Crocs Banned in Schools Alleging Students Keep Tripping Over Them

A growing number of schools are banning the popular shoes, citing “safety” reasons; Crocs insists that their shoes are fit for “day-to-day activity"

An increasing number of schools are banning Crocs — the comfy, bulky slip-on shoes — over alleged “safety” concerns, claiming children keep tripping over their own feet and getting injured.

The beloved shoes — incredibly popular among adolescents and often decorated with charms, called Jibbitz — are banned in some schools in at least 12 states, Bloomberg reports.

Georgia’s Lake City Elementary School specifically mentions the shoes in its dress code, saying, “All students must wear closed toe shoes for safety (No Crocs).”

Jonesboro High School in Georgia enacted a ban last year, adding a disciplinary charge of in-school suspension for any student caught violating the dress code by wearing Crocs, 11 Alive reported.

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And in Florida, LaBelle Middle School’s dress code says, “Safe footwear shall be worn at all times. No open toe shoes, bedroom slippers or shower shoes. All shoes must have a strap or back at the heel. Proper lace up athletic shoes must be worn during P.E.) NO CROCS allowed.”

“Whenever someone mentions a foot injury, the first thing everyone says is, ‘I bet you they were wearing Crocs,’ ” LaBelle school nurse Oswaldo Luciano told Bloomberg, referring to his group chats with other nurses.

Stumbling in Crocs is so common that it sparked a viral TikTok meme, where kids shared videos of themselves putting on their Crocs — and then promptly (although purposely) tripping over their feet.

Crocs even acknowledged the meme, commenting “Only the cool kids get it 😎” on one of the videos.

And while kids love the ease and comfort of the shoes and the ability to personalize them, a podiatrist told NPR that they’re not ideal for all-day wear.

"I've seen more structural issues like heel pain, arch pain, sometimes more hammertoes, because you have to grip the shoe to keep them on and so the toes are overworking," said Priya Parthasarathy, a podiatrist in Silver Spring, Md., and a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association.

But, she added, “Crocs are a godsend when you're trying to get out of the house, because my 3-year-old can put them on independently."

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A spokesperson for Crocs gave PEOPLE the following statement:

"The Crocs Classic Clog is a comfortable, casual shoe that is appropriate for everyday wear but not intended for athletics or more strenuous activities. We are unaware of any substantiated health and/or safety complications with wearing our products. Since our brand inception, students have and continue to wear our Classic Clog in their day-to-day activity, whether for pre- or post-sport, as part of a school club or simply as a means of showcasing their personality. For many, our shoes create community and allow for personal self-expression – both of which are factors we know are meaningful for students. Banning them feels unnecessary."

A recent search for “I Love My Crocs” on TikTok returned nearly 140 million videos, so clearly Gen Alpha’s love of the foamy footwear isn’t fading any time soon — bans or not.