Re: Wearing Uniforms and Sending Messages
Amick Robert (amick@SPOT.COLORADO.EDU)
Sat, 18 May 1996 20:27:44 -0600
Ned Jacklin, SM wrote:
> I don't know of a single Scout who would show up
> to their high school football game or their summer youth league
> baseball game or to perform with the marching band at half-time
> WITHOUT WEARING THEIR UNIFORM! The coaches and band director just
> wouldn't allow it. Why is it, then, that they are so unwilling to
> wear their Scout uniform to Scout functions?
You sometimes have to "walk a mile in the other fellow's moccasins" to
appreciate problems they might face...so it is with Scouts. If you use the
analogy of teens having to wear athletic uniforms or band uniforms, it should
be remembered that students go to a locker room at school typically, change
into the uniforms for their event, then change back to street clothes
when they are done.
Scouts currently face a lot of "peer pressure" about being in "Boy
Scouts." In these times, it is especially difficult for them, more than
when some of us were Scouts. In particular, our older Scouts (not so much
the younger Scouts) have told us that they "take a lot of 'heat'" from
their peers when they are required to wear their uniforms en route to or
from Scout meetings.
Most of us have heard the classic arguments from Scout leaders.."well, you
should be proud to wear the Scout uniform anywhere, anytime.
And so they usually are or should be...but that does not remove the problem
teens have with their peers giving them a "hard time" about it.
So I think we need to be a little more sensitive to the
impact that wearing the uniform outside of Scout events has on the Scouts.
Just as it would be a little unusual for a Scout who plays football to
wear his uniform to or from school, or for a Scout who plays in the band
to wear a band uniform from home to school and back, so too is it a
little difficult for them to wear a Scout uniform. Although they
probably would not be subjected to as much "hassle" from their peers if
they were wearing athletic or band uniforms because those are more
accepted in a school setting than perhaps are Scout uniforms.
Our troop has a long standing policy that each
Scout will be in full class "A" uniform including pants or shorts
with scout socks at every troop meeting and/or official event, unless
otherwise directed by the SPL/SM. We also maintain a used
uniform bank to ensure that every Scout has no
difficulty with this requirement in terms of cost and availability.
But perhaps the most important consideration is that we
also permit Scouts, especially the older Scouts, to bring their uniforms
to the meeting and change into them there. We are fortunate to have a
room provided for the primary use of the troop so it is possible for them
to change before the meeting if necessary. This seems to be a reasonable
compromise for the Scouts and with only rare exceptions, allows them to
wear "street" clothes to the meeting, then change. The other option of
course is for them to wear some article of street clothing over their
uniform until they get to the meeting if changing is not feasible.
You might propose this alternative to your Scouts with the understanding
that they must always change into their class "A" uniform at meetings if
they are allowed to come to the meeting in street clothes. This also
carries the caveat that they must arrive prior to the start of the
meeting to allow for enough time to change before the meeting starts. We
have generally had good luck with this arrangement.
If you talk openly with your Scouts, especially the teens who seem to be
most affected, you may get some pretty forthright discussions about the
issues. It is best if they can "talk it through" and come up with the
solutions, which may include the above suggestions or something even
better that they propose and buy into. Scout participation and ownership in
solving such issues often gets a lot more allegiance and support than
"orders from on high" by adults who may not appreciate or understand the
problem.
Bob Amick, Explorer Advisor, High Adventure Explorer Post 72, Boulder, CO
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
