NationStates Jolt Archive

Its August and for the schoolkids out there its... :p or :( or ::mad: and for the truant few :headbang: :upyours:

Once again the coporateconsumermarketingsphere (look it up :D) has rendered Back to School (or now codenamed BTS) as an pseudo-official holiday-like consumer shopping spree. Yes even in late July my T.V became a receptacle for BTS commercials from retail stores touting "hip" school clothes and more "cool" school clothes.... and more "stylish" school clothes. The other day I was in the checkout line at Target. Where I witnessed several mothers loading the conveyor with tons of clothing for their child. Then after pointlessly sitting through one BTS commercial I began to question. Shouldn't parents and be focused on preparing their kids for the upcoming academic season and not modeling the latest fashions? Are American children too focused on the social qualities of school rather than the academic qualities? Is that why American schoolkids are being outperformed by other countries?
What can be done???

Feel free to offer a thought about the corporateconsumermarketingsphere and its influences. Including its great winter shopping extravaganza Giftmas. A holiday formerly known as Christmas.

It isn't what you think. Most of those kids really do need new clothes after having spent the entire summer laying about playing video games and growing progressively fatter.
When I was a child, we worked all summer in the grist mill, and we were happy for the opportunity to do it. When I think back to those 20 hour days, feeding material into the huge machinery and praying I'd escape with all my fingers intact, I feel a sense of pride and dignity that today's kids just couldn't understand.

It isn't what you think. Most of those kids really do need new clothes after having spent the entire summer laying about playing video games and growing progressively fatter.
When I was a child, we worked all summer in the grist mill, and we were happy for the opportunity to do it. When I think back to those 20 hour days, feeding material into the huge machinery and praying I'd escape with all my fingers intact, I feel a sense of pride and dignity that today's kids just couldn't understand.

I've a great score on The Grist Mill on my PSP - I have pride too you know.

But...back to school shopping has been a big deal for decades, or have you just not noticed?

I mean, up until middle school I always went out with my mom in mid august to buy fresh new clothes for the school year. Those clothes were definitely needed.