Fur-lined boots banned at Montgomery Co. school

POTTSTOWN, Pa. - January 27, 2012 (WPVI) -- Shearling boots, often known by the brand-name Uggs, are a popular winter fashion statement. But come Monday morning, they'll be banned at Pottstown Middle School.

The reason: teachers say students have been tucking their cell phones in the boots, cell phones they're not allowed to have during class.

"If during a class period your cell phone goes off in the midst of a lesson, obviously that causes disruption and is something we have to address," said John Armato of the Pottstown School District.

Students can still wear Ugg-style boots to school, but must leave them in their lockers and change into other shoes for class. And they can still wear other styles of boots, as long as they're laced or zipped up to the top.

Plus, they can still bring their cell phones to school.

"They can bring them to school, but they have to leave them in their lockers," said Armato. "And at the end of the day they can take them out of their lockers and back home with them."

Perhaps not surprisingly, the planned boot ban is not popular with many students and some parents.

"They say people are putting harmful stuff in their boots, and their phones and all, but if they wanted to put it anywhere else they could," said 7th grader Kyli McKee

"Just because certain people were putting certain things in their boots doesn't mean that everybody else has to pay the consequences," said 8th grader Sabrina Butler

"I don't really think it's right. You can always put everything everywhere else. You're supposed to wear your boots, it's winter. That's how people express their individuality," said 7th grader Racheal Levengood

"The school needs to step in and take away the cellphones from the kids who have them," said Ingrid Olvera of Pottstown. "They're supposed to be in the locker, not in the boot. We understand that, but don't punish the whole school."

Despite the opposition, one mom we spoke to says she's okay with the ban.

"A lot of things in life are not fair, so if they say you can't wear them, you can't wear them," said Annette Richter.

The school district says if the cell phone problems diminish, they may reconsider the ban in a couple of weeks or months. But as of Monday at the middle school, the boots are getting the boot.

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school, cell phones, pottstown, pennsylvania, local/state

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