Schools across the nation have begun banning Crocs, The comfortable foam clog with ornaments that can be personalized. That trend, which picked up in October 2024, reflects a growing concern about safety and suitability in schools regarding wearing Crocs, according to claims from districts ranging from tripping hazards to foot health. The most recent wave of school bans has made students, parents, and administrators take sides on the future of the phenomenally popular shoes in classrooms.
School districts cite three basic problems that are viewed as being behind the Crocs ban. The first is that Crocs are so easy to slip on and off. Schools say incidents, where students are stumbling or falling when Crocs unexpectedly fly off their feet, are rising. The problem is most prevalent when students wear them sans back the strap-hence term “sport mode” among Croc aficionados. Many young wearers like the strapless look, schools say, and that’s creating safety hazards during gym, recess, and even while kids walk between classrooms.
Another reason for the ban is those little decorative add-ons, small charms called Jibbitz that kids love to stick into the holes of a pair of Crocs. While entertaining, the charms have become a classroom distraction as they have become a kind of trading and comparing things with students fiddling with them during lessons. School teachers noticed some of their students not concentrating during classes when swapping Jibbitz or adjusting their Crocs, and some schools report that it’s interfering with learning time. For this reason, many administrators added Jibbitz-related distractions to a growing list of reasons for banning Crocs altogether.
Health experts cautioned that Crocs aren’t the best choice for young, agile feet.
“The lack of arch support and the inability of Crocs to wick away moisture can lead to foot pain, blisters, and even long-term foot problems if they are worn for extended periods.”
Says Dr. Jamie Carlson, a pediatric podiatrist.
Schools repeat these now, concerned that the long-term wearing of Crocs instead of supportive footwear may constitute chronic problems for youngsters still growing and developing. Social media has only added to the fuel in this case, with, for example, TikTok trends amplifying both sides in the debate over Crocs in schools. The new trend on the platform has turned into parodies- students on stage and sharing ones- akin to slapstick comedy- of tripping in Crocs, exaggerating the falls for comedic effect. The videos are playful, but school officials worry those viral videos could lead to copycat incidents and, eventually, real student injuries.
School districts in the Southeast have been particularly outspoken about enforcing these new Crocs bans. In Georgia, the Clayton County School District, including Lake City Elementary, moved to ban shoes this month, citing safety concerns.
Yet in Florida, LaBelle Middle School automatically banned open-toe shoes. In Alabama, Bessemer City High has had a Croc-free policy for several years; students caught wearing Crocs serve an in-school suspension. According to administrators, these policies have been about keeping the environment safe and free of distractions, and they say they are willing to take disciplinary action to ensure kids comply.
Still, reactions to these bans have been mixed. Many parents consider the bans overreactions that smell of schools overestimating risks associated with Crocs.
“It’s like schools are overreacting to some hot commodity,”
says Anna Richardson, a parent from Clayton County.
“My kids love their Crocs ’cause they’re comfortable, and I don’t see how they’re any more of a distraction than anything else, which is a hot trend.”
Some students, too, are incensed by the bans, which many feel inappropriately target a comfortable, inoffensive form of footwear.
However, school officials insist the bans are necessary to ensure a safe and productive environment for all students.
“At the end of the day, we want to minimize distractions and keep our kids safe,”
says Lake City Elementary Principal Erin Martinez.
“Crocs might be fun, but they are just not practical for a school setting.”
