AIBU to think schools should not allow students to wear black trainers all day, every day?

[Lilyladles]

My child's high school is allowing students to wear black trainers all day. I think this is bad for their feet, more expensive for parents, and a drop in standards.

AIBU?

My child’s feet were ruined by ‘formal’ shoes. Now at college where trainers are obviously what everyone wears, her feet are gradually getting back to normalcy. I’d have welcomed trainers at school. Much more hard wearing, supportive and generally better for feet! I don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day, so I don’t know why we expect children to do it! It’s unhealthy and causes all kinds of problems.

My DD's high school allow any shoe or trainer as long as it is completely black, which I think is very sensible. Then kids can choose what suits them best.

And they've just announced a consultation on relaxing the rest of the school uniform. If it goes ahead, they will basically wear the PE polo shirt, a jumper and joggers/leggings. Hard wearing, comfy and practical. I think its a great idea.

My youngest was hard on shoes by the time she was in secondary,she wore black trainers usually the leather Sketchers,

Black trainers are fine.

More comfortable, generally better wearing etc and most importantly you can get a pair of generic black trainers from sports direct etc for way less than you can a pair of leather school shoes.

Another plop and run post, ok then…

There’s nothing wrong with trainers all day.
They generally last longer and look better than leather or fake leather shoes.
They give better foot support and are more comfy.
Not having to buy a pair of shoes just for school actually saves money.
No child looks smart within about 5 minutes of putting on a school uniform, regardless of their age or the components. They are agents of chaos and that should be respected.

However I suspect you are merely here for the clicks. Ah well.

YABU - its not bad for their feet at all - much better than ill fitting formal shoes and a lot more comfortable. In terms of 'standards' that is ridiculous. Classing black trainers as somehow a lower standard is just snobby.

Wearing trainers presents no detriment to their learning ability at all - if anything, it will improve it if they are more comfortable!

Trainers are usually more comfortable. supportive and hard-wearing than traditional school shoes, especially girls' shoes. The only time they wouldn't be if a child's feet are so exceptionally narrow that they just slide around in trainers. I don't see it as an issue with "standards" either. If the school requires trainers then it is setting a standard. It may not align perfectly with your own values but it is still a standard.

@Lilyladles I can see your point re expense. Shoes are just plain black run of the mill, pretty much any will do. But trainers, school kids like to keep up with the latest fashion and be like all their friends or at least not to stand-out as wearing a cheapo pair that will get them laughed at. These can cost around £150. I know as I’ve bought my son these types of trainers as his Christmas present for the last two years. I’m just grateful he has to wear shoes at school and the trainers are for socialising only.

They're the best option imo ... have no idea what OP is on about

Trainers are generally much, much better for feet than smart leather shoes. As someone who had to walk two miles to school and back every day as a kid, I'd have been a lot more comfortable and had much healthier feet if I'd been able to wear trainers.

Trainers aren't more expensive than leather shoes. They vary tremendously in price, like any other shoe.

There is no 'drop in standards' provided the child is adhering to school rules. 'Standards' are about adhering to the expectations of one's environment, and the expectation has been set that trainers are allowed.

Lastly, the school is allowing pupils to wear trainers. It isn't forcing them. If you don't want your kids to wear trainers, don't buy them trainers and send them to school in ordinary shoes. Your children aren't being forced to wear trainers; they're simply being offered a choice.

I really dislike 'post and run' threads, but I think yabu for all the reasons already stated

YABU. What on earth

This sounds great - with there be provision for football type shorts when it's hot? But otherwise yeah well done your school, so much comfier, more practical and budget friendly!

As for the trainers question, as someone who was mid teens when the dolly shoe/ballet flat thing was all the rage, trainers are definitely a massive improvement for foot health and development!

Great idea. This is a stupid thing kids end up in isolation for.

I don't know how European and North American children cope without uniforms. Did you know the American literacy crisis was actually caused by high schoolers turning up in pyjamas? It's true.

(Some of them really do wear pyjama pants to school. With trainers.)

You're quite correct. It's been shown that black trainers reduce a student's ability to take in and retain information by at least 20%, leading to a two grade drop in GCSE scores over the course of a normal period in secondary school.

Oh, wait.

I used to wear trainers as a teacher. Why shouldn't children be allowed to do the same?

I wear these to school every day. Comfy. 😁 And the colours make me happy.

Why would you want to insist on your kids wearing unsuitable shoes? Most of my students wear trainers every day. They tend to spend breaktimes either playing football, volleyball or table tennis. I don't think traditional black leather shoes would be better for that.

When I broke my toe when at school the doctor wrote me a note to wear trainers until it healed….

I’m hoping my workplace brings this in full time.

We’re allowed to wear them on training days and it makes such a difference!!

Plain black trainers for school aren’t likely to cost £150. We pick up a pair of plain black Nikes for around £30/ £40 at the outlet normally. The only time I bought cheap school shoes (which is hard to do anyway when they have wide feet) they lasted about 6 weeks before they fell apart!

Alright Swampy 🙄

Proper trainers with arch support are far better for their feet that flat formal shoes.

They're like little shellsuits for your feet 😄 (I'm really showing my age this evening!)

My daughter often walks over 2 miles to school, on gravel tracks, better off in trainers or walking shoes than her smart school ones. And she has enough to carry without adding shoes to change into.