crocs banned at school!!!

[Luv Bunnies]

I haven't seen any kids at my sons' school wearing Crocs. The dress code does say no open-toed sandels but I've seen plenty of kids wearing them.

I always send my boys to school in sneakers. They have P.E. on various days and they play hard at recess. My little one is always playing soccer or basketball and sandals would be a hazard to his toes.

In the special ed preschool class where I work, shoes were a big issue for us last year. We do a lot of gross motor activies with our kids as part of the program. The kids need to work on balance, climbing, kicking, etc. Some of the moms would put their little girls in the most impractical shoes you can imagine. They'd have flip-flops made of straw with little flowers on top or sandals that actually have considerable heels on them. One little girls always had sandals that were too big. Her mom refused to buy shoes that fit because she would outgrow them too quickly.

We explained to the parents that the kids really needed closed-in, rubber-soled shoes for the activities we do. One mom laughed and said, "Well, that wouldn't look cute on her." But if this kid as much as stubbed her toe or was accidentely stepped on by another child, the mom went into a tizzy and demanded a police report!

I really think function is more important than fashion in terms of school shoes. A child's feet should be covered and protected. There are just too many hazards at school for kids to have open toes or open heels.

 

[Mkrop]

I haven't seen any kids at my sons' school wearing Crocs. The dress code does say no open-toed sandels but I've seen plenty of kids wearing them.

I always send my boys to school in sneakers. They have P.E. on various days and they play hard at recess. My little one is always playing soccer or basketball and sandals would be a hazard to his toes.

In the special ed preschool class where I work, shoes were a big issue for us last year. We do a lot of gross motor activies with our kids as part of the program. The kids need to work on balance, climbing, kicking, etc. Some of the moms would put their little girls in the most impractical shoes you can imagine. They'd have flip-flops made of straw with little flowers on top or sandals that actually have considerable heels on them. One little girls always had sandals that were too big. Her mom refused to buy shoes that fit because she would outgrow them too quickly.

We explained to the parents that the kids really needed closed-in, rubber-soled shoes for the activities we do. One mom laughed and said, "Well, that wouldn't look cute on her." But if this kid as much as stubbed her toe or was accidentely stepped on by another child, the mom went into a tizzy and demanded a police report!

I really think function is more important than fashion in terms of school shoes. A child's feet should be covered and protected. There are just too many hazards at school for kids to have open toes or open heels.

Our preschool teachers say this over and over again all year long until they are blue in the face. I always put DS4 in sneakers (he has enough balance issues, I dont need shoes to cause any additional problems) parents dont know what activity is scheduled for the day so why would you chance it but the kids are getting out of the car with the cutest most impractical (boys and girls) ever. I dont get it.

 

[kldmom2000]

Our school's principal sent home a letter to parents asking them to not dress the students in crocs, sandals, flip-flops or any other shoe that is not a sturdy one such as a sneaker or mary-jane style shoe (for girls). There were too many injuries with twisted ankles and smashed toes

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I find this rule really strange. My 18 month-old wears her Crocs about 75% of the time, and that's only because her play place doesn't allow hard soled shoes. Otherwise, they'd be all that she wears. She runs around just fine in them, climbs at the playground in them, goes to the beach in them, etc. I don't see them as any less safe than sandals, and they sure are convenient to get on and off.

 

[futreWDI]

i am not sure about crocs because i have never worn them, so i cannot comment on how itis to run in them. in my highschool, flip flops were not allowed, and it was pretty much enforced. at the time when i was in hs i hated that, but after wearing flip flops for 4 years of college i know why.

at home it is easy to walk around in flip flops but at home you are not running, and i mean sprinting through crowded hallways and up atairs with books in your hands. in college, i have done this a couple times, thought not as often as hs. i almost fell a couple times, and have fallen at least once or twice. the front of a flip flop gets caught under a stair lip and it's over. or because the hell of a flip flop stays on the ground longer than the foot, someone walking closely behind steps on them more often especially on the steps. i imagine crocs sometimes have the same problem especially with the back strap worn in front.

yes, you might be the parents and know if your children are safe, but accidents happen. it may not even be your child that trips but the child the does trip will bring down four others on the stairs and getting called out of work for broken bones and chipped teeth may or may not change your minds.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

As a preschool teacher I wish our school would ban crocks, the little ones can't seem to keep them on their feet and out on the playground they complain about sand and mulch in the shoes, not fun for anyone. As for the hard soled shoes, think about this...when some kids are playing on the floor and others are walking/running about those hard soled shoes sure hurt when it's your fingers under the shoe.

Function over fashion.

 

[tinkandpan]

I have absolutely no problem with banning them for younger children. If I were the preschool teacher and had to deal with kmulch in the toes, shoes slipping off etc, I'd be put out and upset. Older kids I can't see the problem as long as it fits into the dress code of the district. My ds5's school has a socks and closed toe rule. I know it is for the safety of my child so I'm okay with it.

 

[tinkandpan]

I have absolutely no problem with banning them for younger children. If I were the preschool teacher and had to deal with kmulch in the toes, shoes slipping off etc, I'd be put out and upset. Older kids I can't see the problem as long as it fits into the dress code of the district. My ds5's school has a socks and closed toe rule. I know it is for the safety of my child so I'm okay with it. My kids wear their crocs when they are with me afterschool and on weekends- but they know they can't wear them to schoolo.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Our school kept the crocs and flip-flops but took out the playground. What makes sense about that?

 

[alloyd1170]

When I worked in the schools, I constantly heard the janitors complain about the scuff marks left by certain shoes and rolling backpacks.

 

[jenrein]

Maybe someone else out there realized how ugly those damned things are! Ok, and now I will run!

