Chinese school bans imported sneakers

Children were reportedly spending more time comparing shoes than focusing on their studies.

Comparing sneakers with friends has become very competitive is many parts of the world, with the resulting peer pressure sometimes reported as a cause of anxiety among children of a certain age. At one Chinese school, the craze has become so popular that imported shoes have been prohibited in an attempt to stop its students from trying to outdo each other with the best footwear.

Zijiang Middle School, located in Fujian Province, reportedly issued a statement in an attempt to address the growing issue of classmates spending more time comparing shoes than focusing on their studies. According to the school, imported footwear has been banned 'in order to prevent distractions and promote frugality'.

Not surprisingly, reaction to the ban has been mixed. Some of the students have even apparently said they will quit school if they are not given good shoes to wear. There has also been backlash on social media, where many bloggers have argued that domestically made sneakers are often more expensive than their imported counterparts. However, a teacher at the school has reported that expensive Chinese-made sneakers are also prohibited.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 4 of the April 2017 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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