They apparently have no sole at Pottstown Middle School, where officials are giving the boot to Uggs.
The popular sheepskin boots from Australia are being banned from the suburban Philadelphia school, as are other open-top boots. Students apparently have been hiding cellphones and other items prohibited in class in such footwear.
“Students may continue to wear outdoor boots to and from school to protect them from cold, snow and ice but need to change into a pair of sneakers or shoes before entering homeroom,” principal Gail Cooper wrote in a letter sent home with students last week. “Students may also continue to wear lace up, tight at the ankle, boots, shoes and high top sneakers.”
Few seem to be taking a shine to the new policy.
“Seriously, if you told my child not to wear her Uggs, we would definitely have a court case here,” Kim Colucci Hritz posted on the Facebook page of The Mercury, the local newspaper, one of many posts opposing the ban. “My children do not go anywhere without their phones; too many pervs out there!! Have you read the paper lately?”
But another mother, Adrienne Beyer, said that though she found the ban to be extreme, her 12-year-old daughter would abide by it.
“I said to my daughter, ‘It’s a rule and we’re going to follow it,’ ” she said.
She didn’t know whether officials would go forward with the new fashion dictate.
“I think it’s been blown way out of proportion,” she said.
As news of the rule spread, school officials were standing their ground.
“I am very aware of the consternation that the ban on open-top boots has caused,” Pottstown Schools Superintendent Reed Lindley said.
“A building principal’s first responsibility is to ensure the safety of students and staff and to see that a quality learning environment is provided in the school.”
Noreen.Odonnell@thedaily.com
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Photo: Cristina Fumi/Alamy
Open-top boots such as these are banned for Pottstown, Pa., kids.