Figure 1.--This is the first day of school for this Xouth African boy at Laerskool Hendrik Schoeman in Hartbeespoort, North West Province. It is very common for the younger children at Afrikaaner schools to attend barefoot.

We note many differences in country around the world as to coming to chool barefoot. Trends in America were similar to Europe. An important difference was that wages were higher in America compared to Europe (which is why so mamy emigrants chose America) and most children in urban areas came to school with shoes. We note, however, that some children in rural areas went barefoot, many out of preference althogh this is difficult to assess. Here there were regional differences. In the Southern states we see children going barefoot when the weather warms up at the end of the school year and not just in rural areas. This ended afterWorld War II when schools began requiring footwear. We note a lot of children in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa going barefoot without any suggestion of poverty. Some South African schools even promote it. African children commonly come to school barefoot, but this is generally an indication of poverty. India and Sri Lnka are more varied. Poverty is a factor, but some children in South Asia prefer to go barefoot. Over time with increasing affluence, fewer children come to school barefoot, but there are still many countries where children come to school barefoot. Flip-flops are common in many poorer countries. This is particularly the case in Africa because if continuing endemic poverty. But there are still a few countries that children come to school barefoot out of preference (New Zealand and South Africa). Today in Europe few children come to school barefoot. There is an exception in some German-speaking Swiss Cantons. The children on the previos page here are an example of this (figure 1). Here we see some children in rural areas coming to school barefoot out of preference.

Africa

Until recently alnost all African students who cae to school came barefoot. Over time with increasing affluence, fewer children come to school barefoot, but there are still many countries where children come to school barefoot. This is particularly the case in Africa. African children commonly come to school barefoot, but this is generally an indication of poverty. Africa a half century after de-colonization still suffers from grinding poverty. This is because most of the new African leads atte,pted yo build socialist economies. Most countries as a result still suffer from endemic poverty. Now that some African leaders are expeimebting with masrket reforms, you are seeing ome economic progress. Many more children now go to school in Africa. Large number still come to foot barefoot, but we are beginning to see some children now wearing footwear of some kind. . Flip-flops are very common. One exception is South Africa, the richest African country. But interestingly many South African children attend school barefoot. And this is not only the rural black children. Mny younger white children also go to school barefoot, especially Afrikaaner children. Some Afrikaaner schools even enourage the children to come to school barefoot.

South Africa

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.

America North

Trends in America were similar to Europe. An important difference was that wages were higher in America compared to Europe (which is why so mamy emigrants chose America) and most children in urban areas came to school with shoes. We note, however, that some children in rural areas went barefoot, many out of preference althogh this is difficult to assess. Here there were regional differences. In the Southern states we see children going barefoot when the weather warms up at the end of the school year and not just in rural areas. This ended afterWorld War II when schools began requiring footwear. Climate restructed the months that children in Canada could go barefoot.

Asia

Public education is reltivly new to Asia. Japan launched the first Asian public school system. Most countries did not launch public schools unltil afer World war II abd de-colonization. Coming to school brefoot was very common in the first public schools. Because most new Asian leaders adopted socialist ecmomics, there ws little economic ptogress in the region. The Comminist countries did even wore. The first countries to see most children wering shoes to school were the Japanese and the Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan), all coutries adopting capitalism rather than socialism. Gradually as the other Asia countries have developed market economies, we begin to see better-financed schools and the children coming to school with shoes. Going barefoot to school is still commom in the poorer countries of Southeast Asia. Interestingly, there is amajor dfference between Chinand India. Since market reforms, very few Chinese children now go to school barefoot. India has also made enormous economic progress,although not as much as China. We still see many Indian children coming to school barefoot. Much of this is because of poverty. But we see lots of examples of middle-class children in the cities going barefoot to school.

Europe

Schooling was limited for most children was limited until ve begin to see the firt public schools in Germany and America (18th century). We do not havemany images of early American public schools, but we do have some wonderful European henre paintings. Photography was invented in France (1839), but we only gradually begin to see school portraits. Thus we do not have a claer picture of 19th century trenss. We have found some school potaits at the end of the century (1890s) And after the turn-of-the 20th century, school portraits were a well etablished institution. And by this time we see most children coming to school with shoes, at least in the wealther counties and in urban areas. This varied somewhat fom country to country. Thereare quite a few countries in Europe, some quite small. Thus there are many diffrences and weonly have detailed informatin on the larger countries. The weathier the county and community, the more likely it was for children to come to school in shoes. Thus in Western Europe we see more children weasrung shoes to school than southern and eastern Europe. And this trend contnued, although affected by economic events and war. Here the Great Depression as well as World War I and II had a serious impact. Today in Europe few children come to school barefoot. There is an exception in modern Europe. Some German-speaking Swiss Cantons. The children on the previous page are an example of this. We see some children in rural areas coming to school barefoot out of preference.

Middle East and North Africa

Oceania

We note a lot of children in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa going barefoot without any suggestion of poverty. India and Sri Lnka are more varied. Poverty is a factor, but some children in South Asia prefer to go barefoot. But there are still a few countries that children come to school barefoot out of preference (New Zealand and South Africa).

Created: 3:40 PM 7/10/2015
Last updated: 3:40 PM 7/10/2015