In defense of ‘socks’ education

I may be an avid barefooter, but I do support the wearing of “socks.” I mean, if you are going to put your foot in a shoe, please wear a sock. Socks don’t offer 100% protection for your foot, but it is pretty irresponsible to wear shoes without them, especially if you plan to wear other shoes throughout your lifetime. Surprising, but not all people know the proper way to put on a sock. This video shows you step-by-step.

It’s actually against the law to discuss sock-wearing in Mississippi schools. My son just finished up a two-week abstinence program in his school, where he learned to save shoes until marriage. Socks and other foot protection were not addressed at all. I am OK with this for 5th grade curriculum, but Mississippi’s teen pregnancy rate is evidence that sock wearing and other foot protection is an issue that shouldn’t be ignored in the upper grades. Why can’t socks be discussed in the classroom in a matter-of-fact sort of way? Give them information about socks and other forms of foot protection, and leave the moral implications to the parents and religious leaders. Just because they know about socks, doesn’t automatically mean they’ll choose to wear shoes before they are ready.

So, do I think teenagers should be wearing shoes? Heavens no! But I know many teens will put on shoes anyway, and if they do, I hope they know to put on socks first.