 

[mdsouth]

Maybe someone else out there realized how ugly those damned things are! Ok, and now I will run!

Too funny!!! Ditto for me!


I bet the school nurses and ER nurses could share lots of information on crocs, sandals, etc. contribution to accidents. I myself have seen far to many kids wearing crocs, flip flops, etc. falling down and getting hurt on playgrounds. Parents need to help schools out in this manner.

 

[jpeka65844]

Heck! I get hurt when I wear Crocs, flip-flops, and open backed shoes and I'm an adult! I broke my foot stepping of a curb when my mule came off. AND Crocs make me trip b/c I have such huge feet, I have to have clown size. I'm not joking! In Crocs, I wear the same size as my husband!.

AND, I'm a teacher so I'm all in favor of it. AND I'm a mom and I'd be all in favor of it. Have you ever SMELLED sweaty Croc/sandal feet?

I will also say that schools can be SO hit and miss w/dress code. I used to teach high school and I'd send girls all the time to the office for spaghetti strap shirts and skirts that are only THIS long and they always got sent back to class.....What's the use? In fact, I had to break up a girl fight that was over dress code. Aaahhh...the good old days!



Denice T.
Olathe, KS

 

[kuusimo]

If you notice in the article though it is just the "beach" style of crocs. So you could still wear croc flip flops or mary jane style. I get rocks stuck in my crocs all the time. My boys do too.

My son wore his crocs almost everyday except on PE days. If he could not find his crocs that morning he would wear his sandals which also looked a lot like crocs.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Finally my town makes the news...and it's for this!

 

[marcyinPA]

I haven't seen any kids at my sons' school wearing Crocs. The dress code does say no open-toed sandels but I've seen plenty of kids wearing them.

I always send my boys to school in sneakers. They have P.E. on various days and they play hard at recess. My little one is always playing soccer or basketball and sandals would be a hazard to his toes.

In the special ed preschool class where I work, shoes were a big issue for us last year. We do a lot of gross motor activies with our kids as part of the program. The kids need to work on balance, climbing, kicking, etc. Some of the moms would put their little girls in the most impractical shoes you can imagine. They'd have flip-flops made of straw with little flowers on top or sandals that actually have considerable heels on them. One little girls always had sandals that were too big. Her mom refused to buy shoes that fit because she would outgrow them too quickly.

We explained to the parents that the kids really needed closed-in, rubber-soled shoes for the activities we do. One mom laughed and said, "Well, that wouldn't look cute on her." But if this kid as much as stubbed her toe or was accidentely stepped on by another child, the mom went into a tizzy and demanded a police report!

I really think function is more important than fashion in terms of school shoes. A child's feet should be covered and protected. There are just too many hazards at school for kids to have open toes or open heels.

I teach preschool (2 year olds!), and this is one of my biggest pet peeves. The children come to school with flip flops and sandals on, and we're riding bikes, climbing, running, jumping, and sliding on the playground! We stressed over and over (and over), plus it's in the handbook: Please dress your children appropriately, both for the weather, and the outdoor and gym activities.

We also had a lot of "fashion plates" this year. These little girls in their matchy matchy outfits (white and light colors), faux fur coats, etc. in the muddy playground this Spring, and having a ball with easel painting.... Mommies weren't happy to see their Gymboree-clad sweeties with red paint here and there (and yes, we use smocks...but the kids are 2- enough said!!)

Sorry, didn't mean to go off on a tangent....

Marcy

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I teach preschool (2 year olds!), and this is one of my biggest pet peeves. The children come to school with flip flops and sandals on, and we're riding bikes, climbing, running, jumping, and sliding on the playground! We stressed over and over (and over), plus it's in the handbook: Please dress your children appropriately, both for the weather, and the outdoor and gym activities.

We also had a lot of "fashion plates" this year. These little girls in their matchy matchy outfits (white and light colors), faux fur coats, etc. in the muddy playground this Spring, and having a ball with easel painting.... Mommies weren't happy to see their Gymboree-clad sweeties with red paint here and there (and yes, we use smocks...but the kids are 2- enough said!!)

Sorry, didn't mean to go off on a tangent....

Marcy

I teach 2 year olds too, I completely understand your "pain" and have had the conversation about painted clothes and shoes that stay on more times than I care to count!

 

[Laryssa]

Too funny!!! Ditto for me!


I bet the school nurses and ER nurses could share lots of information on crocs, sandals, etc. contribution to accidents. I myself have seen far to many kids wearing crocs, flip flops, etc. falling down and getting hurt on playgrounds. Parents need to help schools out in this manner.

Just so you know i know lots of nurses that wear crocs because they are super comfortable and easy on their feet. the majority of nurses that i know where them!

 

[tinkandpan]

I am sure that there are many in the health care profession who do- but how many of them are running through a playground full of mulch during their lunch breaks?

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

While Crocs arent banned at my childrens school, pretty much everything else besides sneakers are. I think its ridiculous. As a parent, I should be afforded the right to decide what is safe for my children to wear to school. My teenage son and daughter arent allowed to wear anything that has a thong. Its ridiculous. No open backs? Are you kidding me? They are afraid they will "fall down the steps"...thank god my kids can manage to walk at home with me with those deadly shoes. Can you tell this is a hot button of mine. The school district here would pretty much want you to wear sneakers all the time, which is ridiculous in the spring/summer.

I agree that parents "should" be able to judge what's safe, but don't blame the schools, blame the law-suit happy parents/society, the insurance companies, the lawyers, and the parents who make bad choices...I work at a preschool where parents will send two and three olds to school in flip flops to play on a playground covered in wood chips, full of climbing equipment, built on a slight incline And if these children in flip flops get hurt, we all know the rest of the story...