Regarding Earrings and Piercings
mccree@dallas.net wrote and asked:
I don't know if this is a forum for my question, but can you tell me if there is an official policy regarding wearing visible jewelry while in uniform, and if so - where to find it.
There is none, not from the BSA's point of view nationally. Some local Councils have created policies dealing with wearing piercings with Scouting uniforms, but most have not.
Our troop has just adopted a strict policy regarding wearing full dress uniforms - one parent protested and wanted us to allow her son to wear an earring with the uniform. I thought I saw somewhere that one should not wear any visible jewelry with the uniform - even women in earrings.
Nope. It's not found in the Uniform Guides nor in the BSA's official policy dealing with uniforms. Now, if we're talking SAFETY, the BSA DOES recommend that Scouts and Scouters not wear ear rings nor necklaces during outdoor activities. This is written within the BSA's Health and Safety policies, and I couldn't find it listed in the current Guide to Safe Scouting (although it *should be there*).
The bottom line is this, Lisa: If your Troop has a WRITTEN POLICY (adopted by the Troop's Patrol Leaders' Council and approved by the Troop's Committee), whatever is the policy sticks. If that policy calls for no rings or piercings with the official uniform, then that sticks. Mom can complain, but if the policy is WRITTEN and she was provided a copy of it at the time of approval or before approval, then that's it.
Also - any suggestions for enforcing Full uniform policy with teenagers - without going to the drastic extreme of not allowing participation unless in full uniform.
You can't "enforce" full uniforming among teens, Lisa. I know -- not only I was one once, but I've served as an Advisor and Scoutmaster to youth that didn't want to wear the uniform. So how did I get them to do so?? By appealing to their two root sources: girls and pride; and by setting the example by wearing my uniform as completely and correctly as possible.
Scouts look up to the Scouters, no matter what. If you and your fellow Scouters are not in uniform, they too will feel that "they don't have to do it" and they won't be in uniform either. It is a true statement that "whatever the uniform of the adult leaders are the uniform of the members."
"Girls love uniforms, particularily if you are wearing the uniform the right way and not raggedly...", I would tell them personally, during a Scoutmaster's conference with the older group. Then I would hear the complaints: It's not cool, people look at you, it's unconfortable, etc. For every one of them I have a solution:
It's not cool...remember Fonzie and his jacket? (Actor Henry Winkler portrayed Arthur Fonzelli, otherwise known as "the Fonz" in the sitcom "Happy Days", one of the most popular television shows of all time; his "trademark" was his way with the girls and his black leather jacket...) Anything can be made "cool" with the right attitude. If you and your buds are "it" in your clique, then all of you wearing your Scout uniform could start a new "fashion statement." Hey, if a Scout shirt was good enough for Steven Tyler (the lead singer of Aerosmith; a Life Scout) to wear on stage....
people look at you...look back. Give them something to look at. They are looking at you because they are PROUD of you and because they see you as a Scout. Not as a bum on the street somewhere. Those same people are going to remember you in your Scout uniform and you'll never realize how much "free stuff" you'll get outta it. Rides, invites to meet their DAUGHTERS....
If the uniform's too unconfortable, maybe you need a new one. Or maybe you just want to wear it during the meeting. That's cool too..just come early and change into your uniform.
Teens are the hardest to get into a uniform and keep them there...but the keys are that first, YOU must be in uniform all of the time and second, THEY must "buy into" wearing the uniform on their terms.
You cannot MAKE anyone wear the complete uniform....you can INFLUNCE them to wear it by your own personal example and by meeting their needs for acceptance. Once you do those things, you won't have a problem at all with regard to getting them to wear the uniform.
Hope this all helps out and again thanks for asking me!
Settummanque!
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