Should Schools Let Kids Wear Slippers To School?

A school in Derby is allowing children to wear slippers to school.

Findern Primary School implemented the unusual footwear policy after a teacher read about a study, conducted over ten years, which found that wearing slippers at school had a positive effect on pupils.

Derby Telegraph reports:

'A Bournemouth University study completed over 10 years in 25 countries found that when students removed their shoes at school, it created a calmer and quieter environment, even reducing bullying in some cases. They also found that children are more likely to get to school earlier, leave later and read more.'

I LOVE this idea and wish more schools would follow suit. The first thing my kids do when they get through the door after school is kick off their shoes – it's practically a ritual which signals the end of the stuffiness of the school day, and the start of relaxation time. I reckon they'd love getting to wear slippers at school.

The school's headteacher commented that "most of the children and even some members of staff" now wear slippers at school. She added that the children are "a lot calmer and seem very relaxed" since the new footwear policy was implemented.

I work from home and, thinking about it, the first thing I do when I sit at my desk is take my shoes off. I find it impossible to concentrate unless I'm comfortable, and outdoor shoes aren't part of that.

I know what critics will say, of course. That wearing slippers to school is as shameful as doing the school run whilst wearing pyjamas. But the two aren't comparable, in my book. I can see why people feel that a pyjama-wearing parent is a bit feckless, but letting kids wear slippers to school is about getting the best out of them and creating the optimum conditions for their best work and performance – not encouraging them to be lazy or slapdash.

But we'd love to hear your views on this story. How would you feel if your child's school started allowing the kids to wear slippers in class? Leave us a comment below or come and join the conversation over on our Facebook page.

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