Snuggly Or Smuggly? A Pottstown Middle School Bans Certain Boots
By Hadas Kuznits
POTTSTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- There is a footwear controversy brewing at a Montgomery County school.
John Armato, director of community relations for the Pottstown School District, says starting this coming Monday, Pottstown middle schoolers will be prohibited from wearing certain types of boots in the classroom.
"Any boot that either is not laced to the top, buckled to the top, or is by its very nature open at the top," he says.
That would include many types of rain boots and the popular "Uggs," a soft, fleece-lined suede boot.
He says the problem is not with the boots, but with the contraband some kids are trying to sneak into the classroom.
"We have had a problem with youngsters concealing cell phones in their shoes," Armato explains, "and during the classroom the cell phones are going off and being disruptive to a positive educational atmosphere."
So, as long as the cell phones go off, no open-top boots are allowed.
However, as with the cell phones, open-topped boots that are brought to school must be left in the students' lockers.
"I am certainly not opposed to people using electronic devices to communicate to one another, have social networking with one another, but they have to be done in appropriate places. And the classroom is not the appropriate place for that to happen," Armato adds.
So, for now, boot fashionistas will have to bring a change of shoes to Pottstown Middle School.
