Recently a young follower submitted this post of them as a Scout (they're in glasses, short and blond) a few years back on a St. George's Day Parade expressing the view that they'd wished they could of been a Scout in the traditional Shorts and Long socks era.
I find it actually interesting that he feels that way because that move in Scouts to longs was one of the products of the Advanced Party Report of 1966/7 which amongst other things suggested that they saw Scouts as "Juvenile" and uncool in the form Baden-Powell set out which lead to the formation of the Baden-Powell Scouting Association because they recognized scouting for what it was and refused to change.
My own feelings are that shorts and long socks at the very least ought to be an option within the Scouting Associations Scouts rather like with the BPSA they have Khaki shorts and long socks being recognized from the outset as more practical and hygienic in the field by BP himself and mandatory in Cubs.
A few Scout Troops have reverted to shorts in the last couple of years mirroring the Grey School Shorts revival in high schools.
My suspicions are that boys like my young follower actually love chunks of traditional boyhood and of having a distinct identity rather more than some adults in positions of authority think, wanting to follow in our footsteps and that's just great.
My message for adults in such positions like Scout Leaders is to talk and especially listen to them rather than anonymous trendy focus groups.
Pix submitted by "olderboyshortshorts"
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