School shoes. Harmful? Why are they around?

[Voodo chile]

The common school shoe.


Leather with a hard rubber sole. In most parts of the world, children are required to wear them. I wear them. I've noticed that they are horrible for walking in. Hell i got a flat tyre and walked home. 200 metres and my calfs were in agony. Walking to the bus stop feels like an uphill hike. They are not efficient for walking in. But they're shoes, theyre designed for walking in. So i guess they have an aesthetic aspect to them.

But, the thing is, the people who wear these shoes are often the people who probably do the most walking. Why would you give such an inefficient and probably damaging type of footwear to people of this age.

I am assuming the problem is caused by the heavy impact which combines the 'heel strike' characteristics of shoes with the blunt trauma of walking barefoot.
Running shoes on one hand, have the heel strike but mostly make up for it with the use of softer materials which absorb most shock.
Barefoot on the other hand forces you to run differently using different parts of the foot to minimise shock.

School shoes take the worst qualities from both and combine them into one, from what i've discovered

[The Juggernaut]

It looks classy. That's the whole reason. And usually, from togas to tuxedos. the classier a garment is supposed to be, the harder it is to move in it. It's a kind of status symbol: "I can't work in these clothes, but it's ok, because I DON'T NEED TO WORK ANYWAY! Silly peasant in your comfortable, all-purpose, breathable tunic!" says the rich and incredible smug yet uncomfortable man. All these schools and such want to attach themselves to this upper class image, and so there you have it! Socio-economic frivolities -> Status symbol -> perceived status


Oh, and they are a bugger to wear, aren't they? Except I used to have to wear them to church as well, and we'd always have to stand!

[Condottiere 40K]

I have no idea what that thing is.

If you want comfort either buy a pair of Italian leather shoes or sneakers, or both, and like our female colleagues, wear the sneakers for transit and put on the shoes to impress.

[43rdFoot]

It builds character.

[Ulyaoth]

I had to wear those things. Except I didn't until I eventually got yelled at and threatened because I was wearing nicer more comfortable dress shoes than the crappy ones the school made us wear. So I got the school ones, they ripped apart in 3 months, and I went back to my regular shoes. I say those 3 months of massive uncomfort stunted my growth, I'm going to sue my high school.

[Yosemite]

I had to wear those things. Except I didn't until I eventually got yelled at and threatened because I was wearing nicer more comfortable dress shoes than the crappy ones the school made us wear. So I got the school ones, they ripped apart in 3 months, and I went back to my regular shoes. I say those 3 months of massive uncomfort stunted my growth, I'm going to sue my high school.

that's hardcore
i would have never tolerated such demands from my schools

i wear flat shoes and it's the best

[Portuguese Rebel]

They look pretty comfortable. In my country we don't have school dress codes. Kids use snickers or whatever they feel comfortable with.

[TheDarkKnight]

I had to wear shoes worse than that for marching band...I'll tell you, marching a mile+ in those in hot weather is not fun.

[Voodo chile]

comfortable my ass. I'd wear sneakers any day. I walked home and barely got 200 metres and i had to stop because my calves felt as if i had just run the cross country without stretching.

[Vizsla]

As preparation for getting a proper job?

[Veliky Kaiser Theos]

Make them all look alike so their spirits are crushed!!!

[Condottiere 40K]

Comfortable footwear is always a worthwhile investment.

Our school had a uniform, but we were instructed that our footwear had to be brown, leathery and look like shoes; sneakers being forbidden except for sports.

I remember I had a beige/brown pair, one classmate always came in deck shoes, since his father was the manager of the factory.

I can only suggest a thick sole inlay, and possible a heel buffer.

[Portuguese Rebel]

comfortable my ass. I'd wear sneakers any day. I walked home and barely got 200 metres and i had to stop because my calves felt as if i had just run the cross country without stretching.

You have to wear them down after they wear you down

[Tacitursa]

I purchased my own shoes from a decent shoe store very comfortable and there still in great condition now

[boofhead]

comfortable my ass. I'd wear sneakers any day. I walked home and barely got 200 metres and i had to stop because my calves felt as if i had just run the cross country without stretching.

You've either got wrong fitting shoes, you're weak, or you just haven't broken them in yet. I wore school shoes for 13 years, and my kids all wear them, no complaints.

[Copperknickers II]

You've either got wrong fitting shoes, you're weak, or you just haven't broken them in yet. I wore school shoes for 13 years, and my kids all wear them, no complaints.

To be fair Boof, I wouldn't bring any complaints to your attention if you were my father unless I had a death wish.

But are they the same ones as seen in the first post? My school shoes were fine, but most school shoes here are more like these ones:



Which look similar but have flexible soles.

[Erwin Rommel]

So that when a person of note arrives, you can all stand up in unison and click your heels. Saluting is optional.

[Niles Crane]

School shoes are very uncomfortable for the first couple of months, but once you get past the blisters and calluses, it's smooth sailing. Anyway, I had to wear them for six years and I'll be damned if the next generation gets off without them.

[issler]

my school didn't even have a uniform
i used to wear flip-flops

[Mortality]

When I went to school, I had to wear school shoes and a uniform. Noone complained, it was a fact of life.

Man up and get over it.