The way you dress is a hugely personal choice, and the hallways of McNeil feature many eclectic styles. Step out during passing periods and you’ll see everything from beat-up combat boots to sequined tank-tops to collared polo T-shirts. When it comes to fashion, each person is likely to have a different opinion of what looks good and what doesn’t; it is difficult to cast over reaching judgments. However, there is one interesting trend I’ve seen lately that I just have to comment on: girls wearing high heels to school.

By heels, I do not mean casual two-inch wedges or boots. I mean 5-inch tall platforms that would honestly be more at home on the dance floor at homecoming than clacking up the B wing stairwell. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with wanting to dress up for school. I know taking the time to look nice one day can be a refreshing change from the usual routine of T-shirts and tennis shoes. That being said, there is a time and a place for heels, and school is not the ideal time or place.

For starters, many teenage girls simply don’t know how to walk properly in them yet. Wearing heels makes the balance of the body’s weight uneven in the foot, making it more difficult to walk with a natural gait. Girls who haven’t learned how to adjust to this positioning, or are wearing heels that are too tall for their stature, look unsteady on their feet and frankly kind of silly.

In addition, wearing heels is more dangerous than it seems. Pressure is concentrated on the balls of the feet, while the ankle receives little support. This leads to strain on the arches and achilles tendons; heels are just not practical to wear to school. Many classrooms are far apart, people rush and crowd along hallways during passing periods and classes on portables require venturing outside. It’s even uncomfortable to sit in heels because the feet remain in an unnatural pointed position. I don’t see how anyone could stand to put themselves through that for seven or more hours. For me at least, it would be a huge distraction throughout the school day.

Heels are not only impractical, but also inappropriate for the school environment. On a student level, seeing a girl wearing heels is a little bit awkward. They look way too dressed up for the occasion, and the incessant clicking and clacking is annoying. On a school-wide level, heels are also usually paired with an accompanying outfit, often featuring more provocative clothing that may conflict with school dress code.

Heels can be a fun way to spice up a dressy event, and I do understand the desire to add something special to an outfit. However, school is definitely not the place to break out your Steve Madden stilettos. Girls have the rest of their lives to put their feet in pain in exchange for fashion.