Figure 1.--A reader has sent along this image. He tells us, "The photo was taken in Wichita Falls, Texas. The children are gathered for an assembly while their school participated in "One Day Without Shoes", an event to raise awareness of children in poor countries that have no shoes. There are different opinions about events as this one. What sounds a bit strange to me is that often these events are sponsored by shoes factories."

It is much less common for children to go barefoot today than in former years, especially in the developed world. Only in a few countries like New Zealand is going barefoot still very common. Of course in poor countries, especially Africa we still see many children going barefoot. A variety of groups and individuals for various reasons have organized barefoot experiences for children. The most notable are the barefoot parts in Europe, especially in Germany. The motivation here seems to be to get closer to nature. We also notice barefoot days in a few American schools. The motivation here seems to be to give children of what it is like to be poor child in early priods are in underdeveloped countries today. This of course should lead to a discussion of why are some countries poor, but I doubt if our politically correct modern schools will persue that line of thought.

Countries

It is much less common for children to go barefoot today than in former years, especially in the developed world. Only in a few countries like New Zealand is going barefoot still very common. Of course in poor countries, especially Africa we still see many children going barefoot. Attitudes toward going barefoot vary greatly from country to country. In some countries it meant verile, healty boyhood and freedom from uncomfortable shoes. In other countries it meant and still does, one thing--poverty. The different outlooks have varied greatly among countries. One of the factors involved here is of course climate. Attitudes within counties have of coutse varied over time. Australian boys in the 19th Century and early 20th Century commonly went barefoot. The major reason was probably the cost of shoes, but the practice continued even as economic conditions improved. The climate was much more amenable to going barefoot than in England itself.

Modern Experiences

A variety of groups and individuals for various reasons have organized barefoot experiences for children.

Barefoot parks

The most notableof these experiences are the barefoot parts in Europe, especially in Germany. The motivation here seems to be to get closer to nature. Germany has many barefoot-parks and many children visit them. This is a trend which began in Europe during the 1990s. It is primarily centered in Germany and Austria, although there are barefoot parks in some other countries. There are now several hundred of these parks set up. Various groups manage these parks, inclusding municipalities. The parks offer people the experience of walking barefoot for a distance. The longest walks are about 3 miles. The parks are frequented by young adults, families, school groups, and others. The walkers have the opportunity to feel natural ground and various materials with the bare soles of their feet. There is a facility at the beginning of each hike for the walkers to store their shoes and sandals in shelves and lockers.

Barefoot days

We also notice barefoot days in a few American schools. The motivation here seems to be to give children of what it is like to be poor child in early priods are in underdeveloped countries today. This of course should lead to a discussion of why are some countries poor, but I doubt if our politically correct modern schools will persue that line of thought. A reader tells us, "The photo was taken in Wichita Falls, Texas. The children are gathered for an assembly while their school participated in "One Day Without Shoes", an event to raise awareness of children in poor countries that have no shoes. There are different opinions about events as this one. What sounds a bit strange to me is that often these events are sponsored by shoes factories."