mosof the year, the most fortunate lads (and girls) here are totally unemcumbeered by any decree from Cogress and are without question, are totally unfettered by any custom or peer pressure and without question are the most happiest and energetic guys around, This allows them, with boundless energy, to charge around the neighbourhood all day with just the essential basics of shorts a t-shirt and of being barefoot.

Some local primary schools (mores in the rural Ares) also allow the children to go to school barefoot and it is such a wonderful idea. Purely from an economical and practical view, it makes sense and furthermore, boys at that age are unencumbered by fashion awareness in fact couldn't care less. From a health point of view, their fine delicate feet are not (at times fitting badly) encumbered by expensive shoes (being energetic and with rough play, deterioted quickly) and so there feet can grow properly with the finer muscles and ligaments grow inhibiting and natural - wonderful, wonderful!

One interesting hangover this country has from it's Colonial and apartheid past, was the quintessential British School Uniform. (Play clasical music quietly when you read with this passage.) Essentially, the British School Uniform is a stalwart dress whose basic style has not changed for many decades. Many parents here believe that it is beneficial for boys to dress nicely for school in school uniforms. Usually it's the schools jacket, a white cotton shirt, and reaspnably fitted gray shorts to which are normally added knee socks and usually slightly scruffy school leather shoe. Andre