Crocs Inc. grew into an $8 billion company and rose to fame by providing a quick, comfortable option for kids and teens to slip on and dash to school. Now, however, an increasing number of schools are banning the clogs due to what they say are safety hazards and distractions. School nurse Oswaldo Luciano pointed out that when someone mentions a foot injury in New York schools, it’s almost always because the child was wearing Crocs. Schools in at least 12 states have now forbidden students to wear Crocs, citing the propensity to trip and fall while wearing the colorful clogs without a safety strap behind the heel. Other schools say the shoes have led to a rise in accidents and distractions, including students playing with the shoe’s charms in class and throwing them at their classmates. That’s bad news for Crocs, as the company regained their relevance following a strategic move to target comfort-craving teens. The shoes now rank among teens’ top 10 favorites, and shares of Crocs have soared more than three times since 2018.
