Re: Another word on uniforms - follow up
CHUCK BRAMLET (chuckb@AZTEC.ASU.EDU)
Fri, 30 Aug 1996 23:45:14 -0700
This started as a private reply to Grant over his comments on my post.
After reading it over, I felt that there were points in here that haven't
yet been considered - at least in the way that _I_ see them, here.
Sorry about the line wrapping, here. but I have less that 2 minutes to
finish this before it goes "poof" and I don't have the time to sorrect
the format. :(
Grant writes...
>uniform (I don't know what BSA uniform prices are like, but here you'd
>better not expect much change from $100 for a complete uniform by the time
>you include trousers, shirt, belt, hat etc.)
The last time I checked, the cost af a "complete" uniform is close to $100.
>However, I would draw a
>distinction between those who _cannot_ and those who _choose_ not to afford
[snip]
>than full uniform tends to be somewhat lacking...
I have to beg a bias of the jury, on this point. My wife is one of these
parents. Between what I make, and she makes, we make a decent living. But
there isn't much left over for
"incidentals". OTOH, our plastic money purveyors have in several instances
cancelled our card for "non-use". =8) Point is, we _can_ afford to buy the
stuff, but one piece of uniform means no eating out for any of us that week.
That creates problems with the "spousal unit", who manages a school cafeteria
and the _last_ thing that she wants to do in the evening is cook.
I have heard lots of parents "cry poor" on this issue. And , yes, the kid
might be wearing a $100 pair of Nike's. But did the parents buy them at the
shoe store in the mall, with family money? Or did the kid buy them at the
outlet store, with his own? Another side to this point is that the Nike's
will likely be worn out before they are outgrown, a fate that rarely happens
to a Scout uniform.
Those Nike's may well be the kid's only pair of non-dress shoes. It was for
mine. The fact that they will likekly last for 6-8 months of abuse makes
it much easier to justify than a pair of Scout pants that will be worn once
a week, except for hikes ("And don't you dare mess up those uniform pants!
Money doesn't grow on tree, you know.") or summer camp ("No, I don't care
_what_ the Scounmaster says, you're not taking those to camp. They'll end
up ruined"). Even now, Dan only has one pair for general use. But he has
several others for dance, where specialized shoes are a _necessity_.
I'm not saying that this applies to all kids. But it _certainly_ applies to
some. So let's not be _that_ quick to pass judgement, here.
YiS,
Chuck Bramlet, ASM Troop 323
Thunderbird District, Grand Canyon Council, Phoenix, Az.
I "used to be" an Antelope! (and a good ol' Antelope, too...) WEM-10-95
Please E-mail any replies to: >> chuckb@aztec.asu.edu <<
Member DNRC
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