Gym Shoes and P.E.?
What are everyone's thoughts on allowing gym shoes to be worn to school. I realize it doesn't look as classy as dress shoes. The benefit is saving the minutes each day that it takes to change shoes for P.E. The older the students the less time it takes. It also eliminates classroom space being used to store gym shoes, less scuff marks in the hallway, and overall less expensive for parents? Any thoughts and comments? Please share and thanks for all your previous posts.
posted by croy @ 8:54 AM
20 comments
20 Comments:
Works for me!
Works for me! I have noticed that several Catholic schools and Peoria Academy allow gym shoes. My kids have very narrow feet, so when it comes to school shoes its $45-$50 a pair @ Stride Rite. Also, the shoe selection is limited with narrows. One concern, dirty white gym shoes! How do we address it?
Gym shoes are better for your feet than most 'dress' shoes. Happy feet make happy students.
I'm fine with them!
I'm all for the gym shoes! It gets the vote from the Wells' family.
Isn't this the same argument as why the kids wear uniforms? How can we push for standardized uniforms and punish those who don't conform, but at the same time allow various tennis shoes.
Would the tennis shoes have to be white? Most kid's tennis shoes are very colorful - everything from pink and purple to orange, even rainbow. And if they are "white" are they all white or can you have colored stripes or swishes, etc? Sounds like a nightmare to me.
The whole point of uniforms is to keep the social class system out of the schools as much as possible, and to have the kids act and look respectful, as a Catholic student should. To allow tennis shoes to be worn at all times is a complete reversal of this policy. Some kids will wear ratty shoes, some will wear $100 Nike's. Enforcement of any kind of standard will be difficult if not impossible, and in my opinion, it would mark the beginning of the demise of the uniform and what it stands for.
I like the idea of letting the kids wear tennis shoes, their feet grow so fast.
I like the look of dress shoes.
Does it resemble the uniform argument. Yes it does. Some restrictions should apply. Example: No canvas; Leather or Vinyl shoes only. No hightops; 'running shoe/loafter' design only. Black should be the predominant color.
These would be acceptable: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00069567C/sr=1-2/qid=1138109176/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-7071896-0497503?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
These would NOT:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000A47L9/sr=1-4/qid=1138109176/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-7071896-0497503?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
These would be acceptable:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000CCO4RG/sr=1-13/qid=1138109503/ref=sr_1_13/104-7071896-0497503?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
These would NOT:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000AN4KJO/sr=1-8/qid=1138109503/ref=sr_1_8/104-7071896-0497503?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
this only resembles the uniform argument when you specify WHICH athletic shoes must be worn. With Mahkno's examples, we would be purchasing gym shoes that are in the range of $35-$55. To me this would make the policy unacceptable. I only have ONE kid, and I know her feet change sizes at least once throughout the year. This would cost me $70.00-$110.00 per year, certainly more than I am paying now. For a family of four, shoes could cost them upward of $400.00. I am ok with dictating a color, but certainly not a specific brand.
I like the kids wearing dress shoes, but sometimes it is very difficult to find dress shoes for boys. I believe Holy Family allows athletic shoes, but black only. I think they have specific requirements.
Morales,
Those are just examples... I am not advocating a brand. Read what I wrote. If you can meet some guidelines for athletic shoes at Payless or Wal-Mart, then all power to you.
I don't think the school should be dictating where we buy are clothes.
I do think we would benefit from a little more flexibility in the colors and maybe 'cut' of the clothes.
I have never liked the look of gym shoes with school uniforms. I think it looks tacky and resembles the unfinished look of public school "uniforms."
I think gym shoes look sloppy. I vote for dress shoes.
Dress shoes, for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The dress code also teaches the children respect. When we grow up we have to respect our society and dress appropriately in certain environments. If you do not want to wear scrubs, you do not become a doctor. If you do not want to wear suits, you do not become a lawyer. If you do not want to wear a McDonalds uniform, you do not become a clerk at McDonalds. If you do not want to follow the dress code, which is not near as strict as when I was a child in the system, do not send your kids to a catholic school. We should concentrate on making tradition thrive at St. Mark. :)
I agree with limiting the choice of gym shoes. In almost any occupation there is a dress code with limits. I wore whites in the doctor's office and hopital that I worked for, however I could wear any color of blouse/top as long as it was not inappropriate, any white shoes/gym shoes with little color. My husband is required to wear a suit and tie, yet he wears different colors of suits, ties and suspenders. It would not be appropriate to show up at the bank in a lime green or bright red suit. There will always be those who test the limits no matter what the dress code or what the environment in which the code is for. It is always about enforcing codes and everyone respecting those who are responsible for enforcing them. I love the idea of gym shoes but will abide by whatever the dress code is because I believe in having one.
I'm against the tennis shoe proposal.
I very much doubt that many children put much energy into "competition" over dress shoes.
Every child I know is willing to get into competition over their tennis shoes.
Tennis shoes would put MORE financial and social pressure on families, not less.
I am COMPLETELY in favor of athletic shoes for many reasons:
1) Athletic shoes are much better for the kids' feet. Regardless of what we think about looks, health must carry greater importance than appearance. The choice of dress shoes is very narrow and the durability/quality of dress shoes is not even 1/2 of a comperably priced athletic shoe.
2) New athletic shoes look as good as new dress shoes. Old athletic shoes look as bad as old dress shoes. One comment asks how to handle dirty or worn athletic shoes. How do we handle dirty or worn dress shoes?
3)Athletic shoes were allowed at Saint marks though the 80's. It was not until the early 90's that dress shoes were mandated by a small 'vocal minority'. Mandated dress shoes was an unpopular decision then, it is an unpopular rule now.
4) I have never liked rules that punish everyone because of the actions of a few. Therefore, if kids who have name brand shoes ridicule others who don't; address the problem, don't punish the whole school.
I'm late to the party on this question, but believe there will either have to be strict guidance on the type of gym shoe, or they should not be allowed. We had personal experience with a child being ridiculed for the brand of their gym shoes and that was at basketball practice...to bring that into the school is not an enticing thought. Cheap gym shoes are no better for feet than dress shoes. The guidelines for gym shoes would have to be very lengthy because you have to cover style (low top, high top, very high top), color (one color, many colors, etc), height (heals, platforms, slip ons).....
I vote no.
I would love to see black tennis shoes be allowed with the uniforms. I have noticed how much harder my son is on his shoes than the girls ever were. Since there isn't time for changing shoes before and after recess it would be a wonderful solution to the problem we just dealt with about three weeks ago. I ended up buying a new pair of school shoes two months before school ends because his other shoes were wrecked from playing on the playground during recess. I'm all for nice looking uniforms and teaching our kids to take care of their things but the reality is that they are hard on their shoes outside at recess. It would be nice to have the option.
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