Believe it or not, the Ugg boot was first popular with surfers in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1994, the U.S. Olympic team was seen wearing Uggs and that’s when they started to gain traction.
In the early 2000s, Uggs quickly became a very fashionable item. Uggs are trendy and their fur lining inside makes them especially comfortable.
With Uggs being a very comfortable shoe for the fall and winter, they always seem to stay in style. This year the Ugg has become one of the most-worn shoes nationwide. Not even just Uggs, but knock-off brands as well.
Physical education teachers here at Northport High School are not lenient when it comes to wearing a shoe that is not a sneaker; specifically, Uggs.
In my personal opinion, I believe that certain types of shoes such as Uggs and other non-sneaker shoes shouldn’t be so strictly prohibited. Although the rule is enforced for safety reasons, we rarely do any activities that require a great amount of movement that would pose a risk. For example, a common gym activity such as walking the track is no different than walking the halls. I think that if a student slips up once in a while there should be more leeway.
Also, considering that Uggs are mainly worn for comfort and have a history of being popular among sporty groups like surfers and the U.S. Olympic Team, I was wondering why they are thought of so bad to wear in gym.
I interviewed Coach Scattergood on this controversial subject to clear up what is acceptable to wear to gym class. I asked him,“What makes a shoe a sneaker?” He responded, “A rubber sole, laces, anything that looks like a sneaker, or anything you can run a marathon in.” Scatt also added that Vans, Converse, and Air Force 1’s are all appropriate sneakers, and shoes such as Crocs, slippers, Uggs, and Hey Dudes are all not considered sneakers.
Being that the Ugg Neumel has laces, I asked Scatt if those are considered P.E. appropriate. He said, “No, those are a comfort shoe.”
At the end of the day, there is a valid safety reason why Uggs are not allowed, but maybe a more lenient mindset can be incorporated into the curriculum. For example, a rule that states that a student is allowed two free passes when they wear the wrong shoes. Safety is important of course, but in my opinion wearing a comfort shoe to gym isn’t that big of an issue, so this would be a great compromise!
