You have certainly seen them—students sporting brown leather flip flops with their jeans and sweaters, accessorizing their outfits with these open-toed abominations.

For the life of me, I cannot understand the purpose of wearing such a shoe to school. New Trier High School is excessively air conditioned, so open-toed shoes are not practical in frigid classroom conditions. It may be May, but the weather is not even remotely close to summer temperatures. Thus, flip flops should not be something I see almost every day. The modern flip flop is designed for use at beaches and pools as shoes that can be easily removed, not for use at a public high school where shoes should very much stay on.

Flip flops are uncomfortable as is, but they must be seriously annoying to walk around school in. New Trier’s Winnetka campus has five floors, including an east and west wing, so students have to hike up and down several flights of stairs each day. Wearing flip flops only makes that more difficult. Especially for students who walk home from school, or even to their car or bus, flip flops are uncomfortable and hinder their ability to walk.

Everytime I hear that agitating sound of flip flops suctioning the floors of the hallways, I whip my head around to death glare at the person wearing them. How they don’t get tired of the squeaking is beyond me. My point is: be respectful. Nobody wants their precious, peaceful five minute passing period to be ruined by such a god-awful sound and sight. Please, spare my eyes and ears from the pain.

The (arguably) worst part is that they’re not even cute. They’re not worth the pain and embarrassment at all. Wearing flip flops immediately ruins your outfit, unless that outfit is meant for the beach. They look so awkward; everyone can see your feet and they almost fall off every time you walk. I don’t want to see someone’s bare feet in the hallway— it’s weird and gross. They belong in shoes, not in the public eye.

There is no valid reason to be wearing flip flops to school. They’re uncomfortable, ugly, and irritating to everyone around you. Please, stop this madness